NAD Digital / Computer Audio Products

C 658 BluOS Streaming DAC

The NAD C 658 is a new kind of stereo component, one that at once changes preconceptions and opens new possibilities for audio reproduction. You see, there has never before been a component offering such a rich palette of both new and proven technology. Bold statements? Read on.

Introducing the NAD C 658

Redefining the Architecture of Hi-Fi Playback

As we move deeper into the 21st Century the way music is distributed and enjoyed continues to evolve away from physical media to streaming. It also has moved away from analog to digital. The C 658 has incorporated these fundamental truths to create an entirely new type of component that combines a Network Streamer, a state-of-the art DAC, and many aspects of the traditional Preamplifier into a single highly cost effective package. And thanks to NAD’s exclusive Modular Design Construction, it will keep pace with the latest technology, not yet introduced, but inevitably coming in the future. In fact, an optional HDMI 4k switcher module is available now allowing the best sound from any of the many HDMI sources available (like game consoles and video STBs). While the C 658 immediately replaces (or adds) your Streamer, DAC, and Preamp, it also adds many new features you may not be aware of, like a Bluetooth aptX HD transmitter to use with your wireless headphones. The highly flexible outputs allow for a true balanced connection to powered speakers or amplifiers. Single-ended connections for amplifiers and subwoofers are also provided and include an adjustable subwoofer crossover executed perfectly in the digital domain. A highly sophisticated MM Phono input is also included along with line inputs for legacy analog components.

BluOS™ Enabled

Also on board is BluOS, the most sophisticated High Res streaming system available. BluOS natively supports over 15 streaming music services and indexing of over 250,000 tracks from local network sources. The C 658 becomes a node in the BluOS ecosystem allowing high res network streaming to 64 zones and control options for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac OS phones, tablets, and desk top devices. BluOS also supports all major smart home controllers and is available in a wide range of products making it easy to create a whole house audio system with the C 658 at its heart.

Traditional NAD Performance and Value

The C 658 is part of our Classic Series of components which have an enviable reputation for giving Music Lovers more enjoyment for less money. If you want a solid block of hand–crafted aluminum with gold plated accents you’ll need to look elsewhere. If you want state-of-the-art performance and features in a sturdy no-nonsense package then you have the right address.

High Resolution in Every Detail

Most NAD components have been High Res for 45 years with very wide bandwidth, low distortion, and ultra-low noise. We just never had High Res source material to play. With High Res digital recording and streaming, combined with advanced technology like MQA, record companies are opening their vaults and releasing Studio Master Quality recordings. MQA decoding is available through BluOS Streaming content. The C 658 is pure High Res from input to output and features the ESS Sabre 32bit DAC , one of the best performing DACs on the market today with its 118dB Dynamic Range and incredibly low jitter spec. All preamp functions are executed in the digital domain including the same wide range non-truncating digital volume control used in our Masters Series components. This offers an incredibly short analog signal path that, rather uniquely, is identical for all volume settings. Sophisticated active power supplies provide super clean voltages to all circuits to keep noise and distortion at the edge of measurability.

Make the Speakers Disappear (It’s Not Magic)

The C 658 is also the first NAD stereo component to feature Dirac Live room correction*, the most sophisticated and effective room correction available. Dirac corrects the impulse response of your speakers, in addition to the frequency response of your room, for a truly transparent window into the musical performance. When the room resonances are tamed and the transient response is corrected, the result is magical. You have never heard your speakers sound this invisible or this good!

*Note: The C 658 includes a license for Dirac Live with the option for advanced users to upgrade to a Dirac Live Full Frequency version.

Master Quality Authenticated

Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) is a revolutionary end-to-end technology built into every BluOS Enabled amplifier to capture and deliver MQA music to your speakers in the purest quality. All BluOS Enabled players and systems include a powerful decoder and audio renderer for the millions of the MQA encoded songs, The MQA logo shown in the BluOS app indicates that the unit is decoding and playing an MQA stream or file, and lets you know that you are hearing exactly what the artist recorded and approved in the studio.

