Since many of you will use C328 with small shelf speakers I want to brag up its BASS EQ circuit. It uses eight active discrete devices that almost completely eliminate distortion and crossover artifacts. Needless to say, I plunked down the cash. It boosts frequencies around 80Hz by 8dB with a smooth roll-off. Well the Nad HAD been driving them, and now the Nad is a has-been amp. The Onkyo has only one coax and one optical digital input, vs. two of each for the NAD. Following in the footsteps of some of NAD’s greatest units, the NAD C 328 … The NAD C 328 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier has no flaws that I can determine. Cables were Bluejeans and media was good ‘ole Redbook CD. It is of the two conductor 18 gauge variant. In fact, there’s an argument to say this version of the D 3020 is harking back to the past. In his spare time he enjoys riding his recumbent trike at least 100 miles per week, trying out new restaurants, going to theme parks and spending as much time as possible watching movies and listening to music. NAD DAC INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER REVIEW SPECIFICATIONS, © Copyright 2020 Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity /, Show Reports, Film Festivals and Concerts, Marantz SACD 30N Network SACD Player Review, MartinLogan Balanced Force 212 Subwoofer Review, Starke Sound A8.350 Multichannel Power Amplifier Review, STAX SR-007A Electrostatic Headphone Review, What We Are Watching Vol. With any luck, saving a few pennies with C328 will allow you to allot more money to your speaker purchase! Rather than employing an expensive solution, they’ve found a better way to use a mainstream part. After engaging the learn mode with a button combo, the amp can learn, say, a volume up/down command from your TV’s remote. It was barely above room temperature, even after an hour of high-volume listening. All Rights Reserved. The svelte D 3020 contrasted with the iconic 3020 amp of '78, but this V2 trades-in USB for phono and Bluetooth in a bid to regain its crown as the ultimate 'starter amp' The original NAD … NAD D 3020 review (Part 1 – vs. NAD 3020i) by John Darko January 8, 2014, 08:57. The audio landscape is very different now, but the need for a high quality, sensibly priced amplifier with a carefully considered features set remains. No problem. While the broader market focuses on features and new technologies like Dolby Atmos and Ultra HD, NAD remains a strong advocate of quality over quantity. All the dynamic range in the recording (and there isn’t much) was present as was its full detail. It features the same glossy curvature and similarly chunky dial, yet somehow still it succeeds in making its predecessor seem dated. I had a NAD T748 AVR, which is AB. With the C 328 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier, NAD continues its long-standing tradition of providing the best possible sound at the lowest possible price. NAD D3020 Shop now at Amazon. On the outside, the C 328’s simple appearance belies the high-end tech going on within. Like all integrated amplifiers, the C 328 includes multiple components, or sections, in a single box. It supports today’s digital sources with an advanced dual-differential DAC section and accommodates analog boxes too with two RCA stereo inputs plus a moving-magnet phono section. Those who wish to add a subwoofer can connect it to the included output. What if the speakers you like best ARE four ohms? They say flat out, your speakers have to be 6-8 ohms or higher. The C 328 is pretty much a clean-sheet design that adds moving-magnet phono support and an eight-channel DAC with a dual-differential design that ensures the near-elimination of noise and distortion. That limits your speaker choice tremendously! Then it can control the unit instead of the included handset. With NAD, you buy the speakers you like without worrying about their impedance. His ultimate theater desires were realized when he completed construction of a dedicated cinema/listening room in his home. JioExchangePhonesList (Make Model) - Free ebook download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or view presentation slides online. I took this opportunity to make an A/B comparison of CD versus Bluetooth by queueing up the same selection on my phone. This pressing by Erato is cleaner than the Brahms performance and sports a bit more dynamic range, and far more transparency. How Much Amplifier Power Does your Home Theater Need? It is not the removable or upgradable type. The NAD @ 50 wpc seems ridiculously low powered for a Class D amp. Even when off, lower frequencies weren’t always well-controlled, but I blame the material for that, not the C328. Maintaining specified distortion at 4/8Ω and at 20-20kHz is a much more difficult achievement. I began with a very familiar recording of Brahms Symphony No. The D 3020's IHF ratings are 65Wpc into 8 ohms, … I couldn’t leave the classical realm without some first-rate bassooning, so I grabbed Klaus Thunemann’s Romantic Bassoon Rarities. As grounding through any power cord alone is not achieved, this unit requires a grounded AC receptacle or separate earth ground. It promises less distortion than its predecessor from the C 326BEE. I could make this entry very short and just say, C328 is a C338 without the network capabilities. The "simple is better" design philosophy is a time honored doctrine at NAD, and in this case