*NEW* NAD C399 Review // Is this highly ANTICIPATED all-in-one all HYPE??
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- Опубликовано: 28 июн 2024
- NAD C399 Review...One of our first videos was an interview with a representative with NAD talking about the upcoming C399. It took a lot longer than expected but it's FINALLY here! So far this is the most affordable N-Core Class D amp. Let's find out and see how it performs!
NAD C399 with NAD video: • Exclusive NAD C399 int...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:45 Specs, Looks and feel
3:57 Overall Performance
6:44 Music Performance
10:17 Recommendations 
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Great review! I was waiting to see a full review. Good job!!
thank you!
Finally a proper and entertaining review!!
thank you! haha the other ones aren't proper 😉
Hey guys I just subbed, entertaining review, a couple of things to help you refine what you do, always share the system reference setup including cables so even newbies to the channel know how to contextualize your comments on the gear under review, and try to include comparisons with two other similarly priced/featured gear so we can triangulate. Best of luck with the channel!
Thank you for the feedback! We are going to do a separate video on how we review including the gear used. We are going to try and keep as many controlled variables as possible. For example the PMC speakers used especially as I know them very well from my experience on studio side with them. This way we know exactly the changes in sound in that particular gear. Thank you about the comparisons it’s a good idea. As we do more reviews we want include how it compares to other in the same price range. I appreciate your support. I’m excited as I have worked in all sides of hifi for over 20 years from retail to manufacturing side. I needed to take a step back and do something different. although I just started the RUclips thing it has been fun so far!
Minimalistic design is the way to go! Two thumbs up review 👍 👍
👍👍
Awesome, finally a great review about this amp! I just wonder if they'd be a great match with my old energy rc-70s since their sound is more laid back..maybe it would work better with my older JBL's....best success to your channel!
Thank you! I had anold C-6 from way back! In the 90's it was my favs during that ear. I don't have much experience with the 70s however if it's anything like the old C-6s i think it would match well!
I’ve been sold on this amp for a while, and your (Canadian) review put it over the top for me. Great review, nice Peter McKinnon coffee shirt (?), and I’m following your channel now!
Looking to pair this with my Axiom M60 v3 mains, or Monitor Audio Silver 100 v7 units. Not sure if you have opinions on either pairing?
👍👍// must me Marcos shirt you are talking about! The monitor audio I have tried with the NAD. The combination does work well! It’s been awhile since I listened to any Axiom speakers however I have a feeling it would provide a well balanced sound. Based on the models before.
@@Hifyed Thanks for your advice. Much appreciated.
Nice review
Good job guys keep it up!!
thank you!
Hey guys! Another new subscriber via Sean at Zero Fidelity. Thanks for the review. Would you characterize the amp’s sound as warm or neutral or cool? Thin or neutral or rich? Thanks!
Thank you! On the neutral side. The one difference I find compared to other models it has a increased perception in bass extension. It adds a bit more feeling of warmth than say for example the 368. I really thank Sean for helping you find out channel!
Thanks for the video! I’m also a C368 owner looking to upgrade. I added a minidsp 2x4 HD to get Dirac, but I have to use an external amp and place the minidsp unit between the analog preamp outs on the C368 and the (tube) amp. With this setup the signal gets re-converted to digital, then analog by the minidsp, I’m sure some information is lost.
With built in Dirac, the C399 fixes this. And there’s even a setting to keep the phono stage pure analog in and out. Thanks for the review, I think I’ll snag one when it’s available!
Thank you for your insight! You are right the signal is re-converted and can lose a little bit of information. Also, an added benefit is the 399 incorporates the latest purifi amps. Another extra bonus 😉
@@Hifyed Is the c368 still a good amp?
@@Legacy2.0 Although it's getting a little older it's still a good amp!
Very good, perfect match wit B&W bookshelf speakers!!!!@@Legacy2.0
Thanks for the fantastic review! How would you compare the NAD C399 to Cambridge Evo 150 soundwise?
