NAD Electronics | SKU: NEW-NAC338 | Barcode: 5703120230474

NAD C 338 Hybrid Digital Amplifier

Build a simple modern system around the NAD C 338 with HybridDigital power, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DAC, and phono input.

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$999.00

Condition

New

In Stock. Ships in 1–3 business days

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The Amplifier That Put Chromecast in a Hi-Fi

The NAD C 338 was the first hi-fi amplifier with Chromecast built in, and that is still the reason to choose it. Music goes straight from the app on your phone to the amplifier over your network, at full quality, with the phone free to do something else.

Underneath it is a proper integrated amplifier: 50 watts per channel into 8 or 4 ohms, a moving-magnet phono stage, optical and coaxial digital inputs, line-level analog, Bluetooth, a subwoofer output and a dedicated headphone amplifier.

Fifty Watts That Behave Like More

Continuous power is 50 watts a channel, but dynamic power reaches 90 watts into 8 ohms, 150 into 4 and 200 into 2. Music is mostly peaks, and those peaks are where an amplifier either holds its shape or does not.

Damping factor is better than 300, which is unusually high at this price and speaks to how firmly the amplifier grips a woofer that wants to keep moving after the note has stopped.

What Casting Actually Changes

With Chromecast, your phone tells the amplifier what to play and then steps out of the path. Calls and notifications do not interrupt the music, battery life is unaffected, and the stream comes off your network rather than over Bluetooth.

The Measurements Behind It

Distortion stays under 0.03% from a quarter of a watt to full power into 8 or 4 ohms. Signal-to-noise measures better than 98dB A-weighted, and frequency response holds within 0.3dB across the band. Digital inputs accept up to 24-bit/192kHz.

The chassis is 435 by 70 by 285mm and weighs 4.85kg, and standby draw is 0.4 watts in Eco mode. It runs cool enough for a bookshelf, which is where a lot of these end up.

Who Is This Amplifier Best For?

You play music from your phone constantly — casting sends it over the network instead of Bluetooth, so quality holds up and a phone call does not stop the song.
You want one box and no separates — phono, digital, analog, Bluetooth, headphones and a subwoofer output are all built in.
Your speakers are small but demanding — a damping factor above 300 and 150 watts of dynamic power into 4 ohms keep a standmount under control.
You still play records — the moving-magnet phono stage means the turntable plugs straight in.
If your household is all Apple, check how you will stream — this is Chromecast, not AirPlay, so casting works from apps that support it rather than from the iOS control center. One of our Music Streamers on a digital input covers AirPlay if you need it.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Speakers to the binding posts, turntable to the phono input with its ground lead, television to an optical input. Put the amplifier on your Wi-Fi through the Google Home app once, and casting works from every app that supports it. A subwoofer connects from the dedicated output.

From then on, the phone is just a remote control.

Pairs Well With

Building a system around the C 338? These are the natural companions:

Bookshelf Speakers: The natural partner for 50 watts a side — see our Bookshelf Speakers.
Turntable: The phono input is already there — see our Turntables.
Speaker Cables: The last link to the speakers — see our Speaker Cables.
Subwoofer: For the bottom octave a standmount cannot reach — see our Subwoofers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Chromecast work here?

Set the amplifier up on your Wi-Fi once through the Google Home app. After that, any app with a cast button can send music to it directly over the network.

How much power does it deliver?

50 watts per channel continuous into 8 or 4 ohms, with dynamic power of 90, 150 and 200 watts into 8, 4 and 2 ohms.

Can I connect a turntable?

Yes. A moving-magnet phono preamp is built in, so the turntable connects directly with its ground lead.

Does it have a headphone output?

Yes, from a dedicated headphone amplifier stage.

What resolution do the digital inputs handle?

Up to 24-bit/192kHz on the optical and coaxial inputs.

See It in Action

NAD's own channel walks through the C 338 and its connections:

Andrew Robinson reviews it as a starter amplifier:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about integrated amplifiers, casting and streaming, or phono stages? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.

