NAD C 316BEE V2 Integrated Amplifier Review

[peng]

Thanks for the review.

I have no experience with this one, but I used to own its bigger brother, the NAD C 326BEE. I liked its simplicity and ease of use, and sound was perfectly fine, but I had a couple of concerns/complaints with it.

One, it ran really hot - hotter than just about any amp/receiver I've ever owned. It didn't create any problems, but it was a little disconcerting. I definitely didn't want to put anything on top of it.

Two, a minor but important complaint I had was about the volume control pot. It was really quiet at with the knob around 7 o'clock and really loud with the knob around 9 o'clock. Just moving it a little changed the volume a lot, but then after about 9 or 10 o'clock, it was already so loud that it barely got louder. And if I used the remote to control the knob, it was extremely touchy because of this (would go from too soft to too loud with a slight touch of the volume up button). I really felt like they needed a different potentiometer with a different gain curve.

I have the same amp (326 BEE), got it brand new when it was on sale a few years ago, probably was getting discontinued soon at the time. The amp has the nice feature that allows one to use it as an integrated, preamp, or power amp. I like the amp so much, that I think I will keep it forever, though for curiosity, I wanted to try the $80 Fosi V3, so I decided to use one to replace the C 326BEE. The results, based on driving my original KEF LS50, is surprising (well, may be not..), as far as I could tell/hear, the LS50 sounds no difference whatsoever between the two amps. So being lazy, I didn't bother swapping the NAD back in, but I still won't sell/or tread it in., still like it so much, and will keep it forever.

Assuming the 316 BEE is basically the same, just a little less powerful and can be used as an integrated only, it would be highly recommended (by me) for those who can get by with 45 W at 0.01% THD+N 8/4 ohms, but then amps like the Fosi V3 amp would sound the same for much less money, just not as good/beefy looking.

 

[peng]

Thanks for the review Amir. You have written "notice how it managed to go into clipping many times without clipping". Presumably you meant protection without clipping not sure.

My 326 has a selector switch for NAD's so called "soft clipping". I don't see that on the 316, but it might have it on full time, i.e. cannot be defeated, but I would be guessing.

 

[xaviescacs]

V2 adds phone input but removes tape monitor in/out connections. There may be other small changes too.

Thanks! That explains why I also bought a phono pre

 

[effj]

Thank you for sending this gem to @amirm ! EVO 4.4s - A Wharfedale Speaker? When did they ad the s?
By the way: I am using a Fosi V3 (Stereo Version) also - in the sleeping room, where I hear music mostly now. It is an increadibly good performer with my HobbyHifi WaveMon 182/22 speakers!

Yes, a pair of Wharfedale EVO 4.4 speakers. I added the “s” to pluralize it.

 

[peng]

Thanks! That explains why I also bought a phono pre

Not that it would matter practically, but I wonder why V2 has significantly higher distortions, 0.03% vs 0.01%, that's a 9.5 dB difference.

 

[totti1965]

Yes, a pair of Wharfedale EVO 4.4 speakers. I added the “s” to pluralize it.

Of course, it’s time now to send the Wharfedales to @amirm or Erin from Erin’s audiocorner, because I can’t find them in https://spinorama.org LoL.

 

[Multicore]

There have been some disappointing results with NAD here in the past but I'm pleased to see this. Nice job on what used to be their core product, the integrated amp for the young and aspiring man with a record collection who needs to save money for better speakers and a car.

 

[Leporello]

There have been some disappointing results with NAD here in the past but I'm pleased to see this. Nice job on what used to be their core product, the integrated amp for the young and aspiring man with a record collection who needs to save money for better speakers and a car.

At sixty-two I am hardly young or aspiring. To me this could well be an amplifier for the rest of my life.

 

[Multicore]

At sixty-two I am hardly young or aspiring. To me this could well be an amplifier for the rest of my life.

That's great. I was being nostalgic about 1980s Brit-Fi. A lot has changed since then so I didn't mean to transfer the old to the new and paint current buyers according to my old colors. Although even back then I bet there were 62-year olds who needed an amp.

 

[SMen]

This is the unit that I sent. Thanks, Amir, for testing it! I bought this unit before discovering ASR, and what a real treat that it measures decently. I currently pair Fosi V3 monos with EVO 4.4s in my main setup, but it’s nice to know I can swap this NAD in if ever needed. I was also excited to see the headphone jack measurements, as I’m going to try it with my headphones for times when the speakers are prohibitive. Glad to see it was a good deal!

I was delighted to read this review. I'm also using the V3 Monos but I got to thinking about old class AB's I had used in the past, and was wondering about how the V3 monos would compare. The V3s sound fantastic - or very transparent and powerful ...

When you get a moment it would very interesting to read your comparison over on the V3 Mono user impressions thread.

I can remember listening to a friend's NAD - I think possibly the V1 ... it's great when an amp you think sounds pretty good also measures pretty well!

 

[NHL99]

Technology wise, is the https://nadelectronics.com/product/c-700-v2/ above, in the amplifier section?
Listened to c700 v1, but it wasn't comparable to a NAD M33. Haven't auditioned the v2.

NAD M10 v2 'Based on the renowned nCore technology'
NAD C700 v2 'HybridDigital UcD amplifier'

with https://www.hypex.nl/technology/ncore/ slogan
'NCORE® (ten times better than UcD™)'

 

[Bleib]

To me these tests points out that 2 channel is not always better than multichannel

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

Glad to see this amp measured!

I still own a C315BEE, the - I believe - direct predecessor of 316-amps. It runs warm even when on standby, sounds punchy and has more power than the modest size would suggest (for class AB). Beneath the shell the innards look identical.

edit: typos

 

[Dennis_FL]

Competition = WiiM Amp?

 

[martin900]

This is another reminder as why no one should buy NAD products.

All planned obsolescence with placing C-tier capacitors next to hot heatsinks (knowing NAD there will be at least a few real hotspots on the PCB) and they are either stupid or just don't care and still drop a lot of voltage over resistors that will become very hot during use.
Seriously guys, this stuff is built to fail after warranty expires.

 

[Billy Budapest]

Anyone recall the late-80’s heyday of NAD, Adcom, and Rotel ruling the entry level of hi-fi?

 

[DMill]

Glad to see this one reviewed. The BEE series has always been so highly regarded by the press the last 30 years I’ve been paying attention. TBH I’ve never spent anytime with the BEE line (a little less power than I’d like) but like most NAD products it seems like a nice value. To me it seems a decent solution for a small room where you just want 1-box convenience and can’t bring yourself to believing a WiiM Pro might do better. Thanks for checking it out.

 

[Bleib]

Anyone recall the late-80’s heyday of NAD, Adcom, and Rotel ruling the entry level of hi-fi?

Nad 208 and Rotel 1080 or 1090 were hifi nirvana goals
Looking back I never needed that kind of power

 

[Steven Holt]

this stuff is built to fail after warranty expires.

Experience does not confirm this assertion. Many of our membership have NAD gear >10 years old and it's still running fine.

 

[ssashton]

It's even got that nostalgic single-sided PCB design