NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier

New Flagship Integrated Amp in NAD's Classic Series

The C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier is the clearest expression yet of NAD’s commitment to sonic excellence and lasting value. Employing NAD’s HybridDigital™ nCore™ amplification, which until now has been available only on Masters Series amplifiers, the C 399 is the new flagship integrated amplifier in NAD’s Classic Series. The C 399’s digital section is built around a 32-bit/384kHz ESS Sabre DAC, the same chip used in NAD’s acclaimed M10 and M33 Masters Series amplifiers.

The C 399 is also the first amplifier to incorporate the latest generation of NAD’s Modular Design Construction (MDC) technology, MDC2, which lets users add optional modules that provide functions such as BluOS Hi-Res multi-room music streaming, Dirac Live room correction, and more.

As with every NAD amplifier, the C 399 gets the basics right, with its precise volume control with accurate channel balance, low-noise circuits, and correct input and output impedances. The C 399 can reproduce all your digital and analog sources to a level of excitement and refinement that is unprecedented in its class. Ever since the launch of the legendary 3020 integrated amplifier in 1978, the NAD brand has been synonymous with value and performance. The C 399 takes that reputation to a whole new level. Thanks to NAD’s innovative new MDC2 architecture, the C 399 can serve as the hub of a world-class music system today, and for many years to come.

Pure Power for Effortless Music Reproduction

Trickled down from NAD’s Masters Series, the C 399’s HybridDigital nCore amplifier is highly efficient and remarkably powerful. It can deliver 180 Watts per channel continuous power and 250 Watts per channel instantaneous power, allowing the C 399 to produce musical transients effortlessly.

The HybridDigital nCore design is renowned for its wide bandwidth, flat frequency response, clean clipping behavior with instant recovery, high current capability, and stability into demanding low-impedance speaker loads. Noise and distortion are vanishingly low under all operating conditions. The minute levels of harmonic distortion are dominated by sonically benign second and third harmonics. These refinements enable the C 399 to produce neutral, distortion-free sound even at very high listening levels, with thrilling dynamics, exquisite detail, and superb portrayal of space.

Also trickled down from the Masters Series is the ESS Sabre ES9028 high-resolution DAC, a design noted for its wide dynamic range, ultra-low noise and distortion, and near-zero levels of clock jitter. This premium DAC enables the C 399 to reproduce all of one’s digital sources with amazing musicality, a precise soundstage, and stunning clarity.

Future Perfect Design

In 2006, NAD introduced Modular Design Construction (MDC), an innovative architecture for adding new functions to existing components. Many NAD products have rear-panel slots for MDC modules that perform UHD (4K) support, HDMI switching, BluOS multi-room music streaming, Dolby Atmos surround processing, and other functions.

The C 399 is the first product to feature NAD’s new MDC2 architecture. By enabling two-way communications between the module and host component, MDC2 allows for adding desirable features.

Equipped with Wi-Fi and Ethernet, the optional MDC2 BluOS-D module lets listeners play music from their favorite streaming services through the C 399, using the acclaimed BluOS Controller app for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Like all BluOS Enabled products, the MDC2 BluOS-D has integrated support for dozens of streaming services; and supports Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect. Two-way communications also enable the MDC2 BluOS-D to stream music from local sources connected to the C 399 to BluOS Enabled components in other rooms.

The Dirac Live function lets users to measure their room’s acoustics using a supplied microphone and intuitive app, and then upload correction curves to the MDC2 BluOS-D. By compensating for acoustic anomalies in listening environments, Dirac Live dramatically improves bass clarity, imaging, and timbral accuracy. Thanks to its two-way architecture, the MDC2 BluOS-D performs Dirac Live room correction for all sources connected to the C 399.

Well Connected

The C 399 has two optical and two coaxial digital inputs, plus an HDMI-eARC port for playing audio from a connected TV, while controlling amplifier output with the TV’s remote control. Analog aficionados are well served with two pairs of RCA line-level inputs, plus a MM phono stage with ultra-precise RIAA equalization, extremely low noise, and high overload margins. The phono preamp also features an innovative circuit that suppresses the infrasonic noise present on all LPs, without compromising bass response. The line inputs have low-noise buffer amplifiers to prevent sonic degradation.

In addition to two sets of speaker outputs, the C 399 has preamp output jacks and dual subwoofer outputs. Two-way aptX HD Bluetooth allows 24-bit streaming from mobile devices, and high-quality output to Bluetooth headphones. Also built-in is a dedicated headphone amplifier with low output impedance and high output voltage capability, enabling the C 399 to drive demanding high-impedance studio monitor headphones.

Product Features

Hybrid Digital nCore Amplifier
Continuous Power: 180 Watts per channel into 8/4 ohms
Instantaneous Power: 250 Watts per channel
Vanishingly low harmonic and intermodulation distortion
Dual MDC2 Slots for expanded functionality
Optional MDC2 BluOS D module adds BluOS multi room streaming and Dirac Live room correction
Jitter free 32 bit/384kHz ESS Sabre DAC
Ultra low noise MM phono stage with infrasonic filtering circuitry
Two optical, two coaxial digital inputs
HDMI eARC input
Two pairs of line level analogue inputs with low noise buffer amplifiers
Speaker A/Speaker B outputs
Two way aptX HD Bluetooth
Dual subwoofer outputs
Dedicated headphone amplifier
IR remote
12V Trigger in/out
IR in/out
RS 232 Serial port for control integration with home automation systems
Seamless integration with Control4, Crestron, RTI, URC, Lutron, iPort, Elan PUSH and KNX smart home control systems

