NAD C 328 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier

Editors' Choice Award 2024 – The Absolute Sound Magazine

Recommended Component 2023 – Stereophile

Reviewers' Choice Award – soundstageaccess.com

"A Tremendous Bargain"

For 45 years, NAD Electronics has introduced aspiring audiophiles to the vast world of hi-fi. From its flagship Masters Series, to its budget-friendly Classic Series, NAD has a component for everyone. Following in the footsteps of some of NAD’s greatest units, the NAD C 328 delivers the most fundamental of features, while firmly adhering to NAD’s unwavering commitment to exquisite sound. Although more modest in comparison to other Classic Series amplifiers, the C 328 will fit perfectly into your existing system and bring you the musical nirvana you’ve been searching for.

"Recommended Component" Honors

Stereophile honored the NAD C 328 by awarding it the magazine's coveted Recommend Component status for 2023.

According to Stereophile, "When mated with the right speakers — KM got the best results with Elac's Debut B6 — this amp 'consistently made music with a detailed, very dynamic, natural sound.' In measuring the NAD's amplifier section, JA uncovered a superbly high signal/noise ratio, higher-than-specified output power, and very low distortion, with similarly excellent performance from the phono section; the C 328's onboard DAC was only slightly less distinguished, although it proved capable of more than 19 bits' worth of resolution, which is very good indeed."

Award-Winning Performance

The C 328 won an Editors' Choice Award 2024 from The Absolute Sound magazine, which noted, "The C 328 acquits itself excellently in nuance and resolution. With rock and driving jazz, it displays a lot of punch, kick, drive, and swing. Subjectively, noise and distortion are extremely low, the presentation notable for its clarity and articulation without appearing in the least analytical. A tremendous bargain and a worthy successor to NAD's legendary 3020 integrated amplifiers."

Reviewers' Choice Award – soundstageaccess.com

"Something about the NAD C 328’s sound amazed and mystified me. I kept coming back to the descriptor pure. Its sound was clean and sleek," reports Thom Moon in his review for soundstageaccess.com, which handed the C 328 a Reviewers' Choice Award.

"At first listen it seemed a bit reticent in the bass, but recordings of any bass power belied that impression. I could hear no background hash. In fact, the C 328’s sound reminded me most of that of NAD’s C 510 digital preamp-DAC: Backgrounds were simply 'black' with no fuzz – zero, zip, nothing, nada. Very impressive – even the phono stage was unusually quiet."

"So Much Music for So Little Money"

"The C 328 astonished me the day I first turned it on, and astonished I remained day in, day out during the evaluation period," reports Paul Seydor in The Absolute Sound, February 2019. "My high enthusiasm for the C 328 is due in part to the sheer 'wow' factor of its small size/low price vis-a-vis its astonishingly big performance."

"The NAD C 328 Hybrid Digital integrated amplifier easily met the challenges I set it, making sweet music with minimum fuss," reports Ken Micallef, Stereophile, September 27, 2018. "Its bass frequencies were warm and full, if not extended or particularly focused. I've heard integrateds at this or higher prices with brawnier sound, but none that provided so much music for so little money. Playing LPs or CDs or streaming Bluetooth, the NAD C 328 was a consummate overachiever that never failed to please, given recordings that were up to the task."

Wireless Connectivity, a Phono Stage, and More

The C 328 can wirelessly connect to any smartphone, tablet, or Bluetooth-enabled device within range, to give you a seamless listening experience. Featuring a MM phono input, the C 328 breathes new life into vinyl LPs, thanks in part to NAD’s innovative Hybrid Digital amp technology. The C 328 also features a headphone amplifier, letting you connect your favorite headphones and settle back into your own world of detailed sound.

Also onboard the C 328 is a built-in 24-bit/192kHz DAC. This provides high-performance playback of Bluetooth music devices as well as other music sources connected to its coaxial and optical digital inputs.

Getting the Basics Right

When it comes to Classic Series amplifiers, no feature is overlooked. Low noise circuits, precise volume control action, and accurate channel balance are all key characteristics of the C 328. With the added bonus of proper input and output impedance traits, plus high overload margins and stability with difficult speaker loads, the C 328 is the best choice for audiophiles who are just starting to build their dream systems. The C 328 also includes a MM phono stage with precisely correct RIAA equalization, high overload margins, extremely low noise, and an innovative circuit to suppress infrasonic noise that is present on all LPs, all without affecting bass response.

Versatility in Spades

The line inputs of the C 328 can accommodate all kinds of analog source components. It offers ideal input impedance attributes with linear, ultra-low noise buffer amplifiers to prevent any sonic degradation caused by improper loading of the source device. The C 328 also features a separate headphone amplifier with low output impedance and very high output voltage capability, enough in fact to drive even high impedance studio monitor headphones. The low impedance line outputs can also connect to a subwoofer to further extend the versatility of the C 328.

Ready for Streaming

With support for Bluetooth, you can instantly connect and listen to the music service of your choice, or wirelessly stream music and playlists stored directly on your smartphone, tablet or computer. Plus, with its high performance digital circuitry, Bluetooth streaming has never sounded as good as it does with the C 328.

"It Has Few Equals"

"My favorite audio reviews are of simple components like these," observes Chris Eberle, Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity, January 18, 2018.

"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. 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."

Sophisticated Power

Since moving away from old-fashioned linear power supplies and Class AB output stages, NAD has developed even better performing circuits based on switch mode power supplies and Class D output stages. Once thought to be inferior to traditional topologies, NAD’s advanced work in this area has led to some of the best performing amplifiers on the market today. These new designs are linear over a wide bandwidth and provide consistent performance into all speaker loads, delivering a dramatic advancement.

