NAD C298 Stereo Amplifier Review

[Spocko]

So many superior Purifi implementations at about half the price. How this unit gets recommended is beyond me.

All recommendations I believe are based on measurements/performance. Value is personal and subjective - rich guy looking to spend $5000 for something similar is going to think this is a steal while those saving pennies just to buy their first $1000 amp would consider this a hard pass.

 

[NHL99]

Is there any Active speaker with Purifi inside?

 

[Spocko]

And NAD continue to implement designs where each amplifer is running out of polarity with the other channel (since 1983/4), simply to improve power supply modulation to enable a cheaper PSU, but having little to no effect in the real world and causing a whole bunch of other problems .

NAD AVRs and stereo receivers have had a terrible reputation for reliability during the 80's and 90's and were considered entry level "audiophile" gear. However, with the introduction of the Master Series, they've re-branded themselves as a premium option but the non-Master stuff is likely the same as before. My first CD player in the 90's was NAD and it worked for 2 years which was then replaced with the Anthem CD 1 that lasted until I sold it 9 years later.

 

[Matias]

Is there any Active speaker with Purifi inside?

Kii Three currently uses Purifi amps as Bruno is in both companies.

 

[Sal1950]

I got two NAD C 298 which I bought at Denmarks biggest NAD seller, HiFi Klubben at a price af US$ 1.928 each. And with 3 years warrently. Remember we have 25% VAT on everything. If I were in USA I would have gone with Buckeyeamp, but it's expensive til send a broken piece to USA. Now I can almost go round the corner for a repair.

For sure a wise choice on you side of the water.
Shame about those taxes.

 

[Sal1950]

I voted POOR, based on previous PRICE/PERFORMANCE recommendations....

As did I.
For sure a very transparent amp, but the price in todays Class D world
is just way too much. (if your in the US) If it came with a beautiful machined aluminum case like
the Master series then OK (if the looks are important to you).

I got the same feeling looking at the posted pics of the NAD's guts. Kind of a Jimmy's science project look about it. Fisher Price- My First Amplifier.

But, the SMPS appears to be bespoke, as are the input, output and amp docking boards. That said, I'll stick with my battleship build class AB amplifiers for another few decades.

I'm with you John.
I'm holding on to my ancient A/B Adcom tanks.
Now running 30+ years without issue.

 

[bloodshoteyed]

at the time i got it for a tad over 1600€, about a year ago, it was cheaper or just about there with the cheapest low volume offers from smaller manufacturers and was meant more of a killing time piece until Parasound would restock (i was eyeing the a21) in the EU...but when they came back with almost double the pricing i just kept it

besides the occasional right channel not turning on while powering it on (happens about 5% of the time) i'm still pretty happy with how it drives my Kef R3's
and since i got it for listening and not watching it, i don't even mind the utilitarian looks (which tbh, my whole main stereo system looks/feels like)

 

[pseudoid]

That’s why it won’t turn on for me!

LoL >> Who is turning what on? or What is turn who on?
-------------------------------------
Thank you for the review, @amirm.
I really like your performance comparison bar-graphs you provide us with:

Wouldn't those bar-graph be much more informative if they were to show some notation [?] about the range of pricing for each tested hardware?

Examples for above categories:
A < $250
B < $700
C < $1500
D < $4000
E < $8000
F > $8001

 

[amirm]

Swell review, @amirm . I recall you had an amp review not long ago that included test results for its efficiency. Is that not something you plan to do more of?

It is a semi-automated process that takes some work to produce so I won't be running it all the time.

 

[amirm]

Wouldn't those bar-graph be much more informative if they were to show some notation [?] about the range of pricing for each tested hardware?

I made a mistake of not putting prices in my spreadsheets when I started so not can't produce plots like that. Hopefully with the next revision of the Review Index, we get that functionality.

 

[MacCali]

I don’t know the spec sheets for numerous models, but my C326 BEE is excellent.

The thing I like about NAD is they publish meaningful specs for their products, unlike comparable brands such as Rega or Naim for example who tell you almost nothing about how their products perform and NADs performance historically is usually good for the price bracket.