it yields a compact component with an MSRP of $549. Hi I purchased a NAD C328 to replace a Denon X1300W, but I’m having second thoughts.. I’ve been planning to upgrade to a pair of B&W floorstanders further down the path which most likely means swapping out the C328 … But by adding an advanced DAC and a phono stage, NAD has set a high bar for value. As an avid movie lover, Chris was unable to turn away the 50-inch Samsung DLP TV that arrived at his door one day, thus launching him irrevocably into an obsession with home theater. © 2020 Audio Emporium. Rather than burden its products with dozens of features, and their accompanying logos on the front panel, the focus is on achieving high-end audio quality at mid-fi prices. Also … The DAC is an eight-channel design which is summed into a dual-differential configuration. We’ve had C338 for a year, which has the identical preamp and amp within. Chris' passion for audio began when he took up playing the bassoon at age 12. In today’s age of huge feature lists and barrage of technology, it’s components like the C 328 that remind us why we got into this hobby in the first place. This is the CD to play when you want to demonstrate what compression sounds like. The detachable power cord is grounded as well and you can turn the power off completely with a toggle switch. A neat learning feature allows non-NAD remotes to control the C 328. Infrared (IR) Learning enables any non-NAD remote control learn IR remote control codes. Used only as a stereo amp. <0.03 % (100mW to 40W, 8 ohms and 4 ohms), >95dB (A-weighted, -12dBFS input, ref. From our flagship Masters Series, to our budget-friendly Classic Series, NAD … I previously declared that the NAD D3020 v.2 had been driving a new speaker acquisition, specifically a pair of cerwin-vega xls-28 floorstanders, power hungry speakers, by reputation. 3.39 in. No go with Yamaguchi. 50W per channel may not sound impressive on a spec sheet, but it’s more than enough to make my big towers sing without breaking a sweat. All of that was on display thanks to the C 328’s deft and precise handling. The C328 is a stereo integrated amplifier … mail@audioemporium.com  |  Site by Belle Media. I found a small shop that sold NAD and was immediately drawn to the 3020 with its beautiful neutral sound and distinct brown faceplate. For those who just want a solid and reliable two-channel system for a surprisingly small sum, the NAD C 328 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier has few equals. NAD has always been about quality over quantity. The original designer of the 3020, NAD’s Director of Advanced Technology, Bjorn Erik Edvardsen, has been pivotal in developing the D 3020 for the new digital generation. Currently I own the C326BEE and recently I developed the upgrade bug again (very hard to cure). Perhaps I’m a bit spoiled by the heavy metal wonders that come with Masters Series components. NAD is hoping to recapture that spirit with the new D 3020. With the option to connect digital, analog, or Bluetooth sources, one can enjoy excellent sound and convenience in a single, slim package. That confirms to me that this amp is completely neutral in tone. There are no menus to explore or settings to experiment with. … 2, again with the Chicago Symphony, this time conducted by Daniel Barenboim. Low output impedance means it can drive anything one cares to plug in. This collection of obscure concertos is delightful and his sound and approach to the music is amazing. Engaging this button boosts bass about 6–7dB at 80Hz, … NAD’s designers figured that most customers for an amplifier of this price would likely be using it with speakers that don’t exactly plumb the depths. Dynamic range is exactly zero. The power stage employs an active power supply. Dynamics were a bit compressed on the streamed version, and there was some distortion present in the louder passages, especially in the high registers of the strings and brass. A third set of RCA jacks feeds the moving-magnet phono stage. Just upgraded to a C388. To honour this legendary amplifier, NAD released the D 3020 to coincide with NAD’s 40th anniversary. Great looking unit if you like NAD style. If it were simply a good two-channel amp, the price would still be attractive. NAD Electronics C 328 Stereo Integrated Amplifier with built-in DAC and Bluetooth Factory Refurbished For 45 years, NAD Electronics has introduced aspiring audiophiles to the vast world of hi-fi. Select pair and you’re done. I experimented with the bass eq toggle and found it added a little depth to the sound without causing any bass bloat. The output stage is a custom version of the tried-and-true Hypex UcD Class D design. Essentially, this V2 is a slicker, classier-looking version of the amp. Some listeners may prefer to leave it off when using full-range speakers like mine, but I’m a bit of a bass-head. 6: November 2020, What We’re Listening To. Further, you can run two pairs of them or, add a subwoofer at line or speaker level without worry. Mixed through the legendary Neve console, it has an honesty and warmth that just doesn’t exist in many other discs. It can handle variations in AC power more easily and is coupled with a Load Invariant output stage. What we have here is something NAD calls “entry level high-end”. When unpacking the C 328, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the 3020 integrated amp I owned back in the mid-eighties. With