NAD C 399 – Integrated Amplifier

NAD C 399 – HybridDigital DAC Integrated Amplifier

The NAD C 399 HybridDigital DAC Integrated Amplifier stands as the flagship of the Classic Series, bringing Masters Series technology and refined engineering to a wider audience. Its HybridDigital nCore amplifier delivers 180 Watts per channel of clean, effortless power, while refined digital processing reveals fine musical detail with clarity and control. Widely recognized by reviewers and honoured with multiple Product of the Year awards, the C 399 has become one of NAD's most trusted and popular amplifiers. HDMI eARC, a precise MM phono stage, and versatile digital and analogue inputs make it easy to enjoy music from all your favourite sources. With two MDC2 expansion slots, the C 399 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 nCore amplifier topology
• 180 W per channel, continuous (8Ω and 4Ω); 250 W per channel instantaneous
• THD <0.02% (250 mW to 180 W, 8Ω and 4Ω, 20 Hz – 20 kHz)
• 32-bit/384 kHz ESS Sabre 9028 DAC; up to 24-bit/192 kHz digital input support
• 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 nCore Amplification
The C 399 employs NAD's HybridDigital nCore amplifier platform, trickled down from the Masters Series, to deliver 180 Watts per channel of continuous power into 8 and 4 ohms, and 250 Watts per channel instantaneous power. The nCore design is renowned for its wide bandwidth, flat frequency response, clean clipping behaviour with instant recovery, high current capability, and stability into demanding low-impedance speaker loads. Noise and distortion are vanishingly low under all operating conditions, with the minute levels of harmonic distortion dominated by sonically benign second and third harmonics. The result is detailed, dynamic playback that preserves the energy and expression of the music, even at very high listening levels.

ESS Sabre DAC & Digital Architecture
The C 399's digital section is built around the 32-bit/384 kHz ESS Sabre 9028 high-resolution DAC — the same chip used in NAD's acclaimed M10 and M33 Masters Series amplifiers — noted for its near-zero clock jitter, ultra-low noise and distortion, and wide dynamic range. A refined digital architecture ensures low noise, accurate imaging, and wide dynamic range across all sources, revealing greater texture, definition, and openness in recordings. Digital inputs support audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz.

MDC2 Expansion Platform
The C 399 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 399.

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 399 provides two optical and two coaxial digital inputs. The HDMI eARC port allows audio from a connected TV to be played through the C 399 — 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 399 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 and high output voltage capability, enabling the C 399 to drive demanding high-impedance headphones; inserting a headphone jack automatically switches off the speaker, pre-out, and subwoofer outputs. Two-way Qualcomm aptX HD Bluetooth allows 24-bit streaming from mobile devices as a Bluetooth sink, and high-quality 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 399 includes comprehensive control integration support: 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, with full compatibility confirmed for Control4, Crestron, RTI, URC, Push, Lutron, iPort, and Elan. The included SR 10 remote control handles key C 399 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

AMPLIFIER – LINE IN, SPEAKER OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
Continuous output power into 8Ω and 4Ω: 180 W (ref. 20 Hz–20 kHz at rated THD, both channels driven)
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.02% (250 mW to 180 W, 8Ω and 4Ω)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >95 dB (A-weighted, 500 mV input, ref. 1 W out in 8Ω)
Clipping power: >210 W (at 1 kHz, 0.1% THD)
IHF dynamic power: 8Ω: 217 W | 4Ω: 400 W | 2Ω: 505 W (per manual); 506.4 W (per data sheet)
Peak output current: >26 A (in 1Ω, 1 ms)
Damping factor: >150 (ref. 8Ω, 20 Hz to 6.5 kHz)
Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Channel separation: >90 dB (1 kHz); >75 dB (10 kHz)
Input sensitivity (for 180 W in 8Ω): Line In: 201 mV | Digital In: 10.25% FS

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 (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
Maximum input signal: >4.6 Vrms (ref. 0.1% THD)
Output impedance: Source Z + 320 Ω
Input sensitivity: 65 mV (ref. 500 mV out, Volume maximum)
Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Maximum voltage output – IHF load: >5 V (ref. 0.1% THD)

PHONO – PHONO INPUT, PRE-OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
Cartridge compatibility: Moving Magnet (MM) only
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.01% at 2 V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >84 dB (200 Ω source; A-weighted, ref. 500 mV out)
Input impedance (R and C): 46 kΩ / 100 pF
Input sensitivity: 1.08 mV (ref. 500 mV out, Volume maximum)
Frequency response*: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Maximum input signal at 1 kHz: >80 mVrms (ref. 0.1% THD)
*RIAA response is consistent with a pre-emphasis rolled off at 50 kHz by a second-order filter, as used in Neumann cutting lathes.

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 (32 Ω loads; A-weighted, ref. 1 V out, unity gain (per manual); ref. 2 V out, unity gain (per data sheet))
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

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Digital input bit rate / sample rate support: up to 24-bit/192 kHz
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
Home automation compatibility: Control4, Crestron, RTI, URC, Push, Lutron, iPort, Elan

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Gross dimensions (W × H × D): 435 × 120 × 390 mm (17 1/8 × 4 3/4 × 15 3/8 inches)*
Net weight: 10.1 kg (22.3 lbs) (per manual); 11.2 kg (24.7 lbs) (per data sheet and product page)
Shipping weight: 12.6 kg (27.8 lbs) (per manual); 13.6 kg (30 lbs) (per data sheet and product page)
*Gross dimensions include feet, volume knob, and extended rear panel terminals.

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