NAD C 658 BLUOS Streaming DAC Preamplifier

Editors' Choice Award 2024 – The Absolute Sound Magazine

"Recommended" Award – Hi-Fi Choice Magazine

Five Stars – What Hi-Fi? Magazine

A New Kind of Stereo Component

The NAD C 658 is a new kind of stereo component, one that at once changes preconceptions and opens new possibilities for audio reproduction. As we move deeper into the 21st century, the way music is distributed and enjoyed continues to evolve away from physical media to streaming. It also has moved away from analog to digital.

The C 658 has incorporated these fundamental truths to create an entirely new type of component that combines a Network Streamer, a state-of-the art DAC, and many aspects of the traditional preamplifier into a single highly cost effective package. And thanks to NAD’s exclusive Modular Design Construction, it will keep pace with the latest technology, not yet introduced, but inevitably coming in the future. In fact, an optional HDMI 4k switcher module is available now allowing the best sound from any of the many HDMI sources available (like game consoles and video STBs).

"Sheer Value is So Far Off the Charts"

The C 399 won an Editors' Choice Award 2024 from The Absolute Sound magazine, which remarks "Combining a top-performing network streamer, state-of-the-art DAC and a preamplifier, the C 658 is the perfect addition to any hi-fi setup."

"The C658 streaming DAC is loaded with all the features needed in today’s digital streaming world, has expandable inputs to accommodate future interfaces, and the BluOS app provides easy and intuitive control over a music library. The C658 can also serve as the heart of a whole-house wireless system."

Top Rating of "Five Stars"

Awarding the C 658 its top rating of Five Stars, i>What Hi-Fi? magazine observes, "The NAD C 658 is one of the most fully furnished, future-proofed and intuitive streamers we’ve come across – and at this sub-£2000 price, one of the most convincing performers. It puts a big, bold tick in a great number of boxes. Nice work, NAD."

"In many ways the NAD manages to be a great answer to a lot of potential system-building questions," notes Hi-Fi? Choice magazine, which handed the C 658a Recommended Award. "Combining the excellent BluOS operating system with a very well-featured preamp has resulted in a convincing front end that is just a power amplifier and pair of passive loudspeakers – or indeed a pair of active ones – away from forming a complete and highly capable music system."

Streamer, DAC, Preamp… and More

While the C 658 immediately replaces (or adds) your Streamer, DAC, and Preamp, it also adds many new features you may not be aware of, like a Bluetooth aptX HD transmitter to use with your wireless headphones. The highly flexible outputs allow for a true balanced connection to powered speakers or amplifiers. Single-ended connections for amplifiers and subwoofers are also provided and include an adjustable subwoofer crossover executed perfectly in the digital domain. A highly sophisticated MM Phono input is also included along with line inputs for legacy analog components.

BluOS Enabled

Also on board is BluOS, the most sophisticated High Res streaming system available. BluOS natively supports over 15 streaming music services and indexing of over 250,000 tracks from local network sources. The C 658 becomes a node in the BluOS ecosystem allowing high res network streaming to 64 zones and control options for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac OS phones, tablets, and desk top devices. BluOS also supports all major smart home controllers and is available in a wide range of products making it easy to create a whole house audio system with the C 658 at its heart.

"Packed with Useful Features"

"NAD’s C 658 shows just how far network music players have come in such a short space of time," notes Marc Rushton in his stereonet.com review.

"Five or so years ago, something as good as this would have cost at least twice as much. As well as being packed with useful features, it has a seriously enjoyable sound that’s hard to beat at this price, or no small amount more. Well worth auditioning, if you’re serious about streaming."

"What's Not to Like?"

"The C 658 is priced at a level many audiophile will be able to afford. Great sound, useful features, great price—what's not to like?" asked Al Griiffin, soundandvision.com, February 5, 2020.

"The C 658 offers most of the features you'd want in a component of this type, including high-res streaming, MQA support for Tidal playback, and AirPlay/aptX HD Bluetooth. Add Dirac Live room correction to that list, with all features controlled by NAD's very capable and refined BluOS app. Also, it has plenty of digital and analog connection options, including moving magnet phono, and can be upgraded with HDMI inputs."

High Resolution in Every Detail

Most NAD components have been 'high res' for 45 years with very wide bandwidth, low distortion, and ultra-low noise. We just never had high resolution source material to play. With high res digital recording and streaming, combined with advanced technology like MQA, record companies are opening their vaults and releasing Studio Master Quality recordings. MQA decoding is available on all digital inputs in addition to BluOS streaming content.

