NAD C338 Amplifier Review

[@hrvojekant9415]

I am almost tired of repeating it again...and again...but I have to. Yours presentations...ie. reviews are simply Top Notch ! Second to none !

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you buddy. Your support is always appreciated 😊👍

[@manchesterstreetphotos5126]

Good grief! If you are giving compliments, that's nice but please check your spelling. Top Notch in my opinion as well.

[@hrvojekant9415]

@@manchesterstreetphotos5126 Yes indeed... I have missed it.

[@prabbhopal2534]

Great review Tarun. I have this amplifier and I think the Chromecast feature is great! I have this in my office and a great feature of Chromecast is the ability to use Google Home with the amplifier set as the default output. I can just ask the voice assistant for playlists and songs all day from across the room whilst working.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing that Prab. It is exactly the kind of feedback that assists others in making decisions 😊👍

[@terrylarson7596]

I look forward to every video Tarun releases, even if I am not in the market for the component under review, I find his knowledge and presentation second to none. Very entertaining!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Terry. Extremely kind of you 😊👍

[@whereisragequit]

Thanks for the review! I own NAD C338 and Q acoustics 3030 and it's sounding great, quite happy with this setup

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Arthur 😊👍

[@video-carl]

I enjoyed this interview. You are one of the few to give a moment to comment on the tactility of controls and it is often reviewers that influence manufacturers' priorities.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Carl. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@guytomash3382]

Great review! I bought the C338 about six months ago and have it paired with Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers. I have been quite happy with it using Tidal for the streaming and also the phono with my turntable. A good integrated amp for the price, especially since I got both the C338 and the speakers for sale for just under $1000 dollars Canadian!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Guy 😊👍

[@marka6907]

Good job as always Tarun. I think you are one of, if not the best, audio reviewer online. Thanks for the work and advice.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Mark. Very much appreciated 😊👍

[@rrameshtvi]

Hi Tarun, Thanks for your reviews and sharing your knowledge on audio gears. I bought NAD C338 last December after watching your review. Your are right, it is excellent product for the price. Thank you. Expecting more from you.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is great Ramesh! I appreciate you watching and your support 😊👍👍

[@SacreDro]

How are you enjoying it? What other amp do you have or did have?

[@billywindsock9597]

NAD has a place close to my heart as my first real amplifier was a NAD 3020A. True story - I sold it when I upgraded to a friend who was producing music in the evenings and working in electronics during the day. If you have ever heard the classic 'Dirty Cash' by Stevie V, at least some of it was checked through my old amp.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Wow! That is great. I know that track. I know people who still use that amp 😊

[@billywindsock9597]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 I did have a sneaky look on eBay to see what was available. I ended up buying a pair of Kef Coda III's for nine pounds less than my first pair over thirty years ago. My Naim Unity Star runs them brilliantly, they sound really good. They will go up in my loft system when I get time, it would be good to have a 3020 to run them.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Agreed 😉👍

[@edholmwood]

Another excellent review. Your insights and conclusions are very relevant to your intended audience. I like that you are trying to provide quality, objective reviews about products that will help draw others in to the hobby. I also like the fact that you don't talk down to others. If I remember correctly you once mentioned that you were an educator. It shows in the way you prepare and present your conclusions. Thank you.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Eholmwood. I try my best to be as balanced as I can when reviewing something and hopefully inform and educate as well in the manner that you describe. I am a secondary science teacher by profession. I suppose it does influence the way I approach things. Thank you for watching and your generous words of support 😊👍👍

[@geoff37s38]

Thanks Tarun for a sensible review. Class D amps have improved greatly in the last few years. I am showing my age but I remember the Clive Sinclair X10 PWM amplifier in 1964, an early attempt at a 10 Watt amp (later known as Class D) but it struggled to produce 2 watts! The RF interference generated would wipe out any TV and radio in the house!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Geoff. I appreciate your support 😊👍

[@richardsinger01]

Sinclair was always trying to be innovative. Ahead of his time in many ways, he had a tendency to over reach his manufacturing capacity and sometimes he released products prematurely. It’s a shame because he came up with some cutting edge tech.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Hi @@richardsinger01 , I remember the Sinclair C5 😊

[@geoff37s38]

@@richardsinger01 Sinclair was a bit of a genius. As a youngster I bought the matchbox radio kit. It used reject transistors he bought from Plessey. He re-tested them and sold the ok ones for 15 times what he paid.

[@richardsinger01]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 not his most successful invention I’ll grant you. Not quite a Tesla. 35 years ahead of the market perhaps.

[@pfekin]

Though varying in styles, you remind me of Andrew Robinson by the sheer thoroughness and sustained quality of your reviews.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Pascal. That is very kind of you 😊👍

[@manchesterstreetphotos5126]

Much more interesting than Andrew R. ABA is an engineer I think, not "just" a man with an opinion.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@manchesterstreetphotos5126 thank you for your support buddy 😊👍

[@pfekin]

IMO both reviewers share that uncanny ability to factor out the elements that make an audio component sound the way it does and articulate that information enthusiastically when warranted. Engineering degree or not, reviewing styles vary for the benefit of all and it inevitably boils down to personal opinion.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Hi Pascal. Totally agree and I am flattered by the comparison to Andrew Robinson. He is a great presenter 😊👍

[@DannyNOR]

This video convinced me too buy this amp. Really helpful Works great with my pair of Dali Concept 8 speakers in my tiny apartment

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is great. So pleased it worked out 😊👍👍

[@brown-eyedman4040]