In general when looking at amplifier specs I’ve found NAD to have the best noise and distortion vs power output compared to the competition.

The 326 was my first “integrated” amp and it is very pleasant. I bought mine open box for about 350 and I think that’s an unbeatable deal. Still own it and use it on occasion.

It performed far better than my Marantz 7013 which is technically what got into stereo audio.

I like this amp but feel there’s probably some short comings. I prefer the old school parasound amps[98’-04’] HCA line.

But I ended up purchasing an M23 and then even a second one as it’s a very pleasant amp at a decent price. The audioholics review is what made me buy it, and at that time Amir didn’t review it yet.

I maybe wrong, but I think Gene’s results may have been better. As he touted it to be the best measuring amp to date for audioholics. Definitely cheaper options out in the market, but I really enjoy the subjective performance of this amp in comparison to other class D modules or implementations.

 

[Matias]

LoL >> Who is turning what on? or What is turn who on?
-------------------------------------
Thank you for the review, @amirm.
I really like your performance comparison bar-graphs you provide us with:
View attachment 309033
View attachment 309034
Wouldn't those bar-graph be much more informative if they were to show some notation [?] about the range of pricing for each tested hardware?

Maybe my spreadsheet helps, specially the side graphs per power rating.

Amplifier SINAD list ASR + 3rd parties

docs.google.com

 

[MaxBuck]

It would be interesting to use a Kill-a-watt on the C298 to determine how much power it uses while in standby mode waiting for your RME to turn it on. Some of these implementations are not very energy efficient.

I've not used any power usage meters, but the cabinet inside which my C298 resides remains at external room temperature when the amp is in standby. I'd think any power leakage would manifest in heat.

 

[KenA]

When you line this against a Buckeye, you seem to be paying an awful lot for the three letters NAD. We’re talking well over twice the price.

 

[pogo]

It only seems that way. The best Purifi implementations are currently found at NAD and T+A with the A200 or M200.

 

[TonyJZX]

i thought i was having early onset dementia because i looked at these reviews and i could swear it was only $900 usd

and then i realised there were two boxes on review... the 298 and 268

and here in lies the problem

i dont see at issue at $900 but if you're selling a box that looks the same but at $2,300 then what exactly are you getting for your money

at $2.3 you're expecting a lot more for your money? i'm not talking about power and sinad, that should be a given

i'm not saying the chinese are better at this but look at that soncoz for $1k... and then look at this 298.... its pretty stark

i'm all for that minimalist scando aesthetic but it comes to a point where its not ok at $2.3

 

[daniboun]

I made a mistake of not putting prices in my spreadsheets when I started so not can't produce plots like that. Hopefully with the next revision of the Review Index, we get that functionality.

That a really good new ) Looking forward to see ) Thx Amir

 

[daniboun]

Come to think of it, the Lm Audio MIN400A ClassD, which is a meticulous copy of the Purifi, does much better at a quarter of the price)




Full review and measurements :

Measurements of Lm Audio MIN400A ClassD PowerAMP - L7Audiolab

台式设备 其实早在过年前就有人和我说过 Im Audio MIN400A 这台机器的存在，我当时也联系了卖家说能不能借我一台测一下，但是由于种种原因（疫情、缺货等等）就一直拖到了5月。前几天终于收到了最新一批的机器。这台机器是DIY产品，送测来自DIY商家。

www.l7audiolab.com

 

[Sernyl]

Reactive load test please? For us electrostatic folks.

Just for info :
I did not make any measurements, but my ESL63pro are very happy with my Boxem 4215/E2

 

[steadilyfred]

I find it humorous that people complain about the look of the C 298's case. It's as if they're oblivious to NAD's primary design aesthetic over the past 50 years. Minimalist design is a major plus in my books.

As for price, the C 298 was priced at USD $1,999 when it launched in September of 2020. In the past three years, the retail price has gone up 20%, with global supply issues as the likely culprit. I work hard to avoid paying regular price for anything. I bought mine as an open-box unit, and I see pre-owned units pop up occasionally on the used market.