FEATURES & DETAILS

• BluOS Network Streaming with MQA Decoding
• ESS Sabre DAC
• Dirac Live Room Correction*
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Dual Band Wi-Fi ac/n
• 2-way Qualcomm aptX HD Bluetooth
• 2 x MDC Slots for Future Expansion
• MM Phono Input
• 2 x Line Inputs
• 2 x Optical Inputs
• 2 x Coax Inputs
• Balanced Preamp Output
• Preamp Output
• Stereo Subwoofer Output
• High Current Headphone Out
• USB socket for adding optional wireless output module
• IR In with Learning Function
• Trigger Out/In

SPECIFICATIONS

LINE INPUT, PRE-OUT

• THD (20Hz – 20kHz)
• <0.005% at 2V out
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio
• >106dB (IHF; A-weighted, ref. 500mV out, unity gain)
• Channel separation
• >80dB (1kHz)
  >70dB (10kHz)
• Input impedance (R and C)
• 22 kohms + 100pF
• Maximum input signal
• >4.5Vrms (ref. 0.1% THD)
• Output impedance
• Source Z + 240 Ohm
• Input sensitivity
• 93mV (ref. 500mV out, Volume maximum)
• Frequency response
• ±0.3dB (20Hz – 20kHz)
• Maximum voltage output – IHF load
• >4.5V (ref. 0.1% THD)
• Tone Controls Treble
• >±7.0dB at 20kHz; Bass: ±7.0dB at 60Hz; Balance: -10dB

PHONO INPUT, AUDIO PRE-OUT

• THD (20Hz – 20kHz)
• <0.01% at 2V out
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio
• >84dB (200 Ohm source; A-weighted, ref. 500mV out)
  >76dB (MM cartridge source, IHF; A-weighted, ref. 500mV out)
• Input sensitivity
• 1.44mV (ref. 500mV out, Volume maximum)
• Frequency response
• >±0.3dB (20Hz – 20kHz)
• Maximum input signal at 1kHz
• >80mVrms (ref. 0.1% THD)

LINE INPUT, HEADPHONE OUT

• THD (20Hz – 20kHz)
• <0.005% at 1V out
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio
• >110dB (32 Ohms loads; A-WTD, ref. 2V out, unity gain)
• Frequency response
• ±0.3dB (20Hz – 20kHz)
• Channel separation
• >>60dB at 1kHz
• Output impedance
• 6 Ohms

DAC

• Supported audio file formats
• MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, WMA-L, ALAC, OPUS
• High resolution audio formats
• MQA, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, Supports converted DSD playback via the BluOS desktop app (only)
• Native sampling rates
• up to 32bit/192kHz
• Bit depths
• 16 – 24

BluOS

• Supported operating systems
• Plays music from network shares on the following desktop operating systems: Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, Vista, 7, 8 to current Windows Operating Systems and Mac OS X versions
• User interface mobile operating system
• luOS – Free Android and iOS App available online at Google Play and Apple App store
• Supported cloud services
• Spotify, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Deezer, Qobuz, HDTracks, HighResAudio, Murfie, JUKE, Napster, Slacker Radio, KKBox, Bugs
• Free internet radio
• TuneIn Radio, iHeartRadio, Calm Radio, Radio Paradise
• Bluetooth quality
• Bluetooth aptX HD wireless built-in
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Two-Way (Transmit and Receive)
• Network connectivity
• Gigabit Ethernet RJ45
  WiFi 5 (802.11 ac/n)

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT

• Dimensions (W x H x D)**
• 435 x 100 x 405mm (17 1/8 x 3 15/16 x 16)
• Shipping Weight
• 10.1kg (22.3lb)

C 700 BluOS Streaming Amplifier

The way people discover and experience music has shifted profoundly. Today’s listeners can stream music from vast catalogues over the Internet, often with better sound quality than discs can deliver. To simplify music selection, streaming services offer discovery tools like curated playlists and recommendation engines. Wireless multi-room audio lets listeners enjoy music throughout their homes. The NAD C 700 BluOS Streaming Amplifier is a compact, “just add speakers” solution that embraces all the possibilities of the streaming age, offering state-of-the-art amplification that will transport you to your favourite musical destination.

