NAD C298 Stereo Amplifier Review

[Old_School_Brad]

If you rely totally on measurements and don't do your own homework you miss out on some of the best GEMS in audio.

But ignore this advice and go read more measurements if you never wish to be completely satisfied with your audio system.

No one was discussing the features; the recent conversation was always focused on the sound.

 

[nothingman]

So when I read posts claiming all they need are measurements - it's clearly an over simplification. Finding the best gear always requires more effort.

We are beating around the bush for three pages. This all started with you saying the C298 “is known for offering a bit of a dulled bass response.”

You got asked point-blank where and by whom it is known for that, and on what basis, and you didn’t reply, and then you started talking remote controls and setting up a straw-man about how everyone who opposes your made-up phony nonsense must be someone who insists that SINAD is the be-all-end-all measurement, which isn’t the case at all.

Again… where and by whom and on what basis is the C298 known for a “dulled” bass response? You’re talking about an amp with a proven record of flat response with no load depenency and an off-the-charts damping factor. Tell us what we don’t know, or just admit you make things up.

 

[Julf]

The C298 bass response was less dynamic than I was use to. I also noticed after Kalman Rubinson sold his C298 amps he commented how another amp he was trying was more lively.

"Lively" as having an uneven frequency response or adding distortion?

Atkinson at Stereophile offered a possibility for the difference but who knows?

For the enlightenment of those of us who refuse to support audiophile promotion magazines, maybe you could tell what his opinion was?

If you enjoy the C298, that's great. However, it's not my cup of tea.

We get that.

 

[nothingman]

The C298 bass response was less dynamic than I was use to. I also noticed after Kalman Rubinson sold his C298 amps he commented how another amp he was trying was more lively. Atkinson at Stereophile offered a possibility for the difference but who knows?

If you enjoy the C298, that's great. However, it's not my cup of tea.

What a preponderance of evidence.

We stand humbled by your subjective impressions, a Stereophile reviewer’s subjective impressions, and the musings of another Stereophile reviewer about what might explain the impressions of the first. That’s what I call consensus.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I also noticed after Kalman Rubinson sold his C298 amps he commented how another amp he was trying was more lively.

"Lively" as having an uneven frequency response or adding distortion?

Nope. It is the infamously "boring" Benchmark AHB2.

 

[nothingman]

Nope. It is the infamously "boring" Benchmark AHB2.

Haha! So perfect it’s parody.

 

[ahofer]

Tapping the sign.

People at ASR tend to view good sound as (for electronics) fidelity to signal, and speaker output conforming to Toole and Olive's research. If you like the sound distorted, less accurate, or prefer some other speaker presentation, that's fine, but own it, don't pretend a) lesser fidelity is greater accuracy or b) there must be something wrong with these standards because of your personal preferences or c)you can hear something that can't be measured. There's no need to rationalize your tastes.

Most of us also believe that the way to test for *strictly audible* differences is by properly executed and level-matched double blind procedures, or through taking measurements and recording a result above audible thresholds. The fact that you noticed a difference outside of these conditions simply isn't evidence of a difference in signal quality at your ears. Even if it is a difference in the signal, as opposed to some sighted bias, it is likely to be a difference in amplitude rather than something more subtle.

Finally, all of the above mistakes are simply human. No human being is so "experienced" or "trained', or "sensitive" as to be able to make sighted comparisons objectively.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Haha! So perfect it’s parody.

I think it's irony.

 

[bloodshoteyed]

I think it's irony.

the Benchmark or that i remember you going active?

 

[Kal Rubinson]

No. That the (or my) preferred amp is the one that so many carp at as "boring" in their efforts to deny its excellent performance.

 

[mike70]

A flat response with no audible distortion is the way to the "boring sound" / "cold sound" for those who likes the V EQ sound, loudness, etc.

Is my personal appreciation, maybe I'm wrong, but (empirically) I'm convinced about it. As an example, people that likes valves.

 

[Angsty]

The Absolute Sound seems to like the C298 now, but they are a bit late to the party.

 

[EJ3]

This is the usual retail price for consumers. The product has to be sent via regional distributors, who sell to retailers, who sell to you.

With this you get assurance of after sales support, repair and service channels for the usual life of the product, and sometimes even after warranty has expired. For some people this is invisible; until you have a problem you will realise that it is invaluable.

If you buy direct from a small boutique manufacturer you bypass all these, but then have potential downsides if something goes wrong, you then have to ship the product back to base. You have little recourse and no-one else to advocate for you when things go wrong. Of course in C21 marketing and sales has changed all this; and customer feedback too is now transparent as people have taken to forums and social media to complain if they feel unsupported. So the manufacturer will usually step in to intervened and resolve the issue.

But if the manufacturer no longer exists in x years, or the product is discontinued, then you’re really on your own.

NAD has been around for a long time and have shown themselves to be reliable and dependable. They are like the Toyota of amplifiers IMHO. You can complain about the cost but there are MUCH worse products from much smaller manufacturers.

Yes, you take it to your dealer & they give you a loaner while yours is out being repaired. At least that is the way my dealer has worked.
When I'm interested in a product: here, take it home, try it for 2 weeks, if you don't like it, bring it back, if you do like it, come pay for it.
There IS a difference.
And, in negotiating with the dealer, I have never paid close to retail.

 

[Sparkles]

A flat response with no audible distortion is the way to the "boring sound" / "cold sound" for those who likes the V EQ sound, loudness, etc.

I thought high fidelity meant faithful, or true to life reproduction of sound.

If I think that I hear
real people talking or playing an instrument in my living room when it's actually the TV or streamer playing, or loud sounds sound startling, I'm satisfied.

 

[BeeKay]

As an example, people that likes valves.

Maybe I am wrong. I tend to like instruments played by musicians on stage or in the studio. What I really refuse is home audio companies building their own instruments rather than an apparatus that reproduces the music as true as humanly technically possible. And if I would ever like to have this experience screwed I still could add distortion by DSP. Well, will not happen.

 

[ahofer]

The Absolute Sound seems to like the C298 now, but they are a bit late to the party.

That guy with his measurement apparatus in the background talking about amplifier imaging as a primary differentiator.

 

[pinger]

As soon as he talks about sound quality i tune him out. All SS amps sound the same.

 

[EJ3]

As soon as he talks about sound quality i tune him out. All SS amps sound the same.

I'd like to amend that to
"All PROPERLY done SS amps SHOULD sound the same or something is wrong or intentionally wrong"
And, as it turns out, he thinks that it is pretty right, but, of course he cannot say it's perfect because the company relies on...
But it is nice to know that one of THEM thinks that it is great.

 

[Angsty]

I'd like to amend that to
"All PROPERLY done SS amps SHOULD sound the same or something is wrong or intentionally wrong"
And, as it turns out, he thinks that it is pretty right, but, of course he cannot say it's perfect because the company relies on...
But it is nice to know that one of THEM thinks that it is great.

To make it safe, he says that it would be a good fit for systems up to $50,000. Have to protect the upmarket.

 

[Angsty]

As soon as he talks about sound quality i tune him out. All SS amps sound the same.

To a large degree. I have had the experience of finding a $25 receiver from Goodwill that sounds different than a quality power amplifier with greater low impedance drive capability. The measurements in ASR do support that there are measurable, if not always audible, differences.

Nonetheless, I’d expect the C298 to sound indistinguishable from my three Class AB power amps.