Post by Owen Y on Mar 30, 2021 12:12:53 GMT 12
There are those who still just want a no-frills stereo power amplifier, ie. with no DAC, no streaming, etc.
Especially if it offers a decent quantity of quality Watts for the money.
The NAD C 298 (US$1999), introduced in Sept 2020, offers:
Instead of the traditional Class A/B circuitry, now Canada-based NAD is licensed to build Purifi Audio’s 'Eigentakt' (Hypex-based) class-D amplifier technology, which is claimed to produce ultra-low distortion regardless of frequency or load. This is NAD's 2nd product incorporating the Purifi amp modules.
NAD also employ generous & advanced switch-mode type, regulated PSUs to feed these amplifiers.
So, does this typically utilitarian-looking NAD provide the engaging & hi-fi quality 'NAD sound' that we still expect from NAD?
SOUNDSTAGE! Hi-Fi (15 Mar '21) has reviewed the NAD C 298:
" the C 298 delivered huge amounts of detail across the entire audioband... high energy came through in spades... quick-sounding bass, mids, and highs. Its reproduction of the treble was excellent—I heard no faults whatsoever. "
" Countering the common assumption... that class-D amps sound thin and/or harsh, the C 298’s sound was thoroughly relaxed, each aural image presented with tons of minute details. "
"...not only did it compare with my Bryston 3B SST2 power amp (almost twice the price), it equalled or bettered it in every way other than bass weight. "
Especially if it offers a decent quantity of quality Watts for the money.
The NAD C 298 (US$1999), introduced in Sept 2020, offers:
- 185Wpc Output Power into 8 Ohms
- 340Wpc Output Power into 4 Ohms
- 620Wpc Output into 8 Ohms Bridge Mode
- Balanced & Single-Ended Line Inputs
- Fixed or Variable Input Level Control
- Auto Turn-on with Selectable Threshold
- Line Output for 'daisy-chaining' additional amps
Instead of the traditional Class A/B circuitry, now Canada-based NAD is licensed to build Purifi Audio’s 'Eigentakt' (Hypex-based) class-D amplifier technology, which is claimed to produce ultra-low distortion regardless of frequency or load. This is NAD's 2nd product incorporating the Purifi amp modules.
NAD also employ generous & advanced switch-mode type, regulated PSUs to feed these amplifiers.
So, does this typically utilitarian-looking NAD provide the engaging & hi-fi quality 'NAD sound' that we still expect from NAD?
SOUNDSTAGE! Hi-Fi (15 Mar '21) has reviewed the NAD C 298:
" the C 298 delivered huge amounts of detail across the entire audioband... high energy came through in spades... quick-sounding bass, mids, and highs. Its reproduction of the treble was excellent—I heard no faults whatsoever. "
" Countering the common assumption... that class-D amps sound thin and/or harsh, the C 298’s sound was thoroughly relaxed, each aural image presented with tons of minute details. "
"...not only did it compare with my Bryston 3B SST2 power amp (almost twice the price), it equalled or bettered it in every way other than bass weight. "
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