NAD C 298 Stereo Integrated Amplifier graphite

NAD C 298 STEREO POWER AMPLIFIER

HybridDigital TM Purifi self-clocking TM amplifier

MAIN FEATURES

• HybridDigital TM Purifi Self Clocked TM Amplifier
• Continuous output power: 2 x 185 W at 8 O, 2 x 340 W at 4 O
• Pulse power: 2 x 260 W / 2 x 490 W / 2 x 570 W (at 8/4/2 O)
• Pulse power in bridge circuit: 1,000 W at 8 O, 1,100 W at 4 O
• Balanced XLR inputs
• gold-plated RCA inputs
• adjustable input level
• High-level output for looping through the audio signal to other power amplifiers
• Inputs and outputs for 12 V trigger signals
• adjustable sensitivity for automatic switch-on
• Inputs and outputs for IR
• Ground terminal
• Separate power cord

In the almost 50-year history of the company, numerous innovative amplifier technologies have already made their debut at NAD - starting with the classic 3020 with its enormous current delivery capability through to the Class D flagship M2. In August 2020, the NAD M33, a brand new high-end streaming integrated amplifier, was released, which works with the innovative new Purifi Eigentakt TM technology for the first time worldwide and promptly received the EISA award as the best "smart amplifier 2020". /21” was awarded.

With the new stereo power amplifier C 298, NAD would like to make the unique Purifi Eigentakt TM amplifier technology accessible to a wider audience. It is the perfect partner for the BluOS streaming preamplifier C 658 and convinces with an enormous performance.

Purifi is a Danish technology company where some of the leading developers in the hi-fi industry are pursuing the goal of identifying and eliminating the last remaining weaknesses in digital amplification technology. The current status of their work resulted in the Purifi Eigentakt TM amplifier, which NAD is the first company to produce under license and has so far been used exclusively in the BluOS streaming amplifier M33.

The Purifi Eigentakt TM technology is impressive in terms of measurement with extremely low intermodulation distortion, a particularly low distortion factor of just 0.005% over the entire frequency response and the entire power bandwidth, as well as minimal inherent noise.

The realization that a memory effect occurs in the components in the output filter of the amplifier was groundbreaking for the development of the Eigentakt TM technology. This phenomenon, called hysteresis, obviously leads to the well-known loss of sound of conventional digital amplifiers. By modifying the output stage and using the clever algorithms of the self-clocking technology, Purifi managed to significantly reduce the hysteresis effects. Another advantage of the Eigentakt TM power amplifiers is that they are absolutely insensitive to changing loudspeaker loads. Their extremely low output impedance also leads to a very high damping factor, which is expressed in absolutely clean and controlled bass reproduction.

Enormous performance reserves

Instead of old-fashioned linear power supplies and class AB amplifiers, which convert almost half of the required energy into heat instead of power, NAD only uses switching power supplies and class D output stages for its current amplifiers . This design is very linear over a wide bandwidth and provides consistent performance to all speaker loads, representing a dramatic advance over previous techniques.

The large power pack of the C 298 enables the power amplifiers to have an enormous continuous output of 2 x 340 watts (at 4 o) and up to 2 x 570 watts of pulse power (at 2 o). The innovative asymmetric power drive technology uses every single available watt to provide enormous dynamic reserves in order to reproduce the music precisely without distortion or compression. In addition, the highly efficient power supply convinces with almost perfect voltage regulation over its entire operating range and thus ensures a solid, noise-free power supply for the amplifier stages.

Flexible application options

At first glance, the C 298 may appear to be a simple stereo power amplifier, but NAD engineers have carefully considered all applications in order to develop the most universally usable power amplifier possible. The C 298 has symmetrical inputs so that it is also prepared for professional studio use and connection to high-end preamplifiers and processors. Thanks to its variable input sensitivity, the C 298 can be perfectly integrated into constellations with additional amplifiers or active loudspeakers and subwoofers - the high-level preamplifier output required for this is already part of the equipment package. An automatic switch-on function with adjustable sensitivity simplifies the operation of complex systems and enables hidden operation of the amplifier. The ground clip prevents ground loops and hum in audio systems with multiple amplifiers. And finally, if required, the C 298 can also be operated with a bridge circuit, which makes it an amazingly powerful monoblock amplifier. Start with one C 298 and add a second later when you upgrade your speaker system.

Basic Requirements

It's amazing how many seemingly advanced products on the market today often don't even have the basic requirements for reliable and sonorous operation. NAD, on the other hand, knows the importance of low-noise circuits, precise channel balance, correct input and output impedance characteristics, large headroom and stable amplification even with difficult speaker loads. NAD's engineers take these fundamental aspects into account in their work and are constantly evolving them.

For example, the high-level inputs of the C 298 - whether the balanced XLR or the conventional cinch sockets - are suitable for all types of analog audio sources, as they have an ideal input impedance with linear, extremely low-noise buffer amplifiers to prevent sonic degradation caused by mismatch. Details you can hear.