NAD – C 658 BluOS Streaming DAC/Preamplifier & C 268 Power Amplifier Bundle

Save $500 on a Bundle Tailored for Performance and Convenience: NAD C 658 BluOS Streaming DAC/Preamplifier and C 268 Power Amplifier Make a Formidable, Foundtation 

A triple-threat DAC, preamplifier, and BluOS streamer, NAD C 658 lets you stream high-resolution music from nearly 20 providers while offering full MQA decoding on all digital inputs and supporting two-way aptX HD Bluetooth. Its audiophile-caliber Direct Digital 35-bit/844kHz DAC ensures premium fidelity by way of a mind-boggling 130dB dynamic range, while a built-in MM phono preamplifier, dedicated high-current headphone amplifier, and Dirac Live Room Correction software make the fully modular C 658 a veritable audio decathlete equally able to serve digital and analog needs. Ditto the balanced preamplifier output, stereo subwoofer outputs, and RS-232 serial port that enhance its flexibility.

Allowing you to network stream to up to 64 zones via its role as a BluOs node, C 658 is nothing but high-resolution from input to output. All preamplifier functions are executed in digital domain, extending to the same wide-range non-truncating digital volume control used in NAD’s Masters Series components. The approach offers a very short analog signal path that uniquely remains identical for all volume settings. Sophisticated active power supplies provide super-clean voltages to all circuits to keep noise and distortion at the edge of measurable limits. Meanwhile, NAD’s unique Modular Design Construction (MDC) means C 658 can always be easily upgraded to keep up with changing technologies, giving you a larger return on your investment and complete peace of mind. 

Equally formidable, NAD’s C 268 stereo power amplifier gives you versatility in spades. Designed for multiple setups, C 268 can be used with a traditional preamplifier or for bi-amping loudspeakers. You can even run it in monoblock bridge mode, upping its 80Wpc output to a distortion-free 300Wpc in an instant. Akin to all NAD Classic Series models, C 268 features accurate channel balance, proper input and output impedance characteristics, and low-noise circuitry. Balanced and single-ended inputs further expand your options with analog source components.

Equipped with a power supply capable of delivering nearly 200 watts continuously and NAD’s asymmetrical PowerDrive, C 268 plays with excellent dynamics, quick responsiveness, and stellar efficiency. A customized version of NAD’s Hypex UcD output stage translates to huge power with nearly immeasurable noise. An auto-sense feature with selectable threshold and ground lug to eliminate ground loops round out a giant-killing compact component ready for any number of system configurations. 

“The NAD C 658 is one of the most fully furnished, future-proofed and intuitive streamers we’ve come across – and at this sub-£2000 price, one of the most convincing performers. It puts a big, bold tick in a great number of boxes.”
– What Hi-Fi?, 2020 Best Music Streamer €1,000-1,500 Award

“NAD’s C 658 shows just how far network music players have come in such a short space of time. Five or so years ago, something as good as this would have cost at least twice as much.”
– StereoNET

High-Resolution Streaming and Networking with BluOS Technology
C 658 boasts one of the most sophisticated high-res streaming systems available. BluOS natively supports nearly 20 streaming music services and indexing of over 250,000 tracks from local network sources. In effect, C 658 becomes a node in the BluOS ecosystem, allowing high-res network streaming to 64 zones and control options for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac OS phones, tablets and desktop devices. BluOS also supports all major smart home controllers and is available in a wide range of products, making it easy and affordable to create a whole-home audio system with C 658 at its heart.

Two-Way Wireless aptX HD Bluetooth
C 658 also features two-way wireless Bluetooth capability powered by aptX HD for the highest-possible Bluetooth sound quality. You can easily stream music from smartphones, tablets, and laptops or can also use the device’s integrated two-way Bluetooth feature and effortlessly stream music playing on the amp to any pair of Bluetooth-enabled headphones.

Dirac Live Room Correction
Dirac Live Room Correction software delivers optimized sound quality for your home-theater system. The built-in Lite version of the software, with the option to upgrade to a full-featured version for $99 USD, measures the acoustic performance of the system within the listening room and optimizes playback performance to provide transparent music reproduction. The set-up process is automated and simple, giving you the control you need to precisely tune for the best results. With Dirac Live, you can build the perfect listening environment that corrects for both the timing and colorations in sound using the supplied microphone and its powerful software.

Upgradability Via Modular Design Construction
NAD’s Modular Design Construction (MDC) means all major digital circuits on C 658 can be upgraded and replaced to keep the unit young and capable. This unique architecture keeps pace with the fast-changing world of technology. With MDC, the ability to easily upgrade a component to include future digital formats is money-saving and unprecedented. C 658 comes with two MDC slots for future expansion.