NAD C 350 Integrated Amplifiers

NAD C 350 Integrated Amplifiers 

DESCRIPTION

60 W per channel integrated amplifier

USER REVIEWS

Showing 61-70 of 78  
[Dec 27, 2001]
Aaron CNAOPOBNy
Audiophile

Strength:

Price Point. No Multi-Colour Display Distractions.
Processor Loop.

Weakness:

Processor Loop Jumpers. Largish Size. Editorialised Sound.
Boomy Bass. Soft Clip Circuit.


Soft Clipping Circuit Comment
There is more to know than we all think, and I wish we all stride towards thinking AND learning. On any particularly revealing kit, the soft clipping should be quite noticeable. Most All reviewers (often daft and partially deaf have remarked on the deleterious effect of this soft clipping circuit (S.T., Stereophile Rag.) Of course, this particular gear presents such clouded reproduction that possibly maybe you can't here the deleterious effect of SC circuit due to masking effects. As far as its usefulness to me, I have never fried a tweeter with any power level amp I have owned, I play well below a high average clipping threshold as I can discern the rise in distortion from the speakers ( they lend the most, other than a TT.) As a process and product designer at Bell Laboratories in the U.S. of A., I am well aware of the purported functionality of the soft clip "gimmick". Though it DOES round off the squarewave form a tad at clip, which might save tweeters for a while, continual playback at at high average db I might then be more worried about YOUR hearing going away than the speakers' health. Try 2A/50V fastblo fuse for Drunkfests.
From a technical standpoint, the soft clip circuit will roll off frequency response in the near audible bandpass region as well as (more importantly) rotate the phase angle of well down into the audible region of the frequency spectrum. Maybe usefull as a guitar head?

I could not enjoy this product, possibly my loaner had many off spec components which deteriorated the performance.
Maybe you have cleaner AC than the 117v/60Hz trash I deal with on my mains. Still, I have NEVER been satisfied with any but the first little 20 watt receiver NAD started with. And I have progerssed up the NAD line as a HI-FI novice. Your Arcam, Creek and Cambridge, especially older Musical Fidelity (A1) stuff I like MUCH better. Nevertheless, If you can enjoy your system at this juncture, please continue to do so - this can be an expensive hobby, the search for the Holy Grail of "perfect sound" is pretty much fruitless. Just the lunatic tweeks required for top drawer will take down a $15K system to pure rubbish if not administered in the right fashion.

(Cheap Tweaks- I will give a big hint, solder your speaker cable lugs with no-lead tin/silver solder - It sounds much better than 63/37 and avoid 60/40 at all costs. The aperture (stranded! lamp cord style) is pretty good for 2 quid / metre. Single Strand 18ga. solid Cu. hookup wire is nice starter speaker cabling for the under 8 litre cabinets. Re-terminate every few Months. Just be sure to get good copper. Avoid banana jacks and avoid as many solder interface as possible. Each and every one you eliminate cleans up the tune noticeably. An assymmetrical wire sporting 2-20ga. send and one 18ga. return has worked well and gives a "transformer buffered" sound to a harsh system(note I did not say "tube" sound). A randomised twist to the bunch could eliminate resonance. Try reversing on both speakers and amp if it sounds "slow" or murky or sibilants disjointed from voice,( 2-20ga. to return, then).
Cheap System now Playing Well: Marantz 5000 CD/ rotel 800 series power amp/ Boston Acoustics 8-series, 7" 2-way;
I use the CD deck headphone output as preamp connexion thru monster M550i interconnect and linn K20 speaker cable to the boxes.)
good listening.

Similar Products Used:

CyrusI/II, Arcam, Entry Yamaha 2ch./ Yardsale stuff/ Hot street Buys.

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
2
[Sep 30, 2001]
Jeff Whiteside
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Detailed, clean & clear, good soundstage, very good at well recorded acoustic music, tone controls

Weakness:

Slightly harsh with metal & rock, needs to run for a couple of hours before it sounds best