Thank you! They are both based on the new n-core and have a very similar characteristics. From what I can remember the Cambridge has a slightly smoother/warmer perception of warmth. The NAD I would have to give it the edge on dynamics and will produce higher spl.
Great review, thank so much! I have the NAD C368, do you think that the C399 is a great upgrade, great improve over the C368?
Thank you! It is really a good upgrade from the c368. The ability to add Dirac is really a plus. The 368 however is really good at the price and even if you stayed with it, you will still be happy!
You mentioned at the end of the video that the C399 would pair well with, for example, the Wharfedal Lintons, which I plan to purchase. Do you think that the NAD C368 would also pair well with the Lintons in retaining their warm, rich sound. And while I know it’s subjective, do you think the additional expense for the C399 would be worth it in pairing with the Lintons? Thank you,and I just subscribed.
Thank you! The 368 will pair well with The 399 will have better Dynamics and transparency however overall sonically is close. With the Lintons It would be worth the upgrade however not absolutely necessary. Just keep in mind the 399 will drive more difficult loads if your the type that likes to change speakers.
Great to see a review of this amp. I've currently got a C368 driving ATC SCM11 speakers. I love the sound but at times it feels a little underpowered. Is the C399 a worthwhile upgrade? And does it run as cool as the C368?
The SCM11 do like power, similar to the PMC's we use in our reviews. The C399 does have a lot more power, however, always remember that the difference will equate to about a 3db increase. From what I remember it runs just as cool.
Really surprised a top NAD integrated with this much power could be clipped so easily even with what sounded like hard-to-drive speakers. (Sad Face) I really want to love the new NAD gear… Thank you so much for your transparency.
It did still put out some good spls considering the efficiency of the speakers. It’s just when you reach a certain point it goes from no distortion to a hard clip. Overall it can drive difficult loads at a high level. Well worth to have a listen!
@@Hifyed Thank you! Understood. :-) I will definitely re-watch your review. No doubt you both commented on many other positive aspects on what is the flagship of a non-Masters Series amp. P.S. I was a fan of HIFYED way before Sean at 0-Fidelity gave you guys a 👍🏽! I may have found you in my initial search for a 399 review! You guys are great!
@@edmundgil6008 thank you for the kind words! I’m at the Montreal audio. Let me know if any products peak your interest. I’ll see if they are around. I’m trying to figure out which products to focus on.
What are the specs on the speakers that clipped? I’m looking at this amp to power a pair B&W 606’s. Could you also comment on the quality of the DAC? For people who are new, like me 😊
How does it pair with QA Concept 50s? What is your favorite amp for those speakers?
Hi! Thank you for the review. How would this sound with the Focal Aria 948 with svs sb-1000 pro? Right now I have the combo preamp/amp Pioneer c73/m73 from the 90s, class a/b. Would this offer a greater sound quality? Thank you!
Awesome review. Subbed.
👍👍
Hi guys which model of the NAD C368, 388 or 399 would suitably power some Monitor Audio Silver 300 - 500 or Gold series speakers between 80 - 250W ?
Nice review. Did you find it lack in bass at all?
Thank you! It doesn’t lack bass, however in general class d amps have a very start and stop nature. Perception of bass always seem less extended. I do find however the new ncore which is found in this 399 does give you more sense of extension.
Hi Guys, great review! I'm in the market for an integrated Amplifier that will match best with Focal Kanta 1. Which one of the two amplifiers, Nad c399 or Musical fidelity M5si ? An amplifier that drives the Kanta 1 to it's potential SQ at this price level and also not add brightness. Thank you.
Hey man i subscribed, I like your guys personalities...stay with it.
These guys are funny. I think the axa35 and the Wharfedales are the funniest
Thank you!
Thanks for review! How it pair with kef ls50 meta?
You are welcome! The Kef's in the background are wireless, however, I have tried the NAD368 with LS50s, and its a good match. It's really quick-sounding as a combo.
