NAD - C 298 - 185w Power Amp w/Purifi Technology

The NAD C 298 is a new generation of power amplifier using the latest thinking in amplifier technology from Denmark. With 185 Watts per channel the C 298 is no shrinking violet but this amplifier isn’t all about muscle. Instead it puts the emphasis fairly and squarely on sounding as close to real music as possible by implementing some of the most original cutting-edge technology currently available. 

Overview

NAD has introduced some of the most innovative amplifier technology in its nearly 50-year history, starting with the 3020 on through such ground-breaking models as the 2200, the 208, and the M2. Now NAD is making the amazing new Eigentakt™ self-clocking technology available to a wider audience with the very affordable C 298 Stereo Power Amplifier. Eigentakt was recently introduced to the world in the EISA Award-winning NAD Masters M33.

This new NAD classic amplifier boasts 185 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and can be bridged to 620W X 1 into 8 Ohms to create one titanic monoblock. The C 298 is the perfect companion to the critically acclaimed C 658 BluOS Streaming DAC or as an additional two channel amp for reference home theatre systems. It’s neutrality and flexibility mean it can easily be folded into almost any quality system where fine sound, ample power and pleasing versatility are priorities.

As is traditional with all NAD components, the C 298 represents exceptional value, offering performance, features and technology unmatched by other amplifiers in its class. It will make a compelling upgrade for virtually any advanced hi-fi system and its robust power, with upgrade flexibility, will drive the most sophisticated and advanced loudspeakers on the market.

Getting the Basics Right: It is surprising how many seemingly advanced products in the market today often miss many of the most basic requirements for satisfying performance. Low noise circuits, accurate channel balance, proper input and output impedance characteristics, high overload margins and stability with difficult speaker loads. NAD starts by getting these things precisely right and advances from there. The line inputs, both Balanced and Single-Ended, can accommodate all kinds of analogue source components by offering ideal input impedance characteristics with linear ultra-low-noise buffer amplifiers to prevent any sonic degradation caused by inappropriate loading of the source device. These are all details you can hear.

Sophisticated Power: NAD has moved away from the old fashioned and very power-hungry linear power supplies and Class AB output stages that waste nearly half of the energy consumed, producing heat rather than sound. Instead, the company 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 created some of the best performing amplifiers regardless of basic design principle. These new designs are very linear over a wide bandwidth and provide consistent performance into all speaker loads, providing a dramatic advance over previous models.

The generously dimensioned power supply easily allows for 340 watts continuous into 4 ohms and over 570 watts instantaneous power for short term musical transients. Innovative Asymmetrical PowerDrive fully utilizes every last watt available with its vast reserves of dynamic power available to accurately reproduce musical transients without distortion or compression. This highly 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.

Purifi 'Eigentakt' Amplifier Technology: Purifi is a Danish technology company that has brought together several of the industry's leading engineers to apply advanced mathematical modelling to solve the last remaining limitations of audio amplifiers. While there are many good sounding amplifiers on the market today, Purifi has taken a fresh look at every aspect of amplifier performance and found many seemingly small non-linearities that can make a dramatic difference in the overall sound. This return to first principles has resulted in a stunningly simple approach to some remarkably complex problems.

The Eigentakt modules are manufactured by NAD under license from Purifi, allowing NAD to optimize these specifically in combination with the custom designed power supply and input stages of the C 298.

The C 298 may appear to be just a basic power amp but NAD engineers have carefully thought through all the aspects to create feature rich content. Selectable balanced inputs make the C 298 a natural for studio use or connection to high-end preamps and processors. These inputs include a trim control, which is useful for matching to other components. A line out allows further addition of power on the same channel for additional speakers or subwoofers. Auto-sense with selectable threshold is perfect for automating complex systems or hiding the amp out of sight in a cabinet. NAD even included a ground lug that can be very effective for eliminating ground loops and noise in complex multi-unit systems.

Added to all this connectivity is a Bridge Switch that turns the C 298 into an amazingly powerful monoblock amplifier. Start with one and add a second C 298 later to upgrade the sound with your current speakers or allow the use of bigger more power-hungry speakers down the line. The upgrade path with the NAD C 298 is easily accessible and very welcome.

• Design: Stereo 185 Watt Power Amplifier or 620 Watt Monoblock
• New Eigentakt™ self-clocking amplifier technology
• Balanced XLR Line Inputs
• Single-Ended RCA Line Inputs
• Input Level Control
• Line Output for Daisy Chaining
• 12V Trigger In/Out
• Auto Turn-on with Selectable Threshold
• Ground Lug
• Detachable AC Power Cord
• 185W x 2 Continuous Power into 8 Ohms
• 340W x 2 Continuous Power into 4 Ohms
• Stereo Dynamic Power 260/490/570W @ 8/4/2 Ohms
• 620W x 1 Continuous Power into 8 Ohms Bridge Mode
• Mono Dynamic Power 1000/1100W @ 8/4 Ohms
• THD: <0.005 %
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio
• >98 dB (A-weighted, 500 mV input, ref. 1 W out in 8 ohms)
• >120 dB (A-weighted, ref. 185 W out in 8 ohms)
• Peak output current: >25 A (into 1 ohm, 1 ms)
• Damping factor: >800 (ref. 8 ohms 20 Hz – 6.5 kHz)
• Frequency response: ±0.2 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz), -3 dB at 60 kHz
• Standby power: <0.5 W
• Dimensions (WxHxD): 435 x 120 x 390 mm
• Weight 11.2kg
• Shipping Weight 13.6kg
• Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years