NAD's Most Versatile Amplifier Ever with Chromecast Built-In and Hybrid Digital Technology
The C 338 adds big sound to your favourite music sources and brings incredible flexibility to any stereo system. With Spotify Connect®, Bluetooth®, and the first-ever hi-fi amplifier to have built-in Chromecast®, the C 338 allows you to stream and cast music directly from any music streaming app, letting you enjoy your music wirelessly. Add a turntable using the phono input and experience the warmth of vinyl collections with the room-filling sound of NAD's HybridDigital™ amp technology. Power, volume, source selection, and device settings are all controlled using the intuitive interface of the NAD Remote App for iOS and Android.
Getting the Basics Right
Built with NAD's renowned music-first approach to audio architecture and amp design, the C 338 is equipped with the most advanced components commonly found in NAD's class-leading line of amplifiers. Always starting with the details you can hear and advancing from there, NAD develops low-noise circuitry with the precision and stability to deliver incredible, near-zero distortion sound for the most difficult speakers.
HybridDigital™ Amp Technology
The search for a high-performance Class D solution led NAD to HybridDigital™, an innovative amplifier technology that uses a variable modulation frequency to bring out the life-like qualities of music, while reducing distortion under every operating condition. This highly optimised design gives phenomenal performance to the C 338 amplifier, both measured and subjective.
Efficient Class D Power
NAD has worked tirelessly to create the best performing Class D amplifiers that are energy efficient and produce beautiful sound—not heat—regardless of basic design principles. Using advanced measurements and data, NAD developed the C 338's highly efficient power supply with a customised Hypex® UCD output stage to pump out 160 watts continuously and over 300 watts instantaneously to meet the demands of the most dynamic music. This new design is very linear over a wide bandwidth and provides consistent, noise-free performance for the amplifying stages with near perfect regulation of voltage.
Always Ready for Streaming
The C 338 has Chromecast built-in so you can cast music, tunes, podcasts, and playlists from your favourite apps on your phone, tablet or laptop to your stereo system. Spotify Connect® lets you discover millions of songs and stream them directly to your C 338 using the Spotify® app for a rich, wireless music experience. With the added flexibility of Bluetooth®, your music streaming possibilities are truly limitless with the C 338.
Built-In Phono Stage for Vinyl Listening
Using a MM phono stage and an innovative low-noise circuit path, the C 338 can reproduce the warmth of LP's with accurate RIAA equalisation and control the infrasonic noise that is in all recordings, without ever affecting the bass response.
Flexible Connectivity
With a wide array of connections, including a separate headphone amplifier that can drive high-impedance studio monitor headphones, the C 338 is ready for any type of listening. Line inputs can accommodate all kinds of analogue source components, offering ideal input impedance with linear ultra-low noise buffer amplifiers to preserve the musicality of recordings. Also connect a subwoofer with low impedance line outputs and extend the versatility of this budget-friendly, do-it-all amplifier.