Do you think this unit plus MDC2-BluOS card is a viable replacement for my CXNv2 + MF M3i. Hope to upgrade so as to have HDMI ARC input and room-correction. My speakers are B&W CM8 S2. Thanks!
It could be a viable replacement but I would proceed with caution. You might like the sound better, however, this is something you should try first. Your current combination is going to sound different. With that being said room correction especially Dirac is a bonus. In some some environments having the ability to do Dirac is a must. If this is your case I would highly consider the NAD so the BluOS
@@Hifyed Appreciate the prompt reply, Thanks!. I have yet listened to the C399 but I did spend a few minutes with an M10v2 partnered with KEF LS50 Meta. The NAD-KEF combination provided refreshing sonic details at higher frequencies which I like but does not seem to produce the same bass punches I loved on my B&W floorstanders. Decisions decisions..
Hello,
Would you say it gives Hegel H390 & Naim SN3 a run for their money or no comparison?
How do the C399 compare to the C388? Especially in Sound Quality and Performance
Hypex Ucd vs Ncore.
Sonic signature is pretty close! From what I can remember the 399 has better drive and texture. To really know maybe we should do a direct comparison 🤔
You compare this amp to the C368 but how does it compare to the C388 which is what i own. Should i upgrade ?
I think you would be surprised how close the c399 and c388 sound. I would say the more difficult the speaker is to drive the greater the difference. Make sure you demo it first to see if it really is worth the upgrade.
Can u guys get a review for the c298 please
Excellent suggestion! Hopefully I can make in the near future.
New subscriber here thanks to Sean aka Zero Fidelity! 🇺🇦🇺🇸
👍👍
Would you feel some difference if upgrading to this one from the C388?
You would notice a difference. The 399 uses the latest amp modules(purifi). It’s “claimed” that is not load variant.
Can the C399 be turned on/off remotely from iOS app? Instead of the included remote control?
I’m planning on purchasing the Graham ls 5/9 primarily for its rich, warm midrange. Would the NAD C368 be satisfactory or would the extra power from the C399 make a meaningful difference, and would they both preserve the Graham’s warm tonality? Thank you.
Please add to my question sent moments ago: Same question about the NAD C388?
@@michaelswitzer3186 The power of the c368 is good for rooms up to 25m square, for larger rooms you should go for the c388 or 99
@@Legacy2.0 thank you. Is that the case for my very large living room BUT I will be sitting only 8-9 feet from the speakers and don’t care about the volume of the sound in the rest of the room? My I’m
@@michaelswitzer3186 Actually the problem is that even if you are close to your speakers, with a less powerful amp it will not be able to fill the whole room...with the 368 even if the sound quality is excellent for the price there will be no continuity in the sound because it will not be powerful enough to fill the whole room... if you want it's like a piano when you let go of the key the sound stops, but when you hold the key the sound continues a little bit...so if it's in a big room the notes of the instruments will seem cut off whereas with a more powerful amp you'll have more continuity because the sound will fill your room
@@Legacy2.0 got it and very interesting. Again, thank you.
Hi Guys now that you reviewed both this C399 and M10 and M10V2 how does this one stack up to those M10s I mean it has more powerful Hypex nCore but does it sound better or is it just more powerful? I have an M10V1 but love the classic look of the C399
Hope to hear you brutal opinion 😄😂🙏🏼
From what I remember the c399, seemed to have better bass control and overall drive. The sound signature is so close. I really would need to do a side by side comparison to be fair. Since this comparison as frequently asked we just may have to do so 😉.
@@Hifyed thanks for answering, would be so awesome, could be nice to do a switch to a NAD Classic look without sacrificing SQ 🔥 Go Go Go 🤩
How would you compare the C399 and C700 in terms of the sound quality and power since you had listened to both and review.
Bass sounds more extended also just a greater feeling of dynamic contrast. Top end is also more open and transparent but not a night and day by any means means. I also found if you are driving difficult loads it’s difference are more apparent.
