C 389
HybridDigital DAC Amplifier
 
The NAD C 389 HybridDigital DAC amplifier can serve as the cornerstone of a high-performance audio system now – and for decades to come. Employing NAD’s proven HybridDigital UcD amplifier design and the same ESS Sabre DAC used in NAD’s acclaimed M33 BluOS streaming amplifier, the C 389 will deliver thrilling dynamics and exquisite detail from all your sources.
 
With its full suite of digital and analogue inputs, including an ultra-low-noise phono stage and HDMI eARC interface, the C 389 can accommodate all your source components. And it incorporates the latest generation of NAD’s Modular Designs Construction future-proofing technology, making it easy to add exciting capabilities such as BluOS high-res music streaming and Dirac Live room correction.
 
Power and Performance
 
The C 389 can deliver a staggering 130W per channel continuously, with virtually unmeasurable distortion and noise through the audioband, and up to 350W per channel of instantaneous power, for effortless reproduction of musical transients.
 
The digital section features the same 32-bit/384kHz ESS Technology Sabre DAC chip used in NAD’s award-winning Masters M33 amplifier. Renowned for its exceptionally wide dynamic range, ultra-low noise and distortion, and near-zero levels of clock jitter, the ESS Sabre 9028 DAC enables the C 389 to deliver astonishing clarity and near-holographic imaging on all sources.
 
Future Friendly
In 2006, NAD introduced Modular Design Construction technology, which lets users add new features by inserting an expansion module into an MDC-capable component. In 2021, NAD introduced MDC2, a next-generation future-proofing platform that enables two-way communications between the expansion module and host component.
 
The C 389 has two MDC2 expansion slots, so that it can stay current with new developments in A/V technology. NAD’s first MDC2 module is the MDC2 BluOS-D, which features BluOS high-res multi-room streaming and Dirac Live room correction.
The MDC2 BluOS-D connects to your home network via Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet. Using the BluOS Controller app on a smart device or personal computer, you can play music from your favourite streaming services and personal music library through the C 389. BluOS has integrated support for more than 20 services, including several that offer lossless and high-res audio, such as Amazon Music HD, Deezer, Idagio, Qobuz and Tidal. Like all BluOS-enabled components, the MDC2 BluOS-D has MQA decoding and rendering capability, for high-res streaming from Tidal. It also supports Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect, as well as Amazon Alexa voice control. With the MDC2 BluOS-D installed, the C 389 can be part of a whole-home music system with as many as 64 zones.
 
Preliminary Features & Details
Customized HybridDigital UcD amplifier in fully balanced bridged configuration
Continuous Power: 130 Watts per channel into 8/4 ohms
Instantaneous Power: 210 W into 8 ohms, 300 W into 4 ohms, 350 Watts per channel
Vanishingly low harmonic and intermodulation distortion
Nearly unmeasurable noise through the entire audioband
Dual MDC2 ports for expanded functionality
Optional MDC2 BluOS-D module adds BluOS Hi-Res multi-room music streaming and Dirac Live room correction
Jitter-free 32-bit/384kHz ESS Sabre 9028 DAC
Ultra-low-noise MM phono stage with infrasonic filtering circuitry
Two optical, two coaxial digital inputs
HDMI-eARC input
Two pairs of line-level analogue inputs with ultra-low-noise buffer amplifiers
Two sets of speaker outputs
Bluetooth aptX-HD playback
Dual subwoofer outputs
Dedicated headphone amplifier
CI-Friendly – IR remote, 12V Trigger in/out, IR in/out, RS-232 Serial port
Seamless integrations with smarthome control systems such as Control4, Crestron, RTI, URC, Lutron, and Elan
 
Specifications
 
LINE INPUT, PRE-OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
THD (20Hz – 20kHz)
<0.002 % at 2 V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
>106dB (IHF; A-weighted, ref. 500 mV out, unity gain)
Channel separation
>100dB (1 kHz); >90 dB (10 kHz)
Input Impedance (R and C)
56 kohms + 100 pF
Maximum input signal
>4.6 Vrms (ref. 0.1 % THD)
Output impedance
Source Z + 320 ohms
Input sensitivity
65mV (ref. 500 mV out, Volume maximum)
Frequency response
±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Maximum voltage output -IHF load
>>5 V (ref. 0.1 % THD)
 
PHONO INPUT, PRE-OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
THD (20Hz – 20kHz)
<0.01% at 2 V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
>84dB (200 ohms source; A-weighted, ref. 500 mV out)
Input sensitivity
46 kohms/100 pF
Frequency response
±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Maximum input signal at 1kHz
>80 mVrms (ref. 0.1 % THD)
 
LINE INPUT, HEADPHONE OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
THD (20Hz – 20kHz)
<0.005% at 1V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
>107 dB (32 ohms loads; A-WTD, ref. 1V out, unity gain
Frequency response
±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Channel separation
>62 dB at 1kHz
Output impedance
2.2 Ohms
 
LINE IN, SPEAKER OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
Continuous output power into 8 ohms and 4 ohms
2 x 130W
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
<0.02% (250 mW to 130 W, 8 ohms and 4 ohms)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
>95 dB (A-weighted, 500 mV input, ref. 1 W out in 8 ohms)
Clipping power
150W
IHF dynamic power
210W into 8 ohms
300W into 4 ohms
350W into 2 ohms
Peak output current
>26A (in 1 ohm, 1ms)
Damping factor
>150 (ref. 8 ohms, 20Hz to 6.5kHz)
Frequency response
>±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Channel separation
>90dB (1 kHz)
>75dB (10 kHz)
Input sensitivity (for 130 W in 8 ohms)
Line In: 201 mV, Digital In: 10.25% FS
 
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Supports bit rate/sample rate
up to 32 bit/384 kHz
Frequency band
2.402GHz- 2.480GHz
Maximum transmit power (dBm)
7 dBm ± 2 dBm
 
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Gross dimensions (W x H x D)
435 x 100 x 390mm (17.1 x 3.9 x 15.4“)
Net Weight
8.7kg (19.1lb)
Shipping weight
~11kg (24.2lb)