The innovative and extremely powerful NAD C 298 stereo power amplifier is not only the perfect amplifier for a combination with the NAD C 658 streaming preamplifier, but also an ideal match for any other preamplifier. The exclusive combination of NAD's proprietary HybridDigital concept with the Eigentakt™ technology developed by the Danish company Purifi ensures absolute distortion- and noise-free playback. Equipped with RCA and balanced XLR inputs with adjustable sensitivity, the power amplifier delivers a continuous output power of 2 x 340 watts and an impulse power of 2 x 490 watts (each at 4 Ω). If required, the C 298 can be operated in bridged mode, mobilizing an output of 620 or 1,000 watts (continuous/impulse at 8 Ω).

NAD C 298 STEREO POWER AMPLIFIER

HybridDigital™ Purifi Eigentakt™ Amplifier

Throughout its almost 50-year history, NAD has debuted numerous innovative amplifier technologies – starting from the classic 3020 with its enormous current delivery capacity to the Class D flagship M2. In August 2020, the NAD M33 was released as a brand-new high-end streaming integrated amplifier that is the first in the world to work with the innovative new Purifi Eigentakt™ technology and was promptly awarded the EISA Award as the best "smart amplifier 2020/21".

With the new C 298 stereo power amplifier, NAD now wants to make the unique Purifi Eigentakt™ amplifier technology accessible to a wider audience. It is the perfect companion for the BluOS streaming preamplifier C 658 and convinces with its enormous performance capability.

Purifi is a Danish technology company where some of the leading developers in the HiFi industry pursue the goal of identifying and eliminating the last remaining weaknesses in digital amplifier technology. The current state of their work resulted in the Purifi Eigentakt™ amplifier, which NAD is the first company to produce under license and has so far used exclusively in the BluOS streaming amplifier M33.

The Purifi Eigentakt™ technology impresses with extremely low intermodulation distortion in measurement terms, a particularly low total harmonic distortion of only 0.005% across the entire frequency response and complete power bandwidth, as well as minimal self-noise.

Pioneering for the development of the Eigentakt™ technology was the realization that a memory effect occurs in the components of the amplifier's output filter. This phenomenon, known as hysteresis, apparently leads to the known sonic drawbacks of conventional digital amplifiers. By modifying the output stage and using the clever algorithms of the Eigentakt technology, Purifi succeeded in significantly reducing the hysteresis effects. A further advantage of the Eigentakt™ power amplifiers is that they are absolutely immune to changing speaker loads. Their extremely low output impedance also results in a very high damping factor, which is manifested in an absolutely clean and controlled bass reproduction.

Enormous power reserves

Instead of old-fashioned linear power supplies and Class AB amplifiers, which convert almost half of the required energy into heat instead of power, NAD relies exclusively on switching power supplies and Class D output stages in its current amplifiers. This design operates very linearly over a wide bandwidth and offers consistent performance for all speaker loads, which represents a dramatic step forward compared to earlier techniques.

The large-dimensioned power supply of the C 298 enables the power stages to provide an enormous continuous power of 2 x 340 watts (at 4 Ω) and up to 2 x 570 watts impulse power (at 2 Ω). The innovative asymmetrical PowerDrive technology uses every single watt available to provide enormous dynamic reserves in order to reproduce music precisely without distortion or compression. In addition, the highly efficient power supply impresses with almost perfect voltage regulation across its entire operating range, thus ensuring a solid, noise-free power supply for the amplifier stages.
MAIN FEATURES

• HybridDigital™ Purifi Eigentakt™ amplifier
• Continuous output power: 2 x 185 W at 8 Ω, 2 x 340 W at 4 Ω
• Impulse power: 2 x 260 W / 2 x 490 W / 2 x 570 W (at 8/4/2 Ω)
• Impulse power in bridged mode: 1,000 W at 8 Ω, 1,100 W at 4 Ω
• Balanced XLR inputs
• Gold-plated RCA inputs
• Adjustable input level
• Line level output for daisy-chaining the audio signal to additional power amplifiers
• Inputs and outputs for 12 V trigger signals
• Adjustable sensitivity for automatic switch-on
• Inputs and outputs for IR
• Ground terminal
• Detachable power cable