Key Features
- 50 W x 2 continuous power into 8 or 4 ohms
- 90 W / 150 W / 200 W IHF dynamic power into 8 / 4 / 2 ohms
- First hi-fi amplifier to feature Chromecast built-in
- Integrated Bluetooth® for added music streaming flexibility
- Built-in phono preamp for turntables
- Stereo line, optical digital and coax digital inputs
- NAD remote app support for tablet and smartphone
- Dedicated headphone amplifier
- Subwoofer output
| Line In, Subwoofer Out |
| THD (20 Hz-20 kHz) |
<0.005% at 2 V Out |
| Signal/Noise Ratio |
>106 dB (IHF; A-Weighted, 500 mV Out, Unity Gain) |
| Input Impedance (R and C) |
56 kilohm + 100 pF |
| Maximum Input Signal |
>4.5 Vrms (Ref. 0.1% THD) |
| Output Impedance |
Source Z + 200 Ohm |
| Input Sensitivity |
50 mV (100 Hz ref. 500 mV Out, Volume Maximum |
| Maximum Voltage Output – IHF Load |
>4.5 V (Ref. 0.1% THD) |
| Line In, Headphone Out |
| THD (20 Hz - 20 kHz) |
<0.005% at 1 V Out |
| Signal/Noise Ratio |
>105 dB (IHF; A-Weighted, 32 Ohm Loads, Ref. 2 V Out, Unity Gain) |
| Frequency Response |
±0.3 dB (20 Hz - 20 kHz) |
| Channel Separation |
>56 dB at 1 kHz |
| Output Impedance |
0.5 Ohm |
| Line In, Speaker Out |
| Continuous Output Power into 4 Ohms and 8 Ohms (Stereo) |
>50 W (At Rated THD, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, Both Channels Driven) |
| IHF Dynamic Power |
8 Ohm: 80 W / 4 Ohm: 150 W / 2 Ohm: 210 W |
| THD (20 Hz - 20 kHz) |
<0.03% (250 mW to 50 W, 8 Ohm and 4 Ohm) |
| Clipping Power |
>60 W (At 1 kHz 0.1% THD) |
| Peak Output Current |
>18A (In 1 Ohm, 1 ms) |
| Damping Factor |
>300 (Ref. 8 Ohm, 20 Hz to 6.5 kHz) |
| Frequency Response |
±0.3 dB (20 Hz-20 kHz) |
| Channel Separation |
>75 dB (1 kHz) / >65 dB (10 kHz) |
| Input Sensitivity (For 50 W in 8 Ohm) |
Line In: 380 mV / Digital In: 18% FS |
| Sample Rate |
Up to 24 Bit/192 kHz |
| Standby Power |
<0.5 W |
| Phono In, Speaker Out |
| THD (20 Hz - 20 kHz) (Stereo) |
<0.3% at 50 W Out |
| Signal/Noise Ratio |
>82 dB (200 Ohm Source, A-Weighted, ref. 500 mV Out) / >76 dB (MM Cartridge Source, IHF A-Weighted, Ref. 500 mV Out) |
| Input Sensitivity |
4.1 mV (Ref. 50 W 1 kHz 4 Ohm Out, Volume Maximum) |
| Frequency Response |
±0.3 dB (20 Hz - 20 kHz) |
| Input Impedance |
47 Kilo Ohm + 100 pF |
| Maximum Input Signal |
>80 mVrms (Ref. 0.1% THD) |
| Dimensions & Weight |
| Gross Dimensions (W x H x D)* |
435 x 70 x 285 mm |
| Net Weight |
4.85 kg |
| Shipping Weight |
5.85 kg |
* Gross dimensions include feet, extended buttons and rear panel terminals.
15/02/2022 - Reviewed by Dan M
David was very helpful as I was setting up my first "decent" hifi system He helped me audition 3 different amps using my own speakers in his showroom, and we worked through the pros and cons of each together.
I chose the NAD C338 due to its neutral response and excellent built-in streaming capability. After a couple of weeks of listening, I'm definitely happy with the purchase. Whether it's connected to a CD player, or streaming Tidal hifi, playing vinyl with the built-in phono preamp, or watching movies via TV optical out, the sound is full and balanced. The addition of a subwoofer using the dedicated output is great too.
The simple streamlined design is elegant and fits my lounge room well.
14/07/2020 - Reviewed by Andrew
Love this product. The options for connectivity are amazing. I've got my turntable hooked up. I use the Chromecast a lot for wireless streaming (wow the clarity is amazing), and then there's Bluetooth for guests so they don't have to go through the process of logging into Chromecast. I also love the fact that you can use a NAD app as the remote so you can turn on, control, and turn off the system without ever getting up and touching it. Super convenient if you're moving about or sitting at a table away from the system.
The display is a bit small but there's not much to remember and you end up memorising where each setting sits on the screen so I can work it out (or look at the app controller) so it's only a minor flaw.
Space Hi-Fi sent it off only a few hours after I ordered it and I received it after only a few days which was amazing. Really happy with my purchase and with Space Hi-Fi
