NAD C 538 Compact Disc Player

A Disc Player That Gets Out of the Way

The C 538 does one thing and does it fully. A Wolfson 24-bit converter turns the disc data into music, and a high-precision clock keeps the timing tight. Both sit behind a chassis built to shrug off the vibration a spinning disc makes.

It reads CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs, and it reads MP3 and WMA files burned onto a disc. A single CD-R can therefore hold hours of music, and the player will find its way around the folders.

Round the back are stereo RCA analog outputs plus coaxial and optical digital outputs. That combination is what lets one player serve two systems, now and later, without you buying twice.

What the Wolfson Converter Delivers

Output level is 2.2 volts, give or take a tenth. Distortion is quoted at 0.01% or less, and signal-to-noise at 110dB or better. Frequency response holds within half a decibel from 20Hz to 20kHz.

A 110dB noise figure is the number worth pausing on. It means the quiet parts of a recording stay quiet, which is where a budget player usually gives itself away on a good system. NAD has been tuning that balance for decades.

The case measures 17 3/16 inches wide, 9 13/16 deep and 2 13/16 tall, and weighs 6.6 pounds. It follows the NAD look the company has kept for decades, so it sits naturally on an existing NAD stack.

What Reviewers Are Saying

What Hi-Fi? set out the connections and what the digital ones are for: "Round the back, there’s the standard stereo RCA analogue outputs augmented by coax and optical digital connections".

On how it is built, Future Audiophile wrote that "NAD built this Compact Disc player out of high-grade materials that can withstand the vibration of the spinning discs and should work just as well 10 years from now as it does today."

Who Is This CD Player Best For?

• You want a player that just works — the Wolfson converter and analog outputs are already inside, so it goes straight into any amplifier with a spare line input and needs nothing added.
• You value a quiet background — a signal-to-noise figure of 110dB or better keeps the silence silent, which is what lets quiet passages hold their shape on a revealing system.
• You burn your own discs — CD-R and CD-RW play alongside pressed discs, and MP3 and WMA files burned to a disc let one CD-R carry hours of music.
• You expect to add a converter one day — coaxial and optical digital outputs are both fitted, so the C 538 becomes a transport for a new DAC whenever you want it to.
• You keep components a long time — the chassis is built to resist the vibration a spinning disc creates, and this is a company that has been making disc players since the format began. Pair it with one of our integrated amplifiers and the system will outlast most.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

For the simple route, run the RCA analog outputs to any line input on your amplifier. The converter inside the C 538 does the work, and most systems never need more than that.

For the other route, run coaxial or optical to a DAC or an amplifier with digital inputs. The disc data then leaves unconverted and your own converter takes over.

Pairs Well With

Building around the C 538? Here are some great companions:

• Integrated Amplifier: The natural partner — see our Integrated Amplifiers.
• DAC: For the day you use the digital outputs — see our Digital to Analog Converters.
• Interconnects: A clean run from the analog outputs — see our Interconnect Cables.
• Bookshelf Speakers: Finish the system — see our Bookshelf Speakers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which converter does it use?

A Wolfson 24-bit DAC, working with a high-precision clock that holds jitter down through the conversion.

Which discs and files will it play?

CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs, plus MP3 and WMA files burned onto a disc, with folder navigation for a loaded CD-R.

What outputs does it have?

Stereo RCA analog outputs, plus coaxial and optical digital outputs for use with an external converter.

What does it measure?

2.2 volts output, distortion of 0.01% or less, signal-to-noise of 110dB or better, and 20Hz to 20kHz within half a decibel.

Can I use it as a transport?

Yes. Take the coaxial or optical output to a DAC and the player sends disc data straight out for your converter to handle.

How big is it, and what is the warranty?

17 3/16 by 9 13/16 by 2 13/16 inches and 6.6 pounds. Two years on parts and labor.

See It in Action

Desktop HIFI runs through the C 538 in a working system:

Budget Audiophile gives an owner's view:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about CD players, using a player as a transport, or matching one to your amplifier? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.