the learned codes, the configured non-NAD remote control can be used to command or operate the C 328… But no component will be able to make this CD sound any better than a MIDI file. The Onkyo has four line-level analog inputs, the NAD three. The C 328 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier is the ideal anchor for a high-performance two-channel system. NAD takes can-fans seriously with a separate headphone amp section boasting less than .005% distortion at 1V output. Maybe it was Nad… They take me back to a time before surround sound and format wars and high-res and standards that change more often than Kim Kardashian’s clothes. You want to stack something on top? I went with the D3020 I think because the C328 didn't have a sub input. It’s been stellar! In this review, we break down the D3020 V2’s sound, … The C 328 blends right in to modern décor with its minimalist styling and unobtrusive size. I loved hearing the clear separation of instruments with the lead guitar placed firmly in the left channel. It takes a solid system to flesh out the details. Aside from its retuning and refining of the original, NAD has kitted the amp out with a moving magnet phono stage to reflection of the rise in vinyl sal… It made my LFR1100s sing with or without the bass eq, which adds a nice depth, and it never lost control of the lower frequencies. It runs so cool that ventilation is unnecessary. JioExchangePhonesList (Make Model) I have had a NAD amplifier go bad after a few years of use and getting it fixed was not fun. This London Digital CD is a classic in every sense but its quality pales in comparison to modern releases. Denon PMA-30 Shop now at Amazon. NADs are also comfortable into low impedances. I needed an external DAC for my PC, my first venture into better-than-built-in-motherboard sound. In short, if you want resolving speakers and are pushing your budget to attain them, consider C328 as a high quality, affordable front end solution. There are also a set of transport keys that work for Bluetooth sources once it’s paired with a phone, tablet, or computer. That single component introduced me to quality audio and I’ve never forgotten that experience. Remember, the LFR1100s are 4 ohm speakers. The pre-amp supports two analog inputs, labeled TV and Streaming. A subwoofer output insures a well-supported low end, and there’s even a bass eq switch that boosts output around the 80Hz crossover point. At a $549 MSRP, it offers a lot of bang for the buck. 7.32 in. He is proud to be a part of the Team and hopes to help everyone enjoy their AV experiences to the fullest. I was at school in Boston and just itching to buy a decent piece of stereo gear to make my Technics turntable and tape deck sound better. The I connected a pair of Axiom LFR1100 tower speakers. At lower volume they sound very much the same to me, maybe a little quieter background on the C388. Literally the only two things that affect sound are the volume knob and the bass eq. This is one of my favorite rock recordings not only for the music but for its audio quality. In the original 3020’s day a phono stage was vital, today its descendant proves its forward-looking credentials by not only including the now fashionable internal DAC but an aptX-capable Bluetooth connection too. May have something to do with the 2x80W vs … The front panel is broken only by a small display and buttons for power, source, and bass eq. To call this amp efficient is an understatement. The Onkyo A-9010 offers bass, treble, and balance controls; the C 328 … It won’t make bad recordings sound good. I could make this entry very short and just say, C328 … A tiny remote is included that controls all the C 328’s functions to include discrete power buttons, volume, source, bass eq, and display dimmer. I always keep a pair of Usher S-520 loudspeakers to hand, pressing them into service every few … The NAD D3020 is my first NAD product. As explained to me by NAD’s Director of Technology and Product Planning, Greg Stidsen, it is essentially a power amp that produces pure DC voltage. The C 328 did a good job of rendering detail, what there was of it. While rated at 50×2, it hits peaks of more than double that rating. Going back and forth between CD and Bluetooth revealed far less difference than one would expect. While I would not personally turn to Bluetooth as my main listening source, it provides a level of convenience that will be attractive to many users, and manages to sound pretty good too. The Class D amp stage easily rivals entry level class A/B amps such as my previous Cambridge Audio … This is great for users who want to run their display’s sound through their two-channel system rather than its built-in speakers. NAD uses this stricter performance criterion because it more closely matches the demands of real music and real loudspeakers. The other guys have high current and low current modes. That was a traditional analog two-channel integrated amp with a Class AB output stage. When engaged, BASS EQ adds what is often just the right bump to a less than full range speaker, whether tower or shelf model. There isn’t much more to say here so on to the listening. It depends largely on your own room’s acoustics and it’s easy to toggle the eq with the remote. Our magazine, which began with the publication of the SECRETS Primer, is available exclusively on-line and offers to our readers an extensive information resource about home theater and high-end audio. But this incredibly capable box offers tremendous performance for only $549. During his third year at the New England Conservatory of Music, he won a position with the West Point Band where he served for 26 years as principal bassoonist. Picking up the torch once held by its predecessor, the D 3020 … 1W out in 8 ohms), 2 x RCA, 1 x MM phono, 2 x coax, 2 x Toslink, Bluetooth, NAD C 328 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier, NAD, Hybrid Digital, Class D Amplifier, Integrated Amplifier, DAC, Bluetooth, Integrated Amplifier Reviews 2018. Maintaining specified distortion at 4/8Ω and at 20-20kHz is a much more difficult achievement. 