"The NAD C338 is one of those amplifiers that quietly changes how you think about hi-fi. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t flex with giant heat sinks or glowing tubes. Instead, it slips into your system with a compact, understated design—and then proceeds to do everything you actually want an amplifier to do."

"In short: this is classic NAD thinking, updated for the streaming age."

- Francis Adamiak, stereoindex.com, December 30, 2025

"New to HiFi? The NAD C388 is a great amplifier for building a system."

"I just think that NAD knows how to build a system for less… The NAD [C 338] becomes a great value. The NAD becomes an amazing value."

- Andrew Robinson, Andrew Robinson Channel, youtube.com, February 3, 2021

Reviewers' Choice Award - soundstagehifi.com

"The C 338 is filled out with an impressive, natural-sounding DAC, and an amplifier section that should easily fill most rooms. The NAD C 338 is an excellent value, especially for those interested in using Chromecast."

"I began by playing CDs in my Music Hall MMF CD-25 CD player. Large-scale orchestral works can contain wide dynamic range and a multiplicity of sounds rarely heard in other genres of music. The C 338 exuded a sense of space and a large soundstage. Despite the competing lines, none were lost in the mix as solo instruments, particularly woodwinds, emerged from the wall of sound."

- Sathyan Sundaram, soundstagehifi.com, October 1, 2017

"We liked the neutral sound, the effortless sound reproduction, the integration of Google Chromecast and its ease of use, the connectivity featuring an optical input and auto-on function, the compact size."

- Tristan Jacquel, blog.son-video.com, February26, 2019

"The C 338 is not only NAD's 'most versatile amplifier ever, but among the best-equipped and most flexible we've come across from any brand at this price."

"The ample physical inputs (three RCAs – including MM phono – and twin coaxial and optical connections) are boosted by the inclusion of Bluetooth and wi-fi, via two screw-in antennae."

"There’s also built-in support for Google Chromecast which, via the Google Home app, opens doorways to streaming from several music services straight from your smartphone or tablet."

"It’s quick and easy - and, honestly, we wish more stereo amplifiers had it on board."

- whathifi.com, August 23, 2017

"I would describe the C 338's overall sound quality as being on the fat and fun side, meaning the high end is gentle, the midrange is on the rich side of perceived neutrality, and the bottom end is also on the weightier side of neutral."

"While offering all of the inputs that count — including Chromecast Built-In, which turned out to be a very good sounding high-resolution WiFi-based streaming solution — the NAD grabs hold of the recording and, when paired with a complimentary pair of speakers like the GoldenEar BRX, provides a seamless sphere of energy for music to unfold within. What you get for US$699 is a component that just asks for a pair of speakers in order to give you a complete system that will reward by delivering all the music that you have time for and in a convincing, engaging, and (dare I say) fun manner."

- Michael Lavorgna, darko.audio, September 9, 2020

"This amplifier welcomed me into the vast world of audio streaming, being both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capable. It has Google Chromecast Audio built in."

"By delivering on a hybrid Class D amplifier design, NAD has produced an amp with a very ‘neutral’ sound field capable of very loud sound reinforcement without strain. The dynamic power available is quite something to hear."

"The solid reputation of NAD in producing cost effective integrated amplifiers that sound very good is rendered intact."

"With more than a casual nod to the future, the NAD C338 amplifier highlights both Class D design and on-board streaming. NAD touts the C338 as being the first hi-fi amp with Chromecast Built-in, and it makes using streaming services a snap. This is clearly the best extra feature offered by the amplifier and makes it well worth the cost."

"The NAD C338 is firmly recommended."

- David Neice, Wall of Sound, August 1, 2021

"I think the NAD C 338 Hybrid Digital amplifier can be the ideal gateway for many people who love music and maybe would see themselves as future audiophiles. The biggest reason for this is that it can be a just-add-speakers type of system for the modern user who already has a digital music subscription and is looking to take things to the next level."

- Andrew Dewhirst, futureaudiophile.com, May 17, 2023

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NAD C 338 Hybrid Digital Amplifier

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