The power supply of the C 328 is able to provide over 100 watts of audio output when needed. The C 328 can operate with any AC mains voltage from 100V to 240V and provides pure DC power to all of its various stages. This extremely efficient supply also provides near perfect regulation of voltage across a wide range of conditions and provides a solid noise-free foundation for the amplifying stages.

The C 328 uses a customized version of the proven Hypex UcD output stage. This allows for massive power with nearly immeasurable distortion and noise in the audible range. Every detail of this design has been carefully crafted and perfectly executed to wring out the best performance possible. The perfect starter amp for audiophiles and music lovers alike, the C 328 will flawlessly deliver NAD’s signature flexibility and expansive power.

Product Features

50W x 2 Continuous Power into 8 or 4 Ohms
Support for Bluetooth
MM Phono Input
Analog Line Inputs
SPDIF Coax and Optical Inputs
Subwoofer Out
Headphone Amplifier
Bass EQ
IR Remote

Product Specs

Analog In/Headphone Out

THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.005 % at 1 V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >100 dB (A-weighted, 32 ohms, ref. 2V out, unity gain)
Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Output impedance: 11 ohms

Analog In/Subwoofer Out

THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.005 % at 1 V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >100 dB (A-weighted, 32 ohms, ref. 2V out, unity gain)
Frequency response±: 0.2 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Output impedance: 200 ohms

Analog In/Speaker Out

THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.03 % (100 mW to 40 W, 8 ohms and 4 ohms)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >95 dB (A-weighted, 500 mV input, ref. 1 W out 8 ohms)
Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)

Phono In/Speaker Out

THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.03 % (200 mW to 40 W, 8 ohms and 4 ohms)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >75 dB with IHF MM cartridge (A-weighted, ref. 5mV input 1 kHz and 1W output in 8 ohms)
Frequency response (RIAA deviation): ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Note: The RIAA response is consistent with a pre-emphasis that is rolled off at 50kHz by a second order filter, such as used in Neumann cutting lathes

Dimensions and Weight

Dimensions (W x H x D): 17-1/8 x 2-13/16 x 11-1/4″
Weight: 10.8 lbs.

Product Warranty

2 Years

Parts & Labor

NAD Electronics Warranty Information

Recommended Component 2023 – Stereophile

"When mated with the right speakers — KM got the best results with Elac's Debut B6 — this amp 'consistently made music with a detailed, very dynamic, natural sound.' In measuring the NAD's amplifier section, JA uncovered a superbly high signal/noise ratio, higher-than-specified output power, and very low distortion, with similarly excellent performance from the phono section; the C 328's onboard DAC was only slightly less distinguished, although it proved capable of more than 19 bits' worth of resolution, which is very good indeed."

- Stereophile, April 1, 2023

Editors' Choice Award 2024 – The Absolute Sound Magazine

"The C 328 acquits itself excellently in nuance and resolution. With rock and driving jazz, it displays a lot of punch, kick, drive, and swing. Subjectively, noise and distortion are extremely low, the presentation notable for its clarity and articulation without appearing in the least analytical. A tremendous bargain and a worthy successor to NAD's legendary 3020 integrated amplifiers."

- The Absolute Sound magazine, March 2019

Reviewers' Choice Award – soundstageaccess.com

"Something about the NAD C 328’s sound amazed and mystified me. I kept coming back to the descriptor pure. Its sound was clean and sleek. At first listen it seemed a bit reticent in the bass, but recordings of any bass power belied that impression. I could hear no background hash. In fact, the C 328’s sound reminded me most of that of NAD’s C 510 digital preamp-DAC: Backgrounds were simply “black” with no fuzz -- zero, zip, nothing, nada. Very impressive -- even the phono stage was unusually quiet."

- Thom Moon, soundstageaccess.com, May 15, 2018

Recommended Component 2022 – Stereophile

"The NAD C 328 Hybrid Digital integrated amplifier easily met the challenges I set it, making sweet music with minimum fuss. It's picky about the equipment it prefers to associate with, but benefited from its good phono stage and even better DAC, displaying excellent retrieval of information both micro and macro. Its bass frequencies were warm and full, if not extended or particularly focused. I've heard integrateds at this or higher prices with brawnier sound, but none that provided so much music for so little money. Playing LPs or CDs or streaming Bluetooth, the NAD C 328 was a consummate overachiever that never failed to please, given recordings that were up to the task."

"In these penny-pinching, frightening times, that's something to shout 'Get happy!' about."

- Ken Micallef, Stereophile, September 27, 2018

"My favorite audio reviews are of simple components like these. 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. 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."

- Chris Eberle, Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity, January 18, 2018

"NAD expands upon its 40 – year history of making great-sounding and affordable integrated amplifiers with the stunning new C 328. Paul Seydor describes why the $549 C 328 may be all the amplifier many of us will ever need – and why NAD’s new C 546BEE CD player is relevant in today’s streaming world."

"The C 328 astonished me the day I first turned it on, and astonished I remained day in, day out during the evaluation period….my high enthusiasm for the C 328 is due in part to the sheer 'wow' factor of its small size/low price vis-a-vis its astonishingly big performance."

"This sliver of an amplifier is super clean, exceptionally transparent, highly detailed, extremely low in perceived distortion and noise, and so disproportionately dynamic and stable under very demanding conditions that its size and power rating, paradoxically, soon disappeared from my mind."

- Paul Seydor, The Absolute Sound, February 2019

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