C399
NAD C399 - Flagship Stereo Integrated Amplifier
C399
NAD Electronics, Integrated Amplifiers, Integrated Amps
As the new flagship of NAD’s Classic series of integrated amps, the C399 HybridDigital DAC Amplifier takes NAD’s commitment to lasting value and sonic excellence to a whole new level.
The C399 employs NAD’s Hypex HybridDigital nCore amplifier circuitry, which until now has been available only on Masters Series amplifiers. Its digital section is built around a 32-bit/384kHz ESS Sabre DAC, the same chip used in NAD’s acclaimed M10 and M33 Masters Series amplifiers.
The C399 is the first amplifier to incorporate the latest generation of NAD’s Modular Design Construction (MDC) technology. MDC2 lets users add optional modules that provide functions such as BluOS multi-room music streaming and Dirac Live room correction.
Perfect Power
Trickled down from NAD’s Masters Series, the C399’s HybridDigital nCore amplifier can deliver 180 Watts per channel continuous power, and 250 Watts per channel instantaneous power. Highly efficient and remarkably powerful, the HybridDigital nCore amplifier can produce musical transients effortlessly. The design is renowned for its wide bandwidth, flat frequency response, clean clipping behaviour with instant recovery, high current capability, and stability into demanding low-impedance speaker loads. Noise and distortion are vanishingly low under all operating conditions. The minute levels of harmonic distortion are dominated by sonically benign second and third harmonics. The Hypex nCore design enables the C399 to produce neutral, distortion-free sound even at very high listening levels, with exquisite detail, superb portrayal of space, and thrilling dynamics.
Also trickled down from the Masters Series is the ESS Sabre 9028 high-resolution DAC, a design noted for near-zero levels of clock jitter, ultra-low noise and distortion, and wide dynamic range. This premium DAC enables the C 399 to reproduce all your digital sources with amazing musicality, stunning clarity, and precise sound-staging.
Future Proof
In 2007, NAD introduced Modular Design Construction, an innovative architecture for adding new functions to existing components. Many NAD products have rear-panel slots for MDC modules that perform HDMI switching, BluOS multi-room music streaming, Dolby Atmos surround processing, and other functions.
The C399 is the first product to feature NAD’s new MDC2 architecture. By enabling two-way communications between the module and component, MDC2 opens up the future for new upgrades.
Equipped with Wi-Fi and Ethernet, the optional MDC2 BluOS-D module lets listeners play music from their favourite streaming services through the C399, using the acclaimed BluOS Controller app for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Like all BluOS-enabled products, the MDC2 BluOS-D has integrated support for dozens of streaming services; and supports Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect. Two-way communications also enable the MDC2 BluOS-D to stream music from sources connected to the C399 to BluOS-enabled components in other rooms.
The Dirac Live function lets you measure your room’s acoustics using a supplied microphone and intuitive app, and then upload correction curves to the MDC2 BluOS-D. By compensating for acoustic anomalies in your listening environment, Dirac Live dramatically improves bass clarity, imaging, and timbral accuracy. Thanks to its two-way architecture, the MDC2 BluOS-D performs room correction for all sources connected to your C399.
Everything’s Connected
The C399 can accommodate all your digital and analogue sources. Its MM phono stage delivers ultra-precise RIAA equalisation, extremely low noise, and high overload margins. The phono preamp also features an innovative circuit that suppresses the infrasonic noise present on all LPs, without compromising bass response. There are two sets of line-level line inputs, with low-noise buffer amplifiers to prevent sonic degradation. The C 399 has two optical and two coaxial digital inputs, plus an HDMI-eARC port for playing audio from a connected TV, while controlling amplifier output with the TV’s remote control.
In addition to two sets of speaker outputs, the C 399 has preamp output jacks and dual subwoofer outputs. Two-way apt-X HD Bluetooth allows 24-bit streaming from mobile devices, and high-quality output to Bluetooth headphones. Also built-in is a dedicated headphone amplifier with low output impedance and high output voltage capability, enabling the C 399 to drive demanding high-impedance studio monitor headphones.