The C 658 is pure High Res from input to output and features the ESS Sabre 32-bit DAC, one of the best performing DACs on the market today with its 118dB Dynamic Range and incredibly low jitter spec. All preamp functions are executed in the digital domain, including the same wide range non-truncating digital volume control used in NAD's Masters Series components. This offers an incredibly short analog signal path that, rather uniquely, is identical for all volume settings. Sophisticated active power supplies provide super clean voltages to all circuits to keep noise and distortion at the edge of measurability.

Making Your Speakers Disappear

The C 658 is also the first NAD stereo component to feature Dirac Live room correction, the most sophisticated and effective room correction available. Dirac corrects the impulse response of your speakers, in addition to the frequency response of your room, for a truly transparent window into the musical performance. When the room resonances are tamed and the transient response is corrected, the result is magical. You have never heard your speakers sound this invisible or this good!

Note: These features will be implemented via future software upgrades. The C 658 will include a license for Dirac Live with the option for advanced users to upgrade to a Dirac Live Full Frequency version.

Master Quality Authenticated

Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) is a revolutionary end-to-end technology built into every BluOS Enabled amplifier to capture and deliver MQA music to your speakers in the purest quality. All BluOS Enabled players and systems include a powerful decoder and audio renderer for the millions of the MQA encoded songs, The MQA logo shown in the BluOS app indicates that the unit is decoding and playing an MQA stream or file, and lets you know that you are hearing exactly what the artist recorded and approved in the studio.

Traditional NAD Performance and Value

The C 658 is part of NAD's Classic Series of components which have an enviable reputation for giving music lovers more enjoyment for less money. If you want a solid block of hand–crafted aluminum with gold plated accents, you’ll need to look elsewhere. If you want state-of-the-art performance and features in a sturdy no-nonsense package, then you have the right address.

"This Unit is Highly Recommended"

"While I still don’t buy into streaming just like I never bought into radio even since I was a wee lad, NAD C658 shows just how far network music players have come," observes David Susilo, tongue inserted slightly in cheek, in a davidsusilouncensored.wordpress.com review for July 9, 2022. "Just several years ago, in order to get a preamp / DAC / streamer / whole-home audio in a single box would have cost beyond $5,000 CAD… Regardless of my stance in streaming, this unit is highly recommended."

"High Value for Money"

"It is still absolutely remarkable how much audiophile spirit NAD has managed to pour into the C 658," reports Michael Lang, Stereo Magazine, July 30, 2020.

"The features and sound quality, as well as the convincing operating concept, are remarkable… The sound image had a very high dynamic quality, was tonally perfectly suitable for long term use and most importantly: it transported plenty of emotions! A great offer with high value for money!"

"NAD C 658 is Incomparable"

"The NAD C 658 is incomparable when you consider the features packed into this component," raves Piero Gabucci, Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity, February 3, 2020. "I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the C 658 as your primary preamplifier either, making it the heart of any HiFi system."

"This versatile device has all the connections and applications you could wish for and functions flawlessly," chimes in Geoffrey Van Houwaert, Alpha-Audio, January 20, 2020. "With suitable amplification or a set of active speakers, you can create a sleek, good sounding set at home. Less is more with the Nad C 658 BluOS Streaming Dac!"

"It should be obvious by now that I loved almost everything about the NAD Classic C 658," observes Gordon Brockhouse, SoundStage! Simplifi, November 1, 2019. "Enthusiastically recommended."

BluOS Adds Pandora and Presto Music Services

Bluesound is excited to announce the integration of the popular Pandora and Presto Music services into the BluOS platform.

Pandora offers exceptional music discovery features and curated radio stations. Its integration offers BluOS music lovers access to another seamless and intuitive way to enjoy their favorite tracks and discover new music based on listeners' tastes.

Presto Music specializes in classical and jazz recordings with high-quality content. In select markets, users can now savor Presto Music's vast collection of classical and jazz recordings. With a library boasting 200,000 albums in CD-quality and 34,000 albums in stunning 24-bit/192kHz, subscribers will revel in a focused, extensive, and continuously expanding catalog. The service is tailored with a powerful search engine designed explicitly for classical and jazz music, offering rich composers, artists, and genre profiles, recommendations, and featured releases.

To access these new services, simply update to the latest firmware and download the BluOS Controller App (version 4.2.0) from the Apple App Store, Google Play, or bluos.io/downloads.