I was in the market for an integrated stereo amplifier or an AV receiver to drive my Klipsch Lascalas. After exhausting every option under $800 in the AV market, I decided I would not be happy with the music capabilities of any AV receiver I could find. So, with that decided, I began looking at Integrated Stereo Amps. I don't need a huge amount of power with the Lascalas as they could fill my room with sound running on a transistor radio. So, my next criteria was THD...which I wanted at a maximum to be .08%. In steps the NAD C350 with a conservative 60 watts per channel at .03% rated distortion. I hooked the amplifier up using high quality interconnects and replaced my speaker wire at the same time. I've never heard these Lascalas as clear and precise as they are now. What I found remarkable about this amplifier was the realism and sheer quality reproduction of horned and other acoutic instruments. Also, when this amp is thrown complex orchestras, none of the individual instruments are lost in the mix. The detail and layering that the artists put in their music is fully brought out in the C350/Lascala combination. All of those faint textures are right there, vocals are clean and distinct, and even at the loudest volume I could possibly stand - there was no distortion. The tone controls are a nice feature...as this amplifier tends to be a bit bright on the Lascalas when playing rock and metal music. The tone controls tone down (or up) the very ends of the frequency spectrums, and so muddiness of the music only happens when the controls are brought to their extremes. And that tone defeat is nice too...quick access to flat spectrum. This amplifier also needs to be run for awhile before it really starts sounding its best. The bass and midrange is notably more prominent and warm after a couple of hours of use. For under $500, this is the best musically versatile amplifier you can get. If music is more important to you than movies/home theatre setup and price is an issue...give this amp a listen to.

Similar Products Used:

HK, Denon, Onkyo, Kenwood (back in their day)

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 24, 2001]
Carlo Berruti
Audiophile

Strength:

Outstanding, terrific, superb power, stunning clarity and neutrality, a vary MUSICAL product, it produces a very realistic sound, surely THE best in it's price range!

Weakness:

naaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!

I was searching for a secondary amplifier for my second system in my bedroom, I didn't want to spend so much, but I wanted QUALITY, as always! The NAD was a perfect buy, I'm fully satisfacted, it is neutral and musical, and has enough power to full a big room. It is a fantastic product for the price. It can compete with some amplifiers of twice the cost!
System used with:
NAD C350,
NAD C541,
Van den Hul Cables

Similar Products Used:

Opera Aida, Unison research Aria S-2, Thule Audio Spirit,Musical Fidelity A3,Meridian 551,Copland CSA 8, ecc..

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 19, 2001]
Seth A.
Audiophile

Strength:

Great sound for the price, many inputs, pre-ins/outs, warranty

Weakness:

reliability, not _quite_ as dynamic as other NAD models I've heard, but still impressive

I also own a NAD 7140 and 304. The 304 is a 1996(?) model that I purchased used. In june it blew capacitors and transisters (went into protect mode). So, I purchased a C350 knowing the 304 would be out for repair for quite some time.
I am/was very happy with the C350. There are many improvements, not to mention 60 wpc instead of 35 wpc.
I say _was_, due to the fact that my C350 is now out for repair. Thankfully, under warranty and just in time for my 304 to be returned.
Using it for two ch. video/audio while watching the news at very low volume, it just cut out- not into protect mode as the 304 did, however. It's definately something with the amp section, as the headphone out still works. The green power LED still lights as if all is well.
I am absolutely sure there are no shorts in my speaker cables or speakers themselves. I've never had a problem with my 7140, and in each case I had several months of use before the integrated quit. I also use a professional line conditioner (Furman). What else can I do?
I have heard (though I'd rather not quote my source) that this is a quality control problem, or lack thereof. I think that's a shame, because NAD designs wonderful sounding integrateds. In fact, I can't wait to get the C350 back.
Call me crazy, but I would purchase a NAD amp again. I'd save some money with a 'factory' refurbished model that has already had its problems addressed, and save myself the trip back to the dealer!
I hope NAD continues to provide affordable entry level hi-fi for those of us who aren't wealthy, but they ought to reconsider their relationship with whoever they contract to build them. How about a reliability rating?

Similar Products Used:

NAD 7140, NAD 304, AR Model R

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 13, 2001]
Jimmy Myhrman
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Great middle-range detail, lots of power, deep and nice bass.

Weakness:

Remove has to be pointed right at the amp.

I was amazed by the extremely well detailed mid-range this amp provides. I used to blame my speakers for the lack of detail there, but obviously it must have been the amps i've tried because now I'm fully satisfied. The bass is also deep and powerful. When I first turned on the amp I missed some treble, but after having listened for a while this got much better (maybe it had to warm up) and I'm now fully satisfied with the highs as well.

It is very well built, and some important details I like about it are that it has relays on all imputs (no sound leakage) and that it produces almost no hiss or hum, even at high volumes. What I don't like is that the remote has to be pointed right at the amp, and there's not LED on the motorized volume pot. Very minor things of course, so all in all I'd say this is a superb price. Especially at this price. Go listen to it!

