NAD C268 Stereo Power Amplifier

Description

NAD C268 Stereo Power Amplifier

A remarkably affordable stereo amplifier, the NAD C 268 has features and technology unmatched by other amplifiers in its class. Designed for multiple stereo setups, the C 268 can be used in a variety of scenarios, including traditional stacks with a preamplifier or for bi-amping your favourite loudspeakers. The NAD C 268 is even bridgeable, seamlessly transforming its bountiful output from 80 x 2 to an outstanding 300 watts. Although the C 268 may appear to be a straightforward power amplifier, this Classic Series amp is brimming with rich features that will elevate your system.

Amazing Flexibility

As with every amp in the Classic Series, we here at NAD have carefully thought through all the possible use cases and strategically chosen the most essential of features. Thanks to selectable balanced inputs, the C 268 is a natural mate for high-end preamps and processors. These inputs include a trim control useful for matching with other components, or for use in bi-amping speakers. A line out allows further addition of power on the same channel for extra speakers or subwoofers. On top of all this connectivity is a bridge switch that turns the C 268 into an amazingly powerful Monobloc amplifier.

You can also pair the C 268 with the NAD C 368 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier, and with both units bridged for mono, 300 watts per channel of distortion-free sound become available for your listening pleasure. The C 268’s auto-sense feature with selectable threshold is perfect for automating complex systems or for hiding the amp out of sight in a cabinet. Included with the C 268 is a ground lug that is very useful for eliminating ground loops and noise in complex multi-unit systems.

Getting the Basics Right

As a member of NAD’s Classic Series, the C 268 delivers a richly satisfying sonic performance thanks to its “music-first” features. Accurate channel balance, proper input and output impedance characteristics, and low noise circuits all come together within this one stereo power amplifier. Additionally the C 268’s line inputs, both balanced and single-ended, can accommodate all kinds of analogue source components by offering ideal input impedance traits with linear ultra-low-noise buffer amplifiers to prevent any sonic degradation caused by unfitting loading of the source device.

Sophisticated Power

Having moved 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 resulted in some of the best performing amplifiers regardless of basic design principle. The overall design of the C 268 is very linear over a wide bandwidth, providing dramatic advances over previous models with consistent performance into all speaker loads.

The power supply of the C 268 is capable of nearly 200 watts continuously and over 500 watts instantaneously, allowing for short term musical transients. NAD’s innovative asymmetrical PowerDrive fully utilises every last watt available with its vast reserves of dynamic power available to accurately reproduce the most demanding music without distortion or compression. It can also operate with any AC mains voltage from 100V to 240V, and provides pure DC power to all the various stages of the C 268. 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.

The C 268 uses a customised 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 ever last drop of performance.

Features

Hybrid Digital Amplification: NAD has moved away from the old-fashioned power-hungry linear power supplies and Class AB output stages that waste nearly half of the energy consumed and produce heat rather than sound. Instead, 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, this new Hybrid Digital Amplifier design is very linear over a wide bandwidth and provides consistent performance into all speaker loads, providing a dramatic advancement over previous Class AB and Class D amplifier designs.

• Customized Hypex UcD Output Stage: The C 268 stereo power amplifier uses a customised version of the proven Hypex UcD output stage operating in a fully balanced bridge configuration. This allows for massive power with nearly un-measurable distortion and noise in the audible range. Every detail of this design has been carefully planned and perfectly executed to deliver every last drop of performance.
• PowerDrive Technology: The power supply of the C 268 is capable of nearly 200 watts continuously and over 500 watts instantaneously, allowing for short term musical transients. NAD’s innovative asymmetrical PowerDrive fully utilises every last watt available with its vast reserves of dynamic power available to accurately reproduce the most demanding music without distortion or compression. It can also operate with any AC mains voltage from 100V to 240V, and provides pure DC power to all the various stages of the C 268. 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.

Full Disclosure Power (FDP): NAD uses Full Disclosure Power (FDP), the most demanding criterion for performance measurement. FDP specifies distortion under the most extreme conditions of low impedance loads and frequency extremes, rather than the simple and easy 1kHz @ 8 ohms test quoted by many of other manufactures. NAD uses this stricter performance criterion because it more closely matches the demands of real music and real loudspeakers. Maintaining specified distortion at 4/8Ω and at 20-20kHz is a much more difficult achievement. The benefit of NAD’s Full Disclosure Power is the total elimination of audible distortion at any listening level. This provides pinpoint imaging and realism with music and movies alike.

• Continuous Power:
  • Stereo: 80 watts x 2-channel (@ 20-20kHz, into 4Ω or 8Ω, with 0.03% THD, both channels driven)
  • Bridged: 300 watts x 1-channel (@ 20-20kHz, into 8Ω, with 0.03% THD, one channel driven)
• IHF Dynamic Power:
  • Stereo: 120W into 8Ω / 200W into 4Ω / 250W into 2Ω (@ 1kHz with 1% THD)
  • Bridged: 500W into 8Ω / 560W into 4Ω (@ 1kHz with 1% THD).

Stereo or Bridged Mode: The NAD C 268 can be used as a two channel amplifier in Stereo mode or a mono channel amplifier in Bridged mode. Low impedance speakers (under 8 ohms) are not recommended when using Bridge Mode as these may cause the amplifier’s thermal cut-out to operate if played at high levels.

Balanced & Unbalanced Inputs: The NAD C 268 stereo power amplifier is equipped with balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs. It can accommodate all kinds of analog source components by offering ideal input impedance traits with linear ultra-low-noise buffer amplifiers to prevent any sonic degradation that may be caused by the source device’s output impedance. The balanced XLR connectors use this configuration – Pin 1: Ground, Pin 2: Positive (signal live), and Pin 3: Negative (signal return).

Binding Post Speaker Outputs: The speaker output terminals consist of four binding posts to connect a single pair of loudspeakers in Stereo mode or only one speaker in Bridged mode. The amplifier supports 4Ω to 8Ω speakers in Stereo mode and only 8Ω speakers in Bridged mode. These binding post terminals will accept bare wire (up to 10AWG), pin-connectors, spade-lugs, and banana plugs (single only). You’ll need to remove the plastic inserts within the binding-post terminals to connect banana plugs.

Stereo RCA Line Output: The stereo RCA line output allows “daisy-chaining”, so more than one amplifier can be used to add speakers to the same channel.

Controls: The NAD C 268 stereo power amplifier features Input Select switch, Input Level knob, and Auto Sense Level switch on the rear-panel.

• Input Select: Use the Input Select switch to change the C 268 to a “Fixed” or “Variable” output. With a “Fixed” output, the C 268’s audio output level is control by an external preamplifier. With a “Variable” output, the C 268’s audio output level can be adjusted using the Input Level control knob on back of the power amp.
• Input Level: With the Input Select switch set to “Variable”, the Input Level control knob can be used to adjust the audio output level of the C 268.
• Auto Sense Level: The Auto Sense feature instantaneously turns the C 268 to “Operating” mode from “Standby” mode if it senses a specific input signal level applied to either the balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA inputs. There are three Auto Sense levels – Low (0.85mV), Mid (1.7mV), and High (3.7mV).

12V Trigger In/Out: The NAD C 268 is outfitted with a 12V Trigger Input and Output, each consisting of a female 3.5mm jack. The 12V Trigger Input allows the C 268 to be switched On remotely from Standby mode by a preamplifier with a 12V Trigger Output. The 12V Trigger Output switches on a connected external device that features a 12V Trigger input when the C 268 is powered on.