Product Features

BluOS Network Streaming
ESS Sabre DAC with MQA decoding
Dirac Live Room Correction
Gigabit Ethernet
Dual Band Wi-Fi a/c/n
2-way Bluetooth aptX HD
2 x MDC Slots for Future Expansion
MM Phono Input
2 x Line Inputs
2 x Optical Inputs
2 x Coax Inputs
Balanced Preamp Output
Preamp Output
Stereo Subwoofer Output
High Current Headphone Out
USB socket for adding optional wireless output module
IR In with Learning Function
Trigger Out/In

Product Specs

Line in/Pre-Out

THD (20Hz - 20kHz): <0.005% at 2V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >106dB (IHF; A-weighted, ref. 500mV out, unity gain)
Channel separation: >80dB (1kHz); >70dB (10kHz)
Input Impedance (R and C): 22 kohms + 100pF
Maximum input signal: >4.5Vrms (ref. 0.1% THD)
Output impedance: Source Z + 240 Ohm
Input sensitivity: 93mV (ref. 500mV out, Volume maximum)
Frequency response: ±0.3dB (20Hz - 20kHz)
Maximum voltage output, IHF load: >4.5V (ref. 0.1% THD)
Tone Controls: Treble: ±7.0dB at 20kHz, Bass: ±7.0dB at 60Hz; Balance: -10dB

Phono Input/Pre -Out

THD (20Hz - 20kHz): <0.01% at 2V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >84dB (200 Ohm source; A-weighted, ref. 500mV out); >76dB (MM cartridge source, IHF; A-weighted, ref. 500mV out)
Input sensitivity: 1.44mV (ref. 500mV out, Volume maximum)
Frequency response: ±0.3dB (20Hz - 20kHz)
Maximum input signal at 1kHz: >80mVrms (ref. 0.1% THD)

Line In/Headphone Out

THD (20Hz - 20kHz): <0.005% at 1V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >110dB (32 Ohms loads; A-WTD, ref. 2V out, unity gain)
Frequency response: ±0.3dB (20Hz - 20kHz)
Channel separation: >60dB at 1kHz
Output impedance: 6 Ohms

DAC

Supported audio file formats: MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, WMA-L, ALAC, OPUS
High resolution audio formats: MQA, DSD, FLAC, WAV, AIFF
Native sampling rates: up to 32bit/192kHz
Bit depths: 16 – 24

BluOS

Supported operating systems: Plays music from network shares on the following desktop operating systems: Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, Vista, 7, 8 to current Windows Operating Systems and Mac OS X versions
User interface mobile operating system: BluOS – Free Android and iOS App available online at Google Play and Apple App store Supported cloud services: Spotify, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Deezer, Qobuz, HDTracks, HighResAudio, Murfie, JUKE, Napster, Slacker Radio, KKBox, Bugs
Free internet radio: TuneIn Radio, iHeartRadio, Calm Radio, Radio Paradise
Bluetooth quality: Bluetooth aptX HD wireless built-in
Bluetooth connectivity: Two-Way (Transmit and Receive)
Network connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet RJ45, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi

Physical

Dimensions (WHD): 17 1/8" x 3 15/16" x 16"
Weight: 22.3 lbs.

Product Warranty

2 Years

Parts & Labor

NAD Electronics Warranty Information

Editors' Choice Award 2024 – The Absolute Sound Magazine

"Combining a top-performing network streamer, state-of-the-art DAC and a preamplifier, the C 658 is the perfect addition to any hi-fi setup."

- The Absolute Sound magazine, December 2024

"Recommended" Award – Hi-Fi Choice Magazine

"In many ways the NAD manages to be a great answer to a lot of potential system-building questions. Combining the excellent BluOS operating system with a very well-featured preamp has resulted in a convincing front end that is just a power amplifier and pair of passive loudspeakers – or indeed a pair of active ones – away from forming a complete and highly capable music system."

- Hi-Fi? Choice magazine, June 15, 2020

Five Stars – What Hi-Fi? Magazine

"The NAD C 658 is one of the most fully furnished, future-proofed and intuitive streamers we’ve come across – and at this sub-£2000 price, one of the most convincing performers. It puts a big, bold tick in a great number of boxes. Nice work, NAD."

