NAD C 389 – Integrated Amplifier

NAD C 389 – HybridDigital DAC Integrated Amplifier

The NAD C 389 HybridDigital DAC Amplifier delivers award-winning performance, powerful HybridDigital amplification, and flexible upgradeability for modern music systems. Its 130-Watt-per-channel design and refined digital architecture bring exceptional clarity and control to every track. HDMI eARC, a precise MM phono stage, and versatile digital and analogue inputs make the C 389 an easy fit in a wide range of systems. With dual MDC2 expansion slots, the C 389 is also ready for optional upgrades — including the MDC2 BluOS-D module, which adds BluOS high-resolution streaming and Dirac Live Room Correction — as your system evolves.

• Class D HybridDigital UcD amplifier topology
• 130 W per channel, continuous (8Ω and 4Ω)
• THD <0.02% (8Ω and 4Ω, 20 Hz – 20 kHz)
• Two-way Qualcomm aptX HD Bluetooth
• Dedicated headphone amplifier, 1/4" (6.3 mm) output
• Moving Magnet (MM) phono stage with infrasonic filtering
• Dual MDC2 expansion slots (optional MDC2 BluOS-D module adds BluOS streaming and Dirac Live room correction)
• Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
• Made in China
• 2 Year Warranty

Highlights & Key Technologies

HybridDigital UcD Amplification
The C 389 uses NAD's HybridDigital UcD design to deliver 130 Watts per channel of clean, controlled power. Its balanced bridged amplifier modules and efficient power supply maintain clarity and composure when the music becomes more energetic, providing an engaging presentation that brings out more detail and presence in every track. The UcD design maintains wide bandwidth, flat frequency response, high current capability, and stability into demanding low-impedance speaker loads, with noise and distortion remaining extremely low across all operating conditions.

Digital Architecture & DAC
A high-performance digital-to-analogue stage ensures wide dynamic range, low noise, and accurate imaging across all sources, revealing subtle textures and spatial cues for clear, expressive playback. Digital inputs support audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz (per manual); up to 32-bit/384 kHz (per product page).

MDC2 Expansion Platform
The C 389 features two MDC2 expansion slots, NAD's second-generation Modular Design Construction architecture. MDC2 enables two-way communications between the host component and any installed module, opening a wider range of upgrade options than the first-generation MDC platform. The optional MDC2 BluOS-D module adds BluOS high-resolution streaming, whole-home audio integration with up to 64 zones, and Dirac Live Room Correction (Limited Bandwidth, 20 Hz – 500 Hz) via the BluOS Controller app. Thanks to MDC2's two-way architecture, room correction and streaming functions apply to all sources connected to the C 389.

Analogue Inputs & MM Phono Stage
Two pairs of RCA line-level inputs feature low-noise buffer amplifiers to prevent sonic degradation. The dedicated MM phono stage delivers ultra-precise RIAA equalization, extremely low noise, and high overload margins. An innovative circuit suppresses the infrasonic noise present on all LPs without compromising bass response. Analog bypass mode keeps analog signals in the analog domain without analog-to-digital conversion, with tone control functions remaining operative.

Digital Inputs & HDMI eARC
The C 389 provides two optical and two coaxial digital inputs. The HDMI eARC port allows audio from a connected TV to be played through the C 389 — including control of amplifier output via the TV's remote using HDMI CEC. eARC is the default mode and falls back to ARC if no eARC connection is established. Only audio output from a connected TV is supported by the HDMI eARC port; there is no video output.

Outputs, Headphone Amplifier & Bluetooth
The C 389 provides two sets of speaker terminals (Speaker A and Speaker B, operating in parallel), dual subwoofer outputs, and a preamplifier output. The dedicated headphone amplifier features a low output impedance of 2.2 ohms, enabling the C 389 to drive headphones of any impedance; inserting a headphone jack automatically switches off the speaker, pre-out, and subwoofer outputs. Two-way Qualcomm aptX HD Bluetooth allows streaming from mobile devices as a Bluetooth sink, and audio output to Bluetooth headphones and speakers as a Bluetooth source. Bluetooth is disabled when the optional MDC2 BluOS-D module is installed.

Control & Integration
The C 389 includes RS-232 serial port, 12V trigger input and output, and IR input and output for use with IR repeater and multi-room systems. NAD is a certified partner of AMX and Crestron. The included SR 10 remote control handles key C 389 functions and can be programmed to control up to four devices. Tone controls (bass, treble ±7 dB, and balance) and a volume control with variable or fixed (cinema bypass) mode are provided.