Flexible application possibilities

The C 298 may look like a simple stereo power amplifier at first glance, but NAD engineers have carefully thought through all applications to develop a power amplifier that is as universally applicable as possible. For instance, the C 298 has balanced inputs so that it is also prepared for professional studio use and connection to high-end preamplifiers and processors. Thanks to its variable input sensitivity, the C 298 can be perfectly integrated into configurations with other amplifiers or active speakers and subwoofers – the line-level preamplifier output required for this is already included in the equipment package. A sensitivity-adjustable auto-on function facilitates the operation of complex systems and allows for hidden operation of the amplifier. The ground terminal prevents ground loops and hum interference in audio systems with multiple amplifiers. And finally, the C 298 can also be operated in bridged mode if required, which turns it into an astonishingly powerful monoblock amplifier. Start with one C 298 and add a second one later when you upgrade your speaker system.

Basic requirements

It is astonishing how many seemingly advanced products on the market today often do not even meet the basic requirements for reliable and high-quality operation. NAD, on the other hand, understands the importance of low-noise circuits, accurate channel balance, correct input and output impedance characteristics, large headroom, and stable gain even with difficult speaker loads. NAD's engineers take these fundamental aspects into account in their work and continuously develop them further.

For example, the line-level inputs of the C 298 – whether the balanced XLR or the conventional RCA jacks – are suitable for all types of analog audio sources, as they feature an ideal input impedance with linear, extremely low-noise buffer amplifiers to prevent sound deterioration caused by impedance mismatch. Details you can hear.

ANALOG INPUT TO SPEAKER OUTPUTS
Continuous power output in stereo mode into 8 Ω
2 x 185 W (20 Hz – 20 kHz at rated THD)
into 4 Ω 2 x 340 W (20 Hz – 20 kHz at rated THD, into 4 Ω)
Continuous power output in bridged mode
1 x 620 W (20 Hz – 20 kHz into 8 Ω)
Dynamic power in stereo mode (at 1% THD, 1 kHz, into 8 Ω)
2 x 260 W
into 4 Ω 2 x 490 W
into 2 Ω 2 x 570 W
Dynamic power in bridged mode into 8 Ω
1 x 1,000 W
into 4 Ω 1 x 1,100 W
Total Harmonic Distortion (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
<0.005% (1 to 185 W into 4 and 8 Ω)
Signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted)
>98 dB (500 mW input, 1 W output into 8 Ω); >120 dB (185 W output into 8 Ω)
Maximum output current
>25 A (into 1 Ω, 1 ms)
Damping factor
>800 (8 ohms, 20 Hz – 6.5 kHz)
Input sensitivity (for 185 W into 8 ohms)
1.43 V
Frequency response
±0.2 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz), -3 dB (60 kHz)
ANALOG INPUT TO LINE OUTPUT
Total Harmonic Distortion (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
<0.0005% at 2 V output level
Signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted)
>120 dB (IHF, 20 Hz-20 kHz, at 2 V output level)
Input impedance (R and C)
RCA and XLR: 56 kΩ + 280 pF
Maximum input level
>7.0 V (at 0.1% THD)
Output impedance
390 Ω
Frequency response
±0.1 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Maximum output voltage
>7.0 V (at 1% THD)
GENERAL
Standby power consumption
<0.5 W
Dimensions (W x H x D)
435 x 120 x 390 mm
Weight
11.2 kg
Shipping weight
13.6 kg

Herstellerangaben:

Lenbrook Industries Ltd.
633 Granite Court
Ontario
L1W 3K1 , Pickering
Kanada
blokhifi@lenbrook.com

Verantwortliche Person:

DALI GmbH
Berliner Ring 89
64625 , Bensheim
Germany
service@nad.de