@@Hifyed Thanks for sharing all the details. I’m currently testing the C700. Do you think it’s worth to upgrade to C399 with the additional price. I’m running Dynaudio S1.4. C700 is not bad but I wish there is better separation and clarity when the music get louder and complicated ( more instruments). Also I wish a bit smoother on the end will be even better. Not sure if C399 will deliver my needs. Thank you!
@@nickchang2116 if you have a chance to audition it that would be best. Dynaudio speakers in general benefit for current and power especially when reaching higher spls. The 399 has the latest n-core amps which has little load variance. The idea behind this is it should be able to drive difficult loads much easier.
@@Hifyed I was thinking to go with the basic C399 (US $1999) to start with and hope eventually upgrade to MDC2 BluOS-D module & Dirac ($2599) in the future. Do you think I will miss a lot with the ease of using BluOS and the sound quality/refinement with the basic C399. Knowing that Dirac will tune the C399 to tailor my listening area. Again, thanks for all the great reviews and look forward for more latest Hi Fi reviews.
Is it NC400?
You match this amp with the Klipsch RP-28OF horn tweeters
In terms of driving the speaker, it matches very well. Since it is quite neutral sounding you will really hear what your speakers are doing.
I have just over 100 hours on my C399 - it is behind a pair of Klipsch RP8000F - and it is so smooth and clean and crisp
Even my Lowther TP1s sound amazing. Fantastic all-rounder. All issue is the availability of the MDC2 cards. I have emailed NAD, and they are playing their cards close to the chest.
Glad you are enjoying your system! I talked to NAD and they don’t want to give any etas on product. Glad you got a c399 as it’s a pretty limited rollout.
Does the amp gets warm? I stay near the equator.
For an amp the run pretty cool!
I don't know 2k for a stripped M33 sounds a bit high.
I do think it price far considering the Price of the M33. I need to do a side-by-side comparison to hear how much difference between the 2.
You made a 180 wpc amp clip and only got 95db spl?
Help me out here.
The speakers we are using have a fairly low sensitivity 85/86db. If you include the open area in the back of the room is over 300sq ft not completely sealed. Every time you double the distance from the original source you lose 6db. We measure it from 13-14 away.
With all these factors in consideration 95db is a great result.
@@Hifyed
Ya 95db wouldn’t cut it for me. I’ve hit 114dbc peaks with my current system. Given that’s a bass peak c weighting so the average reading is closer to 100db.
It's probably got the cheap N-core module or how it has been implemented. Not close to what the Master series uses. I wish I can get more information, at least a photo of the inside. :)
I agree with you! It would not make sense to have the exact implementation as the m33.
Demoed this against my Hegel H120, really wanted to like it but for me it couldn't compete with the H120.
I did not think you would. Chatting with you I don't think the sonic characteristics of NAD suits your tastes. Even if you tried the M33 it's the overall presentation of Hegel which is just a good match for your ears. Really glad you found an amp that suits you!
@@Hifyed to be fair i only tried my ls50 meta's on the NAD C399 perhaps a warmer sounding speaker would be a better match in this regard?
To my ears the Meta's have a rich warmish tone to them when played through a Hegel with 0 fatigue with a deep bass.
But i guess this is all subjective and we all like different things!
Really enjoy your channel hope you can get more subscribers as you cover some really interesting products.
@@hclandscapes I agree with that. The NAD with the Metas will come off as brighter. I think it's the match with the LS50. I'm sure it won't measure bright however since most class D amps have low distortion and a start/stop nature creates a perception of brightness with KEFS. A lot of people will like it and some will not. With Hegel, it sounds a lot more rounded. I have been listening to the Wireless(in the background) and it sounds very similar when paired with NAD....Thank you! regarding the subscribers. We are patient and from what I read takes a long time initially and are considered at a good pace. I appreciate all your support!
I have a Purifi Eval1 power amp the same amplifiers in the M33 and tried a H590 and the diffrence wasn't that huge as you would think, the Hegel was better in every way but no super much. My SMSL Su-9 sucks compared to the H590's dac and preamp. The Hegel is great.
