NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier with BluOS

Everything Switched On From the First Night

This is the C 399 with NAD's MDC2 BluOS-D module installed at the factory. Hi-res streaming, multi-room, and Dirac Live room correction all work the day it arrives. One MDC2 slot is still free for a later upgrade.

The amplifier underneath is unchanged. Hypex nCore delivers more than 180 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 4 ohms, with IHF dynamic power of 217 watts, and conversion runs through the same ESS Sabre DAC NAD fits to its Masters M10 and M33.

Every Service You Use, Through One App

BluOS reaches more than twenty streaming services plus internet radio and networked libraries. Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2, and Roon Ready are supported, and BluOS groups up to sixty-four zones across a house.

Wired sources are handled generously. Two optical and two coaxial digital inputs, two sets of analog inputs, HDMI eARC for a television, and a moving-magnet phono stage for a turntable.

Where nCore Earns Its Reputation

Hypex nCore is built for wide bandwidth and high current, and the published figures follow. Distortion holds below 0.02% from a quarter watt to the full 180 watts, into 8 ohms and 4 ohms alike, so the rating is clean across its range.

Signal-to-noise measures better than 95dB A-weighted. Channel separation exceeds 90dB at 1kHz, which keeps left and right genuinely distinct. Damping factor is better than 150. Frequency response holds inside 0.3dB from 20Hz to 20kHz.

Let Dirac Deal With the Room

Dirac Live room correction arrives with the BluOS module. It measures what your room is doing to the sound and corrects for it, which changes more in a real living room than extra watts ever would.

Two sets of speaker terminals and dual subwoofer outputs give you somewhere to put that control. A dedicated headphone amplifier handles private listening. Its output impedance is 2.2 ohms, low enough for demanding designs.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Chris Eberle reviewed the C 399 for HomeTheaterHifi.com on January 3, 2022. With the BluOS module installed, he wrote, "it delivers nearly everything that the Masters M33 does." He called it "by far the best integrated amplifier I've heard at this price point."

Howard Kneller reviewed it for Sound & Vision on April 27, 2022. His verdict: the C 399 "delivers great performance, impressive features and flexibility, and high value in a modest, yet handsome package." He scored it across performance, features, ergonomics, and value.

They parted company on the build. Eberle found "no flaws of consequence." Kneller listed a "Modestly built chassis," a "Small front-panel display," and an "Uninspired remote control" among its minuses. Worth knowing before you commit.

Who Is This Streaming Amplifier Best For?

• You want streaming working out of the box — the MDC2 BluOS-D module is fitted at the factory, not sold separately.
• Your room fights you — Dirac Live room correction comes with the module.
• You drive demanding speakers — more than 180 watts per channel, with two sets of speaker terminals.
• You run two subwoofers — dual subwoofer outputs are standard rather than an upgrade.
• You want nothing left to buy — BluOS, Dirac, phono, HDMI eARC, A/B speakers and dual subwoofer outputs are all in place. Bring the subwoofers and the system is finished.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Main speakers go to the A terminals and a second pair to B. A turntable connects to the phono input, and the television over HDMI eARC.

Ethernet or Wi-Fi joins the network for BluOS. Two optical, two coaxial, and two analog inputs cover wired sources, and dual subwoofer outputs handle a pair of subs. Headphones use the front-panel amplifier.

Then you run Dirac once and stop rearranging furniture.

Pairs Well With

Building around the C 399 with BluOS? Here are some good companions:

• Speakers: 180 watts per channel drives a demanding pair — see our Floorstanding Speakers.
• Turntable: Put the built-in MM phono stage to work — see our Turntables.
• Subwoofers: Dual outputs and Dirac reward running a pair — see our Subwoofers.
• Headphones: A 2.2-ohm output impedance suits demanding designs — see our Headphones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the BluOS module already installed?

Yes. This version ships with the MDC2 BluOS-D module fitted from the factory, and one MDC2 slot remains free.

How much power does the NAD C 399 deliver?

More than 180 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 4 ohms, with IHF dynamic power of 217 watts into 8 ohms.

Is Dirac Live included?

Yes. Dirac Live room correction comes with the BluOS module, using a measurement microphone to correct your room.

Which streaming services does BluOS support?

More than twenty, including Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2, and Roon Ready, plus internet radio and networked libraries.

Can I run two pairs of speakers?

Yes. There are two sets of speaker terminals, plus dual subwoofer outputs for adding subs.

What warranty does it carry?

NAD covers the C 399 with a 2-year parts and labor warranty.

See It in Action

Andrew Robinson reviews the C 399 and asks how much has really changed across NAD's range:

Mad Audio reviews the MDC2 BluOS-D module itself, the part fitted inside this version:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about room correction, multi-room streaming, or Class D amplification? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.