Similar Products Used:

HK650

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jan 25, 2001]
Dr.Allen Don
Audiophile

Strength:

Remarkable Support by this authorized NAD dealer. Answered within 24 hours by e-mail. Shipped to me same day I ordered and was provided a tracer number to track my shipment. Sonically dynamite at any decibel level, high or low. The same punch I got from my my earlier NAD7250PE which had 6 db of dynamic headroom. The C350 claims only 3.5 db of dynamic headroom, but you wouldn't know it. Tone defeat if you want to listen without any modification of the signal. Inputs and outputs galore. Interesting approach to Tape1-in--as long as you are taping, you cannot accidently send an alternate signal to the recorder. The 60 watts drives my two pairs of speakers--ohms in parallel, giving 4 ohm load. Huge Holgren toroidal transformer and huge power capacitors delivering high current demand handle the 4 ohm with ease.
Remote very good. Clever design so don't really have to point directly at the infra-red sensor. Switched 110 volt outlet turn on/off other devices in the system. Indeed, the remote/system relays are so fast that don't hear any delay when switch inputs. The usual heavy duty metal chasis that I experienced with my earlier NAD products. Specifically, I am using my earlier NAD7250PE pre-amp and tuner section to drive the C350. I have it set up so that I can use either the C350 pre-amp or the 7250 preamp. Also, since the C350 doesn't have a phono equalization circuit input, I use the one in the 7250 just ahead of the C350. All in all, I can highly recommend this product and this authorized NAD dealer. The advantage of the authorized dealer is that you can have the unit serviced at any authorized NAD service station in the country. Hence, though I purchased the unit via the internet, I can bring it to over to the local service station a few miles from my home. A most important element has been the immediate reponses I get to my questions via e-mail from the knowledgeable group at NorthCountry Audio, from whom I purchased the C350

Weakness:

No Phono input, but solved as mentioned above. Manual could be a little better.

Sonically superb. All necessary inputs and outputs. Fine ergonomics. Fine remote. Excellent quality heavy-duty construction.

Similar Products Used:

NAD7250PE, Various Sony Amps over the years, Adcom once, Audiiosource, Denon, JVC. All were good, but not quite up to the two NAD units, the NAD7250PE and the new C350.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 03, 2001]
Martin
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Clarity, detail, neutrality, power.

Weakness:

None that I can hear

I've only had this amp for three weeks, so this is an 'impressions so far' review. The news is all good. The NAD organises the signal into a cohesive whole, with excellent seperation and detail. It drives my Mission m74 floorstanders with authority and power. It sounds clean and undistorted across the full spectrum. Bass is smooth and pumping, midrange is singing, and treble is under control.

I like a neutral feel, and the NAD pulls it off without saying no to warmth or excitement.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer 454 AV Receiver (thank God it's gone)

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jul 27, 2001]
Grant
Casual Listener

Strength:

Wonderful clean sound with plenty of presence

Weakness:

You need to be a bit of a sharp shooter with the remote

Following the death of my trusty Technics amp after 11 years of service, I found myself looking for a new amp. After several weeks of research and listening, I settled on the Nad C350. I was immediately struck by the warmth and clarity of its sound. Despite my interest in hi-fi, some of musical tastes are particularly lo-fi (the inadequacy of which recordings I thought the amp would highlight) but even with simple guitar and voice recordings the C350 delivers with depth. I highly recommend this amp.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 23, 2001]
Brian
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Everything. It powers my small Heybrook monitors perfectly and compliments my California Audio Labs Icon Mk II CD player perfectly as well.
The bass is nice and tight - the highs are well defined.

Weakness:

None to speak of.

I was in the market for a nice integrated to pair with my California Audio Labs Icon Mk II CD player. I was looking for something rather inexpensive that would perform strongly and do most everything right and had no glaring weaknesses - like a lot of equipment at this price point.
I had resigned myself to having to purchase a C370 since nobody in the area looked to have any C350s in stock.
Until a happen chance encounter with the Audio Connection - across the street from my condo. John - the owner - managed to have one or two left in stock. He was more than willing to hook the system up and even convinced me to get a different set of speakers than I had planned since they matched up so well with the NAD C350.
In other words, I am ecstatic about my new system and can't wait for the break-in period when I can start fully enjoying the music.

If anyone needs audio equipment or information - check out the Audio Connection on University Way NE in Seattle, WA.
John is a great guy.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel 971 - 951 preamp/amp combo

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 22, 2001]
toivo
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Lots of reserve power, great details, tight lows, singing highs (especially acoustic guitar)

Weakness:

remote should come with a battery, "blah" looks, no internal phono stage.

This is a great amp. I just bought it, so perhaps my opinion will change in a few years...but for now, I highly recommend it. I'm using it with a music hall mmf-2.1 and a Sony 5-disk ES unit. I bought the NAD phono stage along with it.
I think that this amp really makes older recordings sound good. Particularily those of an acoustic nature. DDD recordings are a little bright, though I place some of the blame on my CD player, which has always been a tad bright.
The NAD phono stage sounds excellent along with this little integrated. Absolutely blows the doors of my old Sansui preamp/amp combo.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 61-70 of 78  

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