BluOS STREAMING AMPLIFIER

A Feast for the Senses

The C 700 BluOS Streaming Amplifier was designed for the streaming age. Connect your speakers, then use the intuitive BluOS app on your smartphone, tablet, PC, or Mac to select the music you want to hear. It will sound glorious.

Through its HybridDigital UcD output stage, the C 700 can deliver 2×80 watts of continuous power and 2×120 watts of instantaneous power, for effortless reproduction of musical transients. NAD’s highly efficient HybridDigital UcD amplifier design is renowned for ultra-low noise and distortion through the entire audioband, regardless of the loudspeaker load.

Thanks to its elegant, minimalist design and premium materials, the C 700 will engage all your senses — not just hearing, but sight and touch as well. The amplifier is housed in a solid aluminum case, with a smooth glass front panel and 5″ high-definition colour display that shows album art, track progress, and system settings.

Following menus on the C 700’s colour display, you can adjust amplifier settings with the control knob and navigation buttons on the front panel. And the C 700 can learn commands from your favourite remote control.

A Modern Classic

With built-in Ethernet and Wi-Fi, and a network streamer based on the rich, robust BluOS software platform, the C 700 has everything you need to play music through your favourite speakers. Using the BluOS Controller app, you can cue up music from dozens of different streaming and Web radio services, or play music stored on an external drive connected to the C 700’s USB port.

Like all BluOS-enabled components, the C 700 supports high-resolution audio to 24-bit/192kHz, and has full MQA decoding and rendering capability. With these features, you can enjoy lossless and high-resolution audio from services such as Amazon Music Ultra HD, Deezer, Qobuz, and Tidal.

The C 700 supports Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect, so you can control playback from the apps for those services; and Apple AirPlay 2, so you can stream music from Apple devices and iTunes libraries. You can also cue up music by voice, using the Amazon Alexa or Apple Siri voice control protocols.

NAD offers software tools that allow smart-home specialists to integrate the C 700 into home-automation systems from Control4, Crestron, Elan, RTI, and others. This allows control of music playback, along with other home systems like lighting, shades, HVAC, and security.

Well Connected

The C 700 has two pairs of RCA analog inputs, as well as coaxial and optical digital inputs, for connecting disc players, game consoles, media adapters, and other components. There’s also an HDMI-eARC port for connecting an HDTV with HDMI-ARC support. This allows the C 700’s volume setting to be adjusted from the TV’s remote.

In addition to the loudspeaker outputs, the C 700 has a subwoofer output jack. Using the BluOS app, you can set low- and high-pass crossover settings, for a seamless blend between the subwoofer and main speakers.

The C 700 also has two-way aptX HD Bluetooth, so you can listen to music through wireless headphones, and stream audio from any smart device.

The Legend Continues

There are many ways to enjoy the NAD C 700 BluOS Streaming Amplifier. It can serve as the hub of a standalone music system; or function as part of a BluOS whole-home music system with as many as 63 zones, with full support for high-resolution audio. The C 700 can also be combined with other AirPlay 2 components for whole-home music.

With the C 700, you can play music from your favourite streaming services and Web radio stations, or from a music library on a USB drive, through your loudspeakers; or you can listen through wireless headphones. The C 700’s digital and analogue inputs will accommodate your legacy components.

Ever since NAD introduced the legendary 3020 integrated amplifier in 1978, the NAD brand has been renowned for value, performance, and innovation. With the C 700 BluOS Streaming Amplifier, NAD has reinvented that tradition for the streaming age.