NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier – The New Flagship of the NAD Classic Series

It is the new flagship of the NAD Classic Series, is the first solution of this product line to feature NAD HybridDigital nCore Technology, and for the first time offers the possibility of upgrading based on the new NAD MDC2 Module Technology, the NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier.

The NAD Classic Series has a new flagship, the NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier. With this, the Canadian HiFi manufacturer NAD Electronics presents an exceptional new stereo integrated amplifier, because this not only relies on the NAD HybridDigital nCore Technology, for the first time the latest generation of MDC Technology is also used here.

With the new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier, the Canadians thus introduce the new NAD MDC2 Module Technology.

In addition, this stereo integrated amplifier has the option of being upgraded with BluOS for hi-res audio multi-room streaming, which then also offers DIRAC Live Room Correction to guarantee optimal results in any room.

NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier as a particularly flexible system
The task of serving as the new flagship of the NAD Classic Series is certainly not an easy one. This product line from NAD Electronics is distinguished first and foremost by the fact that it offers solutions with a particularly attractive price/performance ratio.

For many hi-fi enthusiasts, this product line has represented the entry point for decades. In the case of the new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier, this should even be able to be done at a particularly high level, whereby neither the quality, nor the functionality would have to be compromised.

NAD HybridDigital nCore Technology

A very important feature of the new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier is of course the underlying amplifier technology, the NAD HybridDigital nCore Technology.

Until now, the Canadians have used this exclusively in significantly higher-priced models, specifically in systems of the NAD Masters Series, the NAD Masters M10 V2 BluOS Streaming Amplifier and NAD Masters M33 BluOS Streaming DAC Amplifier. The new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier is a technology that can be clearly placed in the high-end segment.

The NAD HybridDigital nCore Technology is a highly efficient and powerful amplifier technology, this is reflected in the new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier in two times 180 watts to speaker systems with an impedance of 4 and 8 ohms. Mind you, this information is about continuous output power, up to 250 watts per channel, the new stereo integrated amplifier should be able to reach as pulse power peaks.

The NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier is thus able to optimally control a variety of speaker systems and always provide sufficient power reserves for accurate imaging.

Outstanding converter

Another essential component of the new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier comes directly from the NAD Masters Series, namely its converters.

The NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier relies on 32-bit 384 kHz ESS Sabre 9028 converters from ESS Technology Inc., which are said to feature a very wide dynamic range, extremely low noise, low distortion and outstanding jitter values.

Flexible connection options

The new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier is equipped with two optical and two coaxial S/PDIF interfaces for the integration of various digital sources. In addition, there is an HDMI port that can be used directly as a source, for example, a TV set. This not only supports HDMI CEC for central control, but audio data is also forwarded directly to the amplifier via an eARC.

Two pairs of RCA jacks are available for analog signals, and these two line ins feature a low-noise buffer amplifier.

As if that weren’t enough, the new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier has an integrated phono preamplifier that is designed for drives equipped with MM cartridge systems and is said to have particularly accurate RIAA equalization. In addition, this phono preamplifier has an innovative circuit that is supposed to offer extremely low noise and high overload reserves. Infrasonic components are suppressed here without affecting bass reproduction.

The new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier features connections for two switchable speaker groups as well as a preamp output and two subwoofer outputs.

Those who want to use mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets as a source can do so via an integrated Bluetooth module, whereby this is a Bluetooth transceiver. Thus, it is not only a receiver, but also a transmitter, which allows controlling Bluetooth headphones. Both versions support the aptX and aptX HD codec, so signal transmission with up to 24 bit and 48 kHz is possible.

If you prefer to control the headphones via cable, you can do so via an integrated headphone amplifier, which has a low output impedance and high output voltage according to the manufacturer.

NAD MDC2 Technology

As already mentioned, the new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier is the first product to be equipped with the new NAD MDC2 Technology.

MDC, this abbreviation has always stood for a particularly innovative concept of the Canadians, namely the Modular Design Construction Technology, which allows flexible upgrading with a wide variety of function modules. The new NAD MDC2 Technology has two slots available for this purpose.

The first module based on the generation now presented as NAD MDC2 Technology is the NAD MDC2 BluOS-D Module and thus once again a solution that allows hi-res audio streaming based on BluOS.

However, the NAD MCD2 BluOS-D Module not only adds multi-room audio streaming based on BluOS to the new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier, making it one of the most flexible platforms of its kind currently available, it also brings with it DIRAC Live Room Correction. This is to ensure that the amplifier delivers optimal results in any room.

Seamless integration into control solutions

It is already a good tradition at NAD Electronics that solutions such as the new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier are equipped in such a way that they can be seamlessly integrated into a wide variety of control systems in the field of custom installation.

The NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier not only has 12 V trigger inputs and outputs, but also an RS232 interface. The manufacturer promises direct integration into Control4, Crestron, RTI, URC, Lutron, iPort, Elan, PUSH and KNX solutions.

The scope of delivery naturally includes a suitable infrared remote control. Of course, if you upgrade the system with the BluOS module, the appropriate controller apps are available to control music streaming, in the form of the BluOS Controller for Apple iOS, Google Android, Amazon FireOS, Apple macOS, Microsoft Windows and Linux.

Proven Design Line of the NAD Classic Series

Of course, the new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier presents itself in the familiar design concept of the NAD Classic Series, which convinces with a simple, but timelessly elegant appearance.

The NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier measures 435 x 120 x 390 mm and weighs 11.2 kg.

Its front is adorned first and foremost with a color display that provides all the essential information in a clearly legible manner. This is flanked by a rotary encoder for controlling the volume, as well as a five-way control pad. Two buttons are provided for selecting the active input, and in addition to the connection for headphones, a main switch should not be missing, of course.

The new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier is expected to be in stores in December 2021. The non-binding recommended retail price is stated at € 1,999.

The new NAD MDC2 BluOS-D Module is also scheduled to hit the market in December 2021, though you’ll have to budget a non-binding suggested retail price of €599 for this one.

Getting to the point

The NAD Classic Series has always been one of the most exciting product lines of the Canadian HiFi forge NAD Electronics. So when they announce a new flagship here, you can be very excited about a very fine solution. An expectation that the new NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier will hardly disappoint, after all, features such as NAD HybridDigital nCore Technology are used here for the first time, which were previously only found in the NAD Masters Series. In addition, the NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier features NAD MDC2 Technology for the first time and thus introduces a new generation of NAD Modular Design Construction.