A Timeless Classic
As with every NAD amplifier ever made, the C399 gets the basics right: a precise volume control with accurate channel balance, low-noise circuits, and correct input and output impedances. But it goes far beyond the basics. With its HybridDigital nCore output stage and high-resolution ESS Sabre DAC, the C399 can reproduce all your digital and analogue sources with a level of excitement and refinement that is unprecedented for a Classic-series integrated amplifier.
Thanks to NAD’s innovative MDC2 platform, the C399 will keep pace with future developments. Essentially, MDC2 makes obsolescence obsolete. The C399 can serve as the hub of a world-class music system today, and for years to come. With NAD’s C399 HybridDigital DAC Amplifier, the legend continues.
Features & Details
- Hybrid Digital nCore Amplifier
- Continuous Power: 180 Watts per channel into 8/4 ohms
- Instantaneous Power: 250 Watts per channel
- Vanishingly low harmonic and intermodulation distortion
- Dual MDC2 Ports for expanded functionality
- Optional MDC2 BluOS-D module adds BluOS multi-room streaming and Dirac Live room correction
- Jitter-free 32-bit/384kHz ESS Sabre DAC
- Ultra-low-noise MM phono stage with infrasonic filtering circuitry
- Two optical inputs, plus two coaxial digital inputs
- HDMI eARC input
- Two pairs of line-level analogue inputs with low-noise buffer amplifiers
- Speaker A / Speaker B outputs
- Two-way aptX-HD Bluetooth
- Dual subwoofer outputs
- Dedicated headphone amplifier
- IR remote
- 12V Trigger in/out
- IR in/out
- RS-232 Serial port for control integration with home automation systems
- Control4, Crestron, RTI, URC, AMX, Savant, Elan certified
Performance Specs |
||
|---|---|---|
| Watts RMS per Channel (8-ohms) | 180 | |
| Watts RMS per Channel (4-ohms) | 180 | |
| Frequency Bandwidth | 20-20kHz | |
| THD | 0.02% | |
| Minimum Impedance | 4 ohms | |
| Signal to Noise Ratio | >95dB | |
Digital Music Features |
||
| Built-in DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) | Yes | |
| Bluetooth | Built-in aptX HD | |
| Wi-Fi | Optional MDC2 upgrade | |
Connections |
||
| Total Analog Inputs | 3 | |
| Phono Input | Yes (MM) | |
| Optical Digital Inputs | 2 | |
| Coaxial Digital Inputs | 2 | |
| USB Input | Optional MDC upgrade | |
| Preamp Outputs | Stereo RCA | |
| Headphone Output | 1/4" front panel | |
Dimensions |
||
| Width | 435mm | |
| Height | 120mm | |
| Depth | 390mm | |
| Weight (net) | 11.2kg | |
| C399 Data Sheet  |
C399 Quick Start Guide |
C399 Owner's Manual |
Performance Specs |
||
|---|---|---|
| Watts RMS per Channel (8-ohms) | 180 | |
| Watts RMS per Channel (4-ohms) | 180 | |
| Frequency Bandwidth | 20-20kHz | |
| THD | 0.02% | |
| Minimum Impedance | 4 ohms | |
| Signal to Noise Ratio | >95dB | |
Digital Music Features |
||
| Built-in DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) | Yes | |
| Bluetooth | Built-in aptX HD | |
| Wi-Fi | Optional MDC2 upgrade | |
Connections |
||
| Total Analog Inputs | 3 | |
| Phono Input | Yes (MM) | |
| Optical Digital Inputs | 2 | |
| Coaxial Digital Inputs | 2 | |
| USB Input | Optional MDC upgrade | |
| Preamp Outputs | Stereo RCA | |
| Headphone Output | 1/4" front panel | |
Dimensions |
||
| Width | 435mm | |
| Height | 120mm | |
| Depth | 390mm | |
| Weight (net) | 11.2kg | |
