NAD C 588 Turntable - Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge

NAD's Range-Topping Turntable, Built by Pro-Ject

The C 588 tops NAD's three-tier turntable range, built by Austrian specialist Pro-Ject to NAD's own design specifications — the same arrangement behind the more affordable C 558, stepped up with a carbon-fiber tonearm and a higher-tier cartridge.

This package ships with an Ortofon 2M Red moving-magnet cartridge factory-installed, so you don't need to choose and mount one before your first record. You'll still balance the tonearm, set tracking force, and connect the C 588 to a moving-magnet phono input or outboard phono preamp.

A rigid MDF plinth, 10mm glass platter, and isolated, universal-voltage motor form the mechanical foundation beneath that cartridge, all built to stay quietly out of the way of the phono signal itself.

A Carbon-Fiber Tonearm and Precision Motor Control

Universal-Voltage, Regenerated Motor Control

The C 588's motor supply automatically adjusts to whatever AC voltage it's fed, converting it to DC and then regenerating a precise new AC waveform for the synchronous motor — the same approach found in the more affordable C 558.

A precision alloy sub-platter and a specially formulated belt carry that motion to the glass platter, helping isolate motor vibration along the way, well before it can ever reach the cartridge and stylus.

An Adjustable Carbon-Fiber Tonearm

The 9-inch carbon-fiber tonearm uses a fixed headshell and a counterweight designed to grip firmly rather than slip, with adjustable anti-skating built in. Vertical tracking angle and azimuth can both be fine-tuned.

That adjustability lets you dial in the included Ortofon 2M Red precisely, and it leaves real headroom if you upgrade to a different cartridge later — the tonearm accepts cartridges weighing 6 to 13 grams.

What Reviewers Are Saying

SoundStage! Access found that "the NAD C 588 and Ortofon 2M Red MM cartridge make a fine-performing package," with sound that was "lively and tight, with excellent pace and rhythm."

Hi-Fi Choice found that the C 588 and its factory-fitted Ortofon 2M Red "gels beautifully," pairing a turntable built by a genuine specialist with a cartridge chosen to match it.

Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity praised its "excellent Ortofon 2M Red cartridge included and configured," along with "lively and engaging analog sound" and "attractive build quality and finish."

Who Is This Turntable Best For?

• You want NAD's range-topping turntable design — built by Pro-Ject to NAD's own specifications
• You want a factory-matched Ortofon 2M Red, ready to play — with a direct upgrade path to the 2M Blue stylus later
• You want a carbon-fiber tonearm with real adjustment — VTA, azimuth, and anti-skating are all dialed in
• You want some speed flexibility — 33⅓ and 45rpm are standard, with an optional pulley for 78rpm
• You want a manual deck with its phono stage built in — manual operation keeps the sound pure, and it connects to any input

How Does It Connect to Your System?

The C 588 has no built-in phono preamp, so the 2M Red's standard moving-magnet output needs an external phono preamp, or an amp with a dedicated MM phono input rated for the usual 47-kilohm load.

A detachable RCA phono cable with a separate ground lead is included, running from the tonearm to your amplifier's phono input or a separate outboard phono preamp.

Pairs Well With

Where the C 588 goes from here:

• Phono preamplifiers — required for playback, matched to the 2M Red's standard moving-magnet output
• Phono cartridges — the 2M Red's shared body accepts a 2M Blue stylus later for a direct upgrade
• Integrated amplifiers — with a phono input suited to moving-magnet cartridges, or paired with a separate phono preamp
• Audio racks — a rigid, level shelf lets the isolated motor and carbon-fiber tonearm do their job

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the C 588 include a cartridge?

Yes. An Ortofon 2M Red moving-magnet cartridge is installed at the factory, though initial tracking-force and anti-skating adjustments are still required.

Does it have a built-in phono preamp?

It needs an external phono preamp or an amp with a moving-magnet phono input — there's no phono stage built in.

How do I change speeds?

Lift the platter and move the belt to the other step on the motor pulley for 33⅓ or 45rpm; an optional pulley adds 78rpm if you need it.

Can I upgrade the Ortofon 2M Red?

Yes. A compatible 2M Blue replacement stylus fits directly onto the existing cartridge body, and the tonearm accepts other cartridges weighing 6 to 13 grams.

Are a dust cover and phono cable included?

Yes, a hinged dust cover and a detachable RCA phono cable with a separate ground lead both ship with the C 588.

What's the difference between the C 588 and the C 558?

The C 588 steps up to a carbon-fiber tonearm and the higher-tier Ortofon 2M Red cartridge; the C 558 uses a simpler metal-arm tonearm and the Ortofon OM10 at a lower price.

See It in Action

Paul Rigby, The Audiophile Man, reviews the C 588 in depth:

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