NAD C 316BEE V2 Integrated Amplifier Review

[RoA]

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

View attachment 385963 View attachment 385964

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.

Tell that owners that still use the things ten, twenty or thirty years later.

 

[RoA]

The first image is the V2 (4.0 2017), with the phono stage and the 2nd is the V1 (3.0 2012) without.

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JSmith

That is a fairly elaborate phono stage for a humble integrated

 

[EPICURIOUS007]

one channel is consistently 5db lower then the other on almost all your test, does that concern you?

 

[totti1965]

one channel is consistently 5db lower then the other on almost all your test, does that concern you?

Hi Epicurious, welcome to the forum!
No, it is not something to concern about.
It is not the absolute gain. Not the absolute amplification:
This differs just 0.067 dB, which is perfectly ok.

The difference in the distortion or the noise of about 4 or 5 dB is ok (some parts may differ, or the circuit is not perfectly symmetric from a thermal standpoint out).
If you are a critical person, then just take in every measurement the worse SINAD Specs as your Reference: 82.9 dB instead of 85.145 dB

The NAD 316 BEE is simply a very good amplifier, i. e. it is tested in the „Very good“ range (green).


thorsten

 

[billou5767]

there is now the little rotel A8 , it will be funny to compare

 

[totti1965]

The Rotel A8 seems to have some problems with the power supply. 40 Watt at 4 Ohms (specs) is also a bit shy.
So maybe the NAD 316 BEE is a bit of a preferable choice with a better SINAD. The NAD with its 60 Watts can play 1.5 dB louder.

Rotel A8 integrated amplifier review « 7Review

You don’t like Bluetooth speakers but don’t want to spend a fortune on a modern HiFi system? This amp could be the solution, as it brings everything you need,

7review.com

https://7review.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Rotel-A8-Review-6.jpg.webp

 

[billou5767]

The Rotel A8 seems to have some problems with the power supply. 40 Watt at 4 Ohms (specs) is also a bit shy.
So maybe the NAD 316 BEE is a bit of a preferable choice with a better SINAD.

View attachment 470472

https://7review.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Rotel-A8-Review-6.jpg.webp

thanks

what i like forum

the NAD D3020V2 is less expensive , which better ?

 

[totti1965]

thanks

what i like forum

the NAD D3020V2 is less expensive , which better ?

All information here, (also there was a test by stereophile:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/nad-d-3020-integrated-amplifier-measurements)

It measures just a bit worse than the 316BEE

O

'Amp measurements of d3020 v2 (at home)'

Jun 9, 2021

I was looking for a scientific reviews of NAD d3020 v2 and some tips regarding its usage with Elacs DBR-62 and PC audio.

Unfortunately there are not many scientific reviews regarding d3020v2, and I did not had experience with audio before, so i looked for and measured as much data possible and here is the result.

About the amplifier:
It consists of modified Class D amplifier Hypex UcD102, which should have lower THD (between 0,005%-0.01%). SNR should be at -98dB.
Internal DAC is Cirrus Logic CS42528 (According to...

• Offler
• Replies: 10
• Forum: General Audio Discussions

• 

Brent Butterworth wrote that the usability of the 316 BEE is better than the usability of the 3020 v2.

 

[billou5767]

we are sure the 316 BEE 2025 have no econom / change in hardware ..to cost less ?

 

[totti1965]

we are sure the 316 BEE 2025 have no econom / change in hardware ..to cost less ?

There are no certainties in life.You can never prove that something (for example, Santa Claus) doesn't exist!

 

[billou5767]

There are no certainties in life.You can never prove that something (for example, Santa Claus) doesn't exist!

coca cola say the contrary

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

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

View attachment 385963 View attachment 385964

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.

A few months ago I sold my old C315BEE from around 2007, the predecessor to the C316BEE and the C316 V2. It is practically identical to C316BEE V2 but lacks the phono stage. Checked it before selling and as far as I can tell It's still in pristine condition. Not a single bulging cap nor fried resistor and it works like a charm. I think the design is pretty good indeed, and it packs a lot of power considering it is a class AB device and quite small.

 

[billou5767]

A few months ago I sold my old C315BEE from around 2007, the predecessor to the C316BEE and the C316 V2. It is practically identical to C316BEE V2 but lacks the phono stage. Checked it before selling and as far as I can tell It's still in pristine condition. Not a single bulging cap nor fried resistor and it works like a charm. I think the design is pretty good indeed, and it packs a lot of power considering it is a class AB device and quite small.

View attachment 470536
View attachment 470539View attachment 470540

good or bad capacitor

Capacitors Archives - Hardware Busters

hwbusters.com

real test

in the site there is test with chinese cap , conclusion = high end chinese cap are equal or better than same japan : why = experience , copy AND more modern fab

 

[king0188]

How the NAD C328 compares to this C316BEE?

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

How the NAD C328 compares to this C316BEE?

They use different amplifier technology and have quite different features.

C328 uses class D Hypex Ucd amplifier module and a switching power supply, whereas C316BEE uses class AB topology designed by Björn-Erik Edvardsen (that's where the BEE comes from) and a linear power source. C328 has both digital and analog inputs (it has a built in dac), C316 has only analog inputs. Both have a phono stage, or at least the C316bee V2 has. C328 deifinitely has one. C328 has a sub out which C316bee lacks.

Nad C328 has been measured by Stereophile and the C316bee V2 has been measured here in ASR. C316bee is stable to 2 ohm loads but I'm not sure about C328. Probably not. C328 has a bit more RMS power, at least on paper, but in reality C316bee can deliver more power in short bursts which, in my opinion, is important as there are transients in music which may require it if one listens at loud volumes. In other words C316bee has more headroom.

Both are good basic amps without any major flaws. C328 is more versatile and relies on newer, although not SOTA amp tech, while C316bee is more traditional.

edit: typos

 

[king0188]

C316bee is stable to 2 ohm loads

Thanks for your detailed answer! Does this mean the frequency response is stable in 2 ohm?

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

Thanks for your detailed answer! Does this mean the frequency response is stable in 2 ohm?

Basically it means the amp won't shut down or get damaged if the speakers impedance dips down to 2 ohms. It doesn't affect the FR, although in some devices, like many tube amps and older class D amps the impedance of the speaker does affect the FR. But all in all being stable to a low load is a different thing.

Some amps cannot handle low loads. Nowadays there are many different protection circuits built into the amps to prevent damage, so if an amp cannot handle low load it'll go into protection and either mute or shut down temporarily. In normal use with normal well designed speakers this is not an issue.

 

[Steven Holt]

@Yersinia Bestmate How would you rate the headphone out on the 316BEE?

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

@Yersinia Bestmate How would you rate the headphone out on the 316BEE?

Unfortunately I have no idea about it as I have only owned a c315bee, the predecessor to c316bee. I believe they are essentially identical in this regard but I never tried the headphone output and have sold the unit anyway.

One should probably get a dedicated hp amp to get the best performance.

 

[king0188]

I wanted to try the $80 Fosi V3, so I decided to use one to replace the C 326BEE

I have a NAD C328 and want to try Fosi V3 too