@@marcusm5127 👍👍
Do you think this nad c399 would work well with dynaudio?
It will match very well! I still think you will like the hegel combo better just knowing your taste. I recently tried the 399 with a pair of special 40s just for fun and I like the way it sounded together.
@@Hifyed i definitely preferred Hegel with the Meta's due to the KEFs brightness,
The dynaudio sound is much smoother and laid back so i wonder if the class D may give them a little added brightness making them quite a good match?
You must be so lucky to be able to try out so much different hifi equipment!
How do those special 40's sound?
Im enjoying my Emits but do find at loud volumes they fall apart a bit with bass losing some control, possibly due to lack of cabinet bracing and cheaper crossovers?
I love the look of the Evoke and special 40's but there's a huge price difference from the emit range.
@@hclandscapes I really like the special 40's! It's Sense of transparency is a strong point.
Class D will add the perception of brightness due to the nature of its presentation. Low distortion also means low-level harmonics, hence the reason tubes have a greater sense of warmth even if they may not measure that way.
If the sound at louder volumes sounds mechanical it's most likely due to the speaker itself. Dynaudio loves power and will notice distortion at higher levels that can be due to the amp(clipping). Just to make sure you need to isolate if it's the speaker or amplifier.
The Evokes and special '40s are quite a bit more. Keep in mind they love current and power even more than the Emits.
@@Hifyed im going to try the NAD C399 with my emit 30's, the H120 unfortunately wasn't up to the job and couldn't control the lower frequencies making everything sound boomy and uncontrolled.
the H190 worked well but was too much money to spend on speakers of this value in my opinion,
the NAD is much better price matched and has plenty power that i feel the dynaudio's need to sound right,
plus the emits in my opinion are on the relaxed warmer side of neutral so i think the character of the NAD will also work well in this regard to add a bit more top end and dynamics.
i will look forward to trying it out.
@@hclandscapes Thank you for your feedback! I'm very surprised that the H120 was not enough to drive it properly. I have not had a chance to try the newer emits however it requires more oomph to drive them properly. Thanks again for the insight! Hopefully, the 399 works out for you.
It is a pity that the phono amp is not that great. the M10v2 seems to have a better resolution on not-so-bright speakers even with Dirac on. You should emphasize on the BlueOs card, as it is really a game changer for audiophiles who do not want to hassle with software (it is simple, fast, and stable not like HEOS at least in my experience).
Thank you for the feedback! Your correct I should have gone over the BluOS a little more. 👍👍
I paired the C399 with the Mission 770's. All I can say is Lawd Honey...it drives those bad daddies like it stole 'em!
Isn't Khruangbin a 3 person band lol
Yeah really need comparisons to be mentioned, otherwise it’s just subjective statements
Thank you for the feedback! We are working on it. I’m starting to list and make notes of all the brands I know very well which is a lot as I have been in the industry for quite along time! Before we start comparing I want to make sure we do it right. I can honestly say to myself “do I really remember” exactly what I heard months or years ago”. I just need to make sure I deliver an honest and fair comparison! Auditory memory is difficult and plays a lot of tricks!
That’s the problem. I don’t want Tech. I’ve been burned too many times with class D amplification. I want old school AB push/pull sound. I don’t think there’s a class D amplifier that can deliver the old-school sound that I’m looking for at any price.
I agree, if your looking for old-school Sonics class d won’t be the way to go. The sound of class d has become polarizing these days you either love it or hate it.
Maybe turn the background music down a bit so we can hear your voices better
Thank you for the feedback! We have a few videos already finished but will make sure to take that into account for future ones.
Will this last longer than the piece of shit c390dd I own that is collecting dust after sinking close to $1000 on repair costs into it after it continues to fail after year 5, coincidentally just after warranty expired?
My $400 euro Marantz receiver of 15 years old has been going strong without any repairs so I am tending to the 40n even though feature wise this c399 looks very attractive but just isn’t worth it once your NAD turns into a No Audio Device.