7.87 in. Those of you familiar with them will now be saying, “but they require two channels of amplification each.” Since the front and rear driver arrays are electronically separated, one can simply cable the front array and run them like a pair of M100s, which is exactly what I did. A Kenwood receiver had sufficed through high school but my conservatory studies demanded a more critical listening rig. NAD’s original D3020 was one of the few exceptions, and, with this new version for 2018, the company hopes to keep that idea going. But I doubt many users will complain. Coincidentally enough this exact information is located on the backside of the chassis but on opposite ends of the device, adjacent to the phono stage. But I like the music, and it sounds good in the car. Digital sources can be connected to any of two coax or two optical inputs. Are Expensive outboard DACs a waste of money? … Basically, what NAD has done is to use a cost-effective chip in a way that lowers noise beyond a vanishing point and increases dynamic range. Available colors: User rating The powerful yet unassuming 3020 wowed listeners with its big, warm and detailed sound. The sound quality easily matches more expensive boxes but keeps costs down with smart and efficient design and engineering. It has a 120dB range and is entirely governed by software. With its sleek profile and outrageously high performance, C328 brings this new echelon of NAD technology to its lowest price point. Rather than adding a laundry list of features, the C 328 is simply a logical update to its venerable predecessor, the C 326BEE. NAD has always placed greater emphasis on their products' more impressive IHF "Dynamic Power" ratings, however (footnote 2). The setup of the C 328 can literally be described thusly: hook up speakers, hook up source, plug into AC, enjoy. Also on the packed back panel is a connector for the included Bluetooth antenna and large five-way speaker binding posts. It does exactly what it’s designed to do and it does it extremely well. He managed to bloom in the middle register a few times which tells me he might have been a bit too close to the microphone. While the interface compresses the signal, the advanced DAC treats that information much better than other systems delivering superior sound in the process. I own a Class D amp from another manufacturer and am happy with it, so not a Class D hater. It required all of 10 minutes to install and played whatever I threw at it with a deft and practiced hand. JBL Synthesis SDP-55 & SDR-35 Q&A Nick Clarke – Senior Director of Global Engineering, Thank You To All of Our SECRETS Fans and Supporters, RIAA Vinyl Sales Q&A with McIntosh Group CEO Jeff Poggi. But it will make good ones sound great. I went through several products before finally discovering this. From our flagship Masters Series, to our budget-friendly Classic Series, NAD has a component for everyone. A step-less volume knob adorns the right side and a quarter-inch headphone jack is included too. The benefit of NAD… The remote? NAD C328 $600 50×2 Stereo Integrated Amp (2 3/16h, 17 1/8w, 11 1/4d) C328 is NAD’s most recent introduction in its Hybrid Digital line. Offering an excellent quality 24/192 DAC with 8 channels mixed to 2 for improved resolution, the D 3020 … For my review, I used an OPPO BDP-93 as a digital transport through one of the coax inputs. Or, if your bookshelves need an extra shot of low-end goodness, engage the bass eq switch on the front. In fact, I haven’t heard it sound this good since I had the M32 Masters Series amp in my system. That’s what I love about these CDs, they’re unfailingly honest. The D 3020 was among the first of what I've come to call DAC-lifiers: … NAD C 328 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier. BluetoothClass D AmplifierDACFeaturedHybrid DigitalIntegrated AmplifierIntegrated Amplifier Reviews 2018NADNAD C 328 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier. 2, performed by the Chicago Symphony under Sir Georg Solti. I was pleased to hear that no level adjustment was necessary if I had my iPhone’s output volume maxed. My favorite audio reviews are of simple components like these. Of course, I preferred the CD but only by a small margin. This design is a NAD’s take on the Hypex UcD self-oscillating Class D amplifier. C328 has the same feature set as C338 EXCEPT that it doesn’t have Wi-Fi/Chromecast. While Dave Grohl was screaming away, I went to the rack and touched the C 328’s case near the speaker terminals. Many amps and processors I’ve listened to make the strings sound like mush and all the instruments seem as if they’re at the same distance from the listener. The NAD offers “low noise” circuits and a “precise” volume control.