NAD C658

BluOs network player - preamplifier - DAC

The NAD C658 is a versatile device that includes a preamplifier with plenty of connections, a DA converter with high-quality ESS Sabre converters, a Bluesound (BluOS) network player and a Dirac Live room equalizer. You can also add connections to the device thanks to the modular structure. The high-quality MM-Phono input also allows you to connect a turntable. Balanced XLR outputs in addition to RCA outputs.

NAD C658 redefines the architecture of Hi-Fi playback

As we move from the turn of the millennium to the present day, we have entered a new era. The way we listen to and record music has changed. Physical recordings have become curiosities as we have learned to record music digitally. Various music streaming services have replaced the need for physical recordings.

From these starting points, NAD has cost-effectively designed a completely new kind of hi-fi device by combining a modern network player, a state-of-the-art DA converter and a top-quality preamplifier, without forgetting lovers of traditional audio recordings. The end result is the new, bold C658 preamplifier.

Thanks to its modular design, the C658 is also ready for future challenges. The 4k-ready HDMI module MDC HDM-2 is now available, which also supports eARC.

The C658 amplifier also features bi-directional aptX HD Bluetooth capability, which allows for both receiving and transmitting music. This allows for seamless use of wireless BT headphones.

The NAD C658 preamplifier features both RCA and balanced XLR outputs. These outputs can also be split through the device's built-in, digitally implemented bandpass filter, allowing the RCA connection to be used to drive subwoofers, for example. The device also features two traditional line-level inputs and a sophisticated input for moving magnet (MM) cartridges.

BluOS™ Compatible

BluOS is the most advanced network streaming and multi-room operating system available. BluOS supports over fifteen music sharing services and can index up to 250,000 songs from local files. The NAD C658 can be connected to a high-resolution BluOS multi-room system with up to 64 separate players. BluOS works on all major platforms. It can be controlled by Windows, Apple iOS, as well as Android and iPhone applications. BluOS can also be connected to any major manufacturer's home automation system.  

Renowned NAD quality and performance

The C 658 is part of NAD's renowned Classic series. The Classic series has always been highly regarded among music lovers for its sound quality, performance and value for money. Some enthusiasts value expensively machined aluminum with gold hardware, while others simply value unbeatable performance without unnecessary frills. NAD's Classic series is definitely for the latter.

High resolution in every detail

Most NAD products have met the high-resolution quality requirements for 45 years. High bandwidth, low distortion and extremely low noise have always been our key design goals. We simply have not had access to such high-quality recording material before that the performance of the devices has been seriously tested. Now they are available. Listening to HiRes recordings and streaming services combined with MQA technology is possible using BluOS network player. That is why NAD has invested in top-class components.

The C658 uses, among other things, one of the finest DA converters available today, the 32-bit ESS Sabre, with a dynamic range of 118 dB and ultra-low jitter. All amplifier functions, including volume control, are implemented digitally – just like in the Masters series devices. This allows for an extremely short analog signal path. Sophisticated active power supplies provide precise and clean voltages to all electronic circuits, ensuring their performance while also setting new challenges for the performance of measurement equipment.

Dirac Live room correction makes the speakers disappear in front of the music!

The C 658 is NAD's first two-channel hi-fi system to feature Dirac Live room correction. Dirac Live is the most advanced and effective program on the market for correcting room acoustic problems. Dirac Live not only corrects the frequency response but also the impulse response of the speakers. When room resonances are tamed and the playback response is smoothed, the end result is magically good. It could be described with the phrase: The speakers disappear and the music remains. The sound image becomes completely transparent.

Note: The NAD C 658 includes a basic Dirac Live license. Advanced enthusiasts can upgrade to the full-bandwidth version of the system if they wish.

Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) recordings

MQA is a revolutionary technology that enables music to be delivered in studio-quality sound. All BluOS-enabled devices are capable of playing MQA recordings at their full resolution. MQA allows you to listen to recordings exactly as the artist intended them in a state-of-the-art studio. There are already thousands and thousands of MQA recordings available, and you can listen to them on the NAD C 658.

Link: Learn more about Dirac Live here

SOFTWARE UPDATES: HERE

Specifications:

• BluOS (Bluesound) network player with MQA decoding and multi-room capabilities
• ESS Sabre DAC
• Dirac Live professional computer-based room correction system
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Dual Band Wi-Fi a/c/n
• 2-way aptx HD Bluetooth allowing the use of Bluetooth headphones, among other things
• 2 MDC module slots for expansions, e.g. HDMI 4K/ARC module
• Turntable connection (MM)
• 2 line inputs
• 2 optical digital inputs
• 2 coaxial digital inputs
• Also includes balanced (XLR) outputs
• Subwoofer output jack
• High-quality High Current headphone amplifier
• USB input
• IR In/Out
• Trigger In/Out
• Dimensions 43.5 x 10.0 x 40.5 cm (width x height x depth)
• Weight 10.1kg