- What Hi-Fi? magazine, April 28, 2020

2022 Editors’ Choice Award - The Absolute Sound

""The C658 and C298 can serve as the heart of a capable and powerful music system. The C658 streaming DAC is loaded with all the features needed in today’s digital streaming world, has expandable inputs to accommodate future interfaces, and the BluOS app provides easy and intuitive control over a music library. The C658 can also serve as the heart of a whole-house wireless system.

"I would have recommended this pair without Dirac Live, but this DSP speaker- and room-correction system vaults the performance to a new level, without the sonic compromises I’ve heard from some other DSP systems. The improvement in bass extension, clarity, and dynamics is astounding. The full-frequency version of Dirac brings newfound image specificity along with far more lifelike reproduction of transients."

"Considered alone or as a duo, the C658 and C298 deliver exceptional performance and value."

- Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound, April 5, 2021

"NAD’s C 658 shows just how far network music players have come in such a short space of time. Five or so years ago, something as good as this would have cost at least twice as much. As well as being packed with useful features, it has a seriously enjoyable sound that’s hard to beat at this price, or no small amount more. Well worth auditioning, if you’re serious about streaming."

- Marc Rushton, stereonet.com, November 12, 2019

"The C 658 is priced at a level many audiophile will be able to afford. Great sound, useful features, great price—what's not to like?"

"How does NAD's $1,649 network audio player/preamplifier hold up against its high-end competition? I'd say extremely well. The C 658 offers most of the features you'd want in a component of this type, including high-res streaming, MQA support for Tidal playback, and AirPlay/aptX HD Bluetooth. Add Dirac Live room correction to that list, with all features controlled by NAD's very capable and refined BluOS app. Also, it has plenty of digital and analog connection options, including moving magnet phono, and can be upgraded with HDMI inputs."

- Al Griiffin, soundandvision.com, February 5, 2020

"While I still don’t buy into streaming just like I never bought into radio even since I was a wee lad, NAD C658 shows just how far network music players have come. Just several years ago, in order to get a preamp / DAC / streamer / whole-home audio in a single box would have cost beyond $5,000 CAD… Regardless of my stance in streaming, this unit is highly recommended."

- David Susilo, davidsusilouncensored.wordpress.com, July 9, 2022

"It is still absolutely remarkable how much audiophile spirit NAD has managed to pour into the C 658."

"The features and sound quality, as well as the convincing operating concept, are remarkable."

"The sound image had a very high dynamic quality, was tonally perfectly suitable for long term use and most importantly: it transported plenty of emotions! A great offer with high value for money!"

- Michael Lang, Stereo Magazine, July 30, 2020

"Upfront I will say the NAD C 658 is an excellent music source component."

"The sound quality of Tidal through the NAD C 658 is as good as any CD playback – believe me I’ve compared by throwing in a disk and playing the same tracks through the C 658 streamer."

"Finding a streamer should be a priority for your system and making it the heart of your digital playback. I made NAD C 658 mine."

"The NAD C 658 is incomparable when you consider the features packed into this component. At this price point, there is barely a handful of stand-alone DACs let alone DAC/Streamer/Preamplifier. From a sound standpoint, perhaps the Auralic G1 at about $2,700 will give you comparable playback, again though without many of the features."

"I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the C 658 as your primary preamplifier either, making it the heart of any HiFi system."

- Piero Gabucci, Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity, February 3, 2020

"This versatile device has all the connections and applications you could wish for and functions flawlessly. The excellent BluOS app and the special Dirac Live software are the two biggest flavors. With suitable amplification or a set of active speakers, you can create a sleek, good sounding set at home. Less is more with the Nad C 658 BluOS Streaming Dac!"

- Geoffrey Van Houwaert, Alpha-Audio, January 20, 2020

"It should be obvious by now that I loved almost everything about the NAD Classic C 658."

"The inclusion of Dirac Live room correction is killer. In his reviews on SoundStage! Hi-Fi and SoundStage! Access, Diego Estan has repeatedly sung Dirac Live’s praises, and finds it indispensable. After a month spent with the NAD C 658, I see his point. In my listening room, Dirac Live removed a thick layer of murk I hadn’t known was there -- I’d simply gotten used to it. With Dirac Live active, the C 658 made familiar recordings sound brand new. Now, when I switch off Dirac, it seems I’m listening through molasses."

"Finally, there’s the C 658’s extensive feature set: phono stage, headphone amp, subwoofer output with selectable crossover, abundant digital connections, leading-edge network-music capability -- hardly a box is left unchecked."

"Enthusiastically recommended."

- Gordon Brockhouse, soundstagesimplifi.com i, November 1, 2019

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