(May 18, 2022) If you find yourself on the other side of the pond, strolling the halls of Munich High End (May 19-22, Munich, Germany), you owe it to yourself to catch a glimpse of NAD's latest modular component, the C 389 HybridDigital DAC amplifier. Slated for release this coming summer, the MDC2 compliant C 389 is slotted to carry a suggested retail price of $1,499.
Now entering its 16th year of existence, NAD's Modular Design Construction (MDC) platform is a future-proofing technology that enables owners to add new capabilities to current and legacy gear using an expansion module. Its latest iteration, MDC2, allows two-way communication between an expansion module and the host component; NAD’s first MDC2 module is the MDC2 BluOS-D, which features BluOS high-res multi-room streaming and Dirac Live room correction.
The C 389's sound capabilities leverage NAD’s HybridDigital UcD amplifier design and the same 32-bit/384kHz ESS Technology Sabre DAC used in the company's top-tier Masters Series amplifiers. The HybridDigital UcD design is a customized variation with multiple UcD amplifier modules in a balanced bridged configuration and an innovative switch-mode power supply that can provide ample reserves of current on demand. Delivering 130 Watts per channel of continuous power, the C 389 is billed to handle the most demanding of loudspeakers, with virtually unmeasurable distortion and noise through the audio band.
NAD's design team endowed the C 389 with a classic, minimalist faceplate housing menu and source controls, a large volume knob, a functional LCD screen, and stereo headphone jack linked to a dedicated headphone amp. Its backside carries a variety of digital and analog inputs, including an ultra-low-noise phono stage, an HDMI eARC interface, and two sets of speaker outputs, along with two subwoofer outputs, pre-outs, and dual MDC2 ports.
An optional MDC2 BluOS-D module can connect to a home network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Once installed, the C 389 can be part of a whole-home music system with as many as 64 zones. Controlled via the BluOS Controller app (Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows), owners can play music from over 20 streaming services or their personal music libraries. Like all BluOS-enabled components, the MDC2 BluOS-D is MQA capable, carries Apple AirPlay 2, and has voice control compatibility. Additionally, owners can connect a supplied microphone to the MDC BluOS-D’s USB port for Dirac Live room correction.
For more information, visit NAD online or at the Munich High End show.