Product Specs

Preamplifier Line Input, Pre-Out (Analog Bypass On)

THD (20Hz - 20kHz) <0.002% at 2V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio >106dB (IHF; A-weighted, ref. 500mV out, unity gain)
Channel separation >100dB (1 kHz); >90 dB (10 kHz)
Input Impedance (R and C) 56 kohms + 100 pF
Maximum input signal >4.6Vrms (ref. 0.1% THD)
Output impedance Source Z + 320 Ohm
Input sensitivity 65mV (ref. 500mV out, Volume maximum)
Frequency response ±0.3dB (20Hz - 20kHz)
Maximum voltage output -IHF load >5V (ref. 0.1% THD)

Phono Input, Pre-Out (Analog Bypass On)

THD (20Hz - 20kHz) <0.01% at 2V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio >84dB (200 Ohm source; A-weighted, ref. 500mV out)
Input sensitivity 1.08mV (ref. 500mV out, Volume maximum)
Frequency response ±0.3dB (20Hz - 20kHz)
Maximum input signal at 1kHz >80mVrms (ref. 0.1% THD)

Line Input, Headphone Out (Analog Bypass On)

THD (20Hz - 20kHz) <0.005% at 1V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio >107dB (32 Ohms loads; A-WTD, ref. 2V out, unity gain)
Frequency response ±0.3dB (20Hz - 20kHz)
Channel separation >62dB at 1kHz
Output impedance 2.2 Ohms

Line In, Speaker Out (Analog Bypass On)

Continuous output power into 8 ohms and 4 ohms 180W (ref. 20 Hz-20 kHz at rated THD, both channels driven)
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz) <0.02% (250 mW to 180 W, 8 ohms and 4 ohms)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio >95 dB (A-weighted, 500 mV input, ref. 1 W out in 8 ohms)
Clipping power >210W (at 1 kHz 0.1 % THD)
IHF dynamic power 8 ohms: 217 W; 4 ohms: 400 W; 2 ohms: 506.4 W
Peak output current >26 A (in 1 ohm, 1 ms)
Damping factor >150 (ref. 8 ohms, 20Hz to 6.5kHz)
Frequency response ±0.3 dB (20 Hz - 20 kHz)
Channel separation >90dB (1 kHz); >75dB (10 kHz)
Input sensitivity (for 180 W in 8 ohms) Line In: 201 mV; Digital In: 10.25% FS

General Specifications

Supports bit rate/sample rate up to 24 bit/192 kHz
Frequency band 2.402G- 2.480G
Maximum transmit power (dBm) 7 dBm ± 2 dBm
Gross dimensions (W x H x D) 17 1/8 x 4 3/4 x 15 3/8”
Net Weight 24.7 lb.
Shipping weight 30 lb.

Product Warranty

2 Years

Parts & Labor

NAD Electronics Warranty Information

Product Manual

	NAD C 399 Manual (PDF Format)

	NAD C 399 Quick Setup Guide (PDF Format)

	NAD C 399 Data Sheet (PDF Format)

"...the C399 is a true high-end component of superior performance for which absolutely no allowances have to be made. When the excellent phonostage and DAC are factored in, it’s obvious that for sheer value the C399 is so far off the charts it’s almost a joke. That it costs a mere dollar under two grand is a conundrum only for those who need to know the price of something before they can judge it. The rest of us can rejoice in how fortunate it is that products like this exist to make the rewards of high-end audio available to multitudes. In this context I cannot help but be struck by how appropriately named NAD’s Classic Series is, for it was always the dream of the great pioneers of audio that quality reproduction of recorded music in the home should be affordable to all and sundry. I salute NAD for keeping this dream alive and continuing to be a leader in the field. Products like the C399 demonstrate that in the right hands high performance and high value, far from being mutually exclusive, are matches that really do seem to be made in heaven."

- Paul Seydor, The Absolute Sound, January 17, 2023

"The C399 is breathtakingly competent. It is everything you could reasonably ask for in a modern integrated amp and has scope to future proof too."

"Ultimately, the C399 does the most NAD thing that any NAD product can do. It beguiles you with its absolute and unwavering ability to do everything that you need it to and largely do it very, very well."

- Ed Selley, AVForums, May 25, 2022

"With NAD's C 399 integrated streaming amp, the company has arguably made smart choices. Its compromises, corporeal and aesthetic in nature, relate to things like its chassis, front-panel display, and remote control. Those seeking audio jewelry will look elsewhere. But for those interested in sound quality, features, the flexibility of a modular design, and, importantly, value, the C 399 handily delivers."

"The C 399 delivers great performance, impressive features and flexibility, and high value in a modest, yet handsome package."

- Howard Kneller, Sound & Vision, April 27, 2022

"In literally every other respect, though, there’s simply nothing about this product I would change. I think NAD could have easily squeezed another 500 bucks out of customers, and it still would have represented a hell of a value."

"...my favorite thing about it is that it sounds brilliant and is nearly infinitely tweakable to fit my preferences and my listening space."

- Dennis Burger, SoundStage! Access, April 1, 2022

"The NAD C 399 HYBRID DIGITAL DAC AMPLIFIER brings reference level performance to a reasonable price point. It runs with the big dogs for about half the cost."

"There is truly nothing I can complain about here. The NAD C 399 is by far the best integrated amplifier I’ve heard at this price point."

"With NAD’s usual efficient design, the C 399 is a great match for just about any speakers you care to use. Big towers, detailed bookshelves, electrostats; I doubt there is anything this amp can’t drive. If you have around $2,500 in your amplifier budget, I urge you to check it out."

- Chris Eberle, Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity, January 3, 2022