Details & Specifications

All specifications measured according to IHF 202 CEA 490-AR-2008 standard. THD measured using AP AUX 0025 passive filter and AES 17 active filter.

PREAMPLIFIER – LINE INPUT, PRE-OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.002% at 2 V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >106 dB (per product page); >100 dB (per manual) (IHF; A-weighted, ref. 500 mV out, unity gain)
Channel separation: >100 dB (1 kHz); >90 dB (10 kHz)
Input impedance (R and C): 56 kΩ + 100 pF (per product page); 56.2 kΩ + 100 pF (per manual)
Maximum input signal: >4.6 Vrms (per product page); >2.35 Vrms (per manual) (ref. 0.1% THD)
Output impedance: Source Z + 320 Ω (per product page); Source Z + 330 Ω (per manual)
Input sensitivity: 65 mV (per product page); 257 mV (per manual) (ref. 500 mV out, Volume maximum)
Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Maximum voltage output – IHF load: >5 V (per product page); >4.5 V (per manual) (ref. 0.1% THD)

PHONO – PHONO INPUT, PRE-OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
Cartridge compatibility: Moving Magnet (MM) only
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.02% at 2 V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >84 dB (per product page); >80 dB (per manual) (200 Ω source; A-weighted, ref. 500 mV out)
Input impedance (R and C): 46 kΩ / 100 pF
Input sensitivity: 4.2 mV (per manual) (ref. 500 mV out, Volume maximum)
Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Maximum input signal at 1 kHz: >80 mVrms (per product page); >38.8 mVrms (per manual) (ref. 0.1% THD)

HEADPHONE – LINE INPUT, HEADPHONE OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.005% at 1 V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >107 dB (per product page); >98 dB (per manual) (32 Ω loads; A-weighted, ref. 1 V out, unity gain)
Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Channel separation: >62 dB (1 kHz)
Output impedance: 2.2 Ω
Output connector: 1/4" (6.3 mm) stereo jack

AMPLIFIER – LINE IN, SPEAKER OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
Continuous output power into 8Ω and 4Ω: 130 W (ref. 20 Hz–20 kHz at rated THD, both channels driven)
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.02% (250 mW to 130 W, 8Ω and 4Ω (per product page); 1 W to 150 W, 8Ω and 4Ω (per manual))
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >85 dB (A-weighted, 500 mV input, ref. 1 W out in 8Ω)
Clipping power: 150 W (per product page); >160 W (per manual) (at 1 kHz, 0.1% THD)
IHF dynamic power: 8Ω: 210 W (per product page); 228 W (per manual) | 4Ω: 440 W | 2Ω: 290 W
Peak output current: >26 A (per product page); >20 A (per manual) (in 1Ω, 1 ms)
Damping factor: >150 (per product page); >140 (per manual) (ref. 8Ω, 20 Hz to 6.5 kHz)
Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Channel separation: >90 dB (1 kHz)
Input sensitivity (for 130 W in 8Ω): Line In: 201 mV (per product page); 301 mV (per manual) | Digital In: 10.25% FS (per product page); 14.65% FS (per manual)

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Digital input bit rate / sample rate support: up to 24-bit/192 kHz (per manual); up to 32-bit/384 kHz (per product page)
Bluetooth frequency band: 2.402 GHz – 2.480 GHz
Bluetooth maximum transmit power: 7 dBm ± 2 dBm
Bluetooth codec: Qualcomm aptX HD (two-way)
Network standby power: 0.6 W
Auto standby power: <0.5 W

INPUTS
Optical digital: 2 (TOSLINK)
Coaxial digital: 2 (RCA)
HDMI: 1 (eARC/ARC)
Analogue line: 2 (RCA pairs)
Phono: 1 (MM, RCA pair with ground terminal)
Bluetooth: Yes (two-way; disabled when MDC2 BluOS-D installed)

OUTPUTS
Speaker terminals: 2 sets (A and B, operating in parallel)
Subwoofer: 2 (RCA)
Preamplifier: 1 (RCA pair)
Headphone: 1 (1/4" / 6.3 mm stereo jack)

CONTROL & CONNECTIVITY
RS-232: Yes (serial port)
IR In / IR Out: Yes
12V Trigger In / Out: Yes
MDC2 expansion slots: 2

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Gross dimensions (W × H × D): 435 × 100 × 390 mm (17 1/8 × 4 × 15 3/8 inches)
Net weight: 8.7 kg (19.1 lb) (per product page); 8.7 kg (19.2 lbs) (per manual)
Shipping weight: ~11 kg (24.2 lb) (per product page); 11 kg (24.3 lbs) (per manual)

COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE & WARRANTY
Country of Manufacture: China
Warranty: 2 Years