NAD C298 Stereo Power Amplifier

Description

Redefining the State of the Art with Purifi Technology

NAD has introduced some of the most innovative amplifier technology in its nearly 50 year history, starting with the 3020 on through such cutting edge models as the 2200, the 208, and the M2. Now we are making the amazing new Eigentakt™ (self-clocking) technology, recently introduced to the world in the EISA Award winning Masters M33, available to a wider audience with the very affordable C 298. We are thrilled to provide this unprecedented level of performance. In short, a perfect companion for the C 658 BluOS Streaming DAC pre-amp.

Amazing Flexibility

The C 298 may be a basic Power Amp, but we have carefully thought through all the use cases typically encountered to create a rich feature 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 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. We even include a Ground Lug that can be very useful 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 mono block Amplifier. Start with one and add a second C 298 later when you upgrade your speakers.

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. Our line inputs, both Balanced and Single-ended, can accommodate all kinds of analog 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 we have 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 to feature this technology. 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 185 watts continuous and over 570 watts instantaneous power for short term musical transients. Innovative Asymmetrical Power-Drive fully utilises every last watt available with its vast reserves of dynamic power available to accurately reproduce musical transients without distortion or compression. It can operate with any AC mains voltage from 100v to 240v and provides pure DC power to all the various stages of the C 298. 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. With features and technology unmatched by other amplifiers in its class, the C 298 amplifier is an easy upgrade for any system and a surprising partner for the most sophisticated and advanced loudspeakers on the market.

Pure power

The NAD C298 delivers an impressive 185 watts per channel, and it’s 4-ohm stable so it can drive a wide array of demanding speakers. In bridged mode, this powerhouse offers 620 watts into a single channel. You can connect your source via unbalanced RCA or balanced XLR inputs.

Innovative amplifier technology

With NAD, you’re getting more than high wattage numbers. This amp offers pristine Class D amplification thanks to HybridDigital Purifi Eigentakt™ technology. It helps the amp maintain even frequency response into lower impedance loads, and minimises the occurrence of digital clipping. Of course, it also offers robust power output and accurate sound with minimal distortion, for a truly “analog-like” listening experience.

Features

Class D Amplification: 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 we have developed even better performing circuits based on switch mode power supplies and Class D output stages. 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.

• Purifi Eigentakt Amplifier Technology: The NAD C 298 is a stereo power amplifier features Purifi Eigentakt Amplifier Technology that promises expansive power and lower distortion and noise floor. Combining already renowned self-oscillating Class D amplifier technology with novel feedback algorithms, Eigentakt nearly eliminates harmonic and intermodulation distortion and allows for an even, wide and load-invariant frequency response with negligible output impedance. NAD’s renowned designers worked closely with Purifi Audio to customise the Eigentakt implementation to ensure every product featuring the technology would meet the high standards NAD is known for. For this reason, NAD manufactures its own Eigentakt modules rather than buying off-the-shelf.
• Asymmetric Power Drive: The C 298’s generously dimensioned power supply easily allows for 185 watts continuous and over 570 watts instantaneous power for short term musical transients. Innovative Asymmetrical PowerDrive fully utilises every last watt available with its vast reserves of dynamic power available to accurately reproduce musical transients without distortion or compression. It can operate with any AC mains voltage from 100V to 240V and provides pure DC power to all the various stages of the C 298. 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.

Operation Modes: The NAD C 298 can be operated in Stereo mode to power a pair of loudspeakers or in Mono mode to power a single loudspeaker.

• Stereo Mode: The NAD C 298 supports 8-ohm and 4-ohm speaker impedance loads in Stereo mode.
  • Continuous Power: @ 20-20kHz with 0.005% THD
    • 8-Ohm: 185 watts x 2 channels
    • 4-Ohms: 340 watts x 2 channels
• Bridged Mode: The C 298 supports 8-ohm speaker impedance loads in Mono mode.
  • Continuous Power: @ 20-20kHz with 0.005% THD
    • 8-Ohm: 620 watts x 1 channel

Balanced & Unbalanced Inputs: The NAD C 298 offers a stereo Balanced (XLR) input and stereo unbalanced (RCA) input to for connection to your preamplifier or processor. These selectable balanced and unbalanced input provide 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 inputs also include a trim control useful for matching to other components. The Balanced XLR inputs allow long cable runs without noise pickup or signal loss; all you get is great sound without the possibility of noise pickup or interference.

• Input Select: You can select either a balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA connection; you cannot use both.
• Input Level: You can select the balanced or unbalanced inputs to be Fixed or Variable. When set to Variable, you can control the input level to adjust the audio output level of the C 298.
• Auto Sense: The Auto Sense feature instantaneously turns the C 298 to operating mode from standby mode if it senses a specific input signal level applied to either the balanced or unbalanced inputs.. There are three Auto Sense levels (0.85mV, 1.7mV, and 3.7mV).

Unbalanced Line Output: An unbalanced RCA line output for each channel allows you to daisy-chain another power amplifier to add additional speakers to the same channel.

Ground Lug: The NAD C 298 even includes a Ground Lug that can be very useful for eliminating ground loops and noise in complex multi-unit systems.

12V Triggers: The NAD C 298 is outfitted with a +12V Trigger input and +12V Trigger output. Each trigger consists of a mono-minijack (3.5mm). The +12V trigger output lets you turn on/off other components along with the C 298; while the +12V trigger input lets you turn on/off the C 298 from another component device.