Thanks for another outstanding review. And like you I find the "NAD sound" to be warmish which I favor. I've been using NAD amps for several years, driving B&W speakers. To my ears a synergistic combo. Among the reasons I like your reviews: Your system is in a normal room like most of us listen in. When you review gear that I'm familiar with the sound of, you seem to hear the same things I hear. Makes you reviews an excellent guide for me.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you brown-eyed-man. Absolutely agree. Treated rooms have benefits but can also mask off axis performance problems of a speaker. In the end these systems have to preform in “normal” rooms. That is how the vast majority of people will listen. A good speaker, set up properly in a well furnished room can sound really good as long as you get the positioning right. I suspected the warmth of the NAD would go well with the clean and analytical B&Ws. Thank you for confirming 😊👍

[@brown-eyedman4040]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Though I suspect the Exposures with the Proacs may be an even better combo. What I don't likeis the overly bright "audiophile" sound. I'm not listening to my rig to try to find glitches in recordings. Next up for me may be a nice little tube (or as you guys say valve) integrated.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@brown-eyedman4040 maybe try the ifi tube buffer 😉

[@cyclingnl]

Thanks Tarun! Does the NAD C338 support Tidal connect? Do you think this will be underpowered if paired with a couple of 87dB speakers?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I am not sure about the Tidal connect . Best to email the manufacturer. It is the minimum impedance of the speaker that usually makes it hard to drive. The C338 is class D and should drive even low impedance speakers pretty well 😊👍

[@prickly-pear]

Greetings from Canada 🇨🇦 and thanks for the very well prepared review.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching Noam. Appreciate your support 😊👍

[@ranelime]

Brilliant video again. Very detailed, and thorough coverage. I is really great to hear another sensible opinion about class D abd how far it came along. Hoping you'll have the chance to review a Purifi based NAD amp, one of these will probably be my next purchase.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Astro Boy. I would love to do exactly that 😊👍

[@mariuszirla7898]

Great review with full of details I was looking for. I haven't seen any Marantz product review on your channel. Since a few years I got Monitor Audio Bronze 2 speakers + Marantz MCR611. Unfortunately my Marantz got two issues in a few months. I have a feeling that it says to me that he have enoug. I'm looking for something else , and a bit better. I saw your reviews of audiolab 6000a and this NAD C338. Both looks perfect for me. Due to the Google Chromecast (which I have right now as well as a portable variant) NAD looks more sufficient for me. Do you have some opinion regarding Marantz product? I don't want to do something equally good or worse then my MRC611. I would rather stay with my Monitor Audio speakers, because I'm really happy how they sound. Any thoughts or suggestion? Thanks in advance!

[@TomArys]

Great review, I have the C338 for a year now, with my Dali Opticon 6.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching Tom. I appreciate your support 😊👍

[@brianlafrance4512]

And you would recommend at the price point?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Hi Brian, recommend what at what price point?

[@pantoffelslippers]

Thanks for the vid. What would you say is maximum size room this amp can run? I never understand what a reviewer has in mind with a “mid size” room. Thanks

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Totally understandable. I would consider a small room be have a footprint of 30 sq m. A mid sized would be between the two 😊

[@markcarrington8565]

Congratulations, Tarun, on another home run, as our friends across would say. In the canoe world, some people look at a modern composite boats as not really the real deal. For them, only wood and canvas will do. Then you have those who say it has to be birch bark for it to be truly authentic. Not sure what the hollowed out log brigade would say about that, but you get my drift. New methodologies come along to make products in a more efficient, more reliable way and however much we dig our heels in we may as well get used to it. No doubt the tech in this amp is in the early stage of development and as it goes further up the price categories, so it will start to rival more esoteric kit. Eventually it will be accepted as the new normal, whatever your budget. Obviously, not in my house though! 😄

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for insights and support Mark. I really enjoyed the canoeing analogy 😊👍

[@kibreddy]

Hi Tarun, Love your videos. Would love to hear your review of the CA CXA81. Specifically, I would like to know if it has that midrange fullness that you say budget amps cannot provide without sacrifices. I have a pair of GoldenEar Triton 2+ speakers, running direct from the Denon x3700 ARV. LOVE the sound stage these speakers have. But they went from sounding bright as all hell before break in, to soft as a pillow after! I didn't even believe in break in up until that point. Now I am looking for a stereo amp that can give me that top end sparkle back as well as a thick (but uncluttered) midrange. Let me know if you can think of any in the less than 1500$ price range.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Kib. I do hope to get hold of CA when I get a chance. For me, the sound you are describing starts with the Hegel H95 or the Exposure 2510 which is even better but with less features. They are a little above that price though 😊👍

[@Labeilibfoflne]

Perfect test ! Do you think it would be ok with Focal 816 or Triangle BR08 ? Thanks a lot

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Quentin. I haven’t tried those speakers but the C338 should work well with a wide range of speakers 😊👍

[@keithwood4031]

Thanks Tarun, nice review and a decent looking bit of kit. I always liked and respected NAD.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and commenting Keith 😊👍

[@ydomi]

Great review! I am looking for an integrated amp to complement Klipsch RP-600M speakers. I am strongly considering the C338, but I'm open to alternatives at its price point. Would the C338 be a good match for the 600M or should I rather go towards other options? Also thinking about IOTAVX SA3 or Cambridge Audio CXA60.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you ran-dom 😊👍 The C338 is a good option if you need an inbuilt streamer. The iota is a little cleaner sounding. The best sounding amp around that money i have heard is the Audiolab 6000A which I reviewed recently. Link below... kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIqnoHqhg6dmgdk

[@williamsiu6291]

Great review!! 25years ago an Arcam Alpha 9 costed me £499, the absolute cheapest CD player would set me back for £80. 25years we get a one-box solution for the exact same cost. I can only wish that speakers price are just as inflation-proof. :)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you William. Great to hear that you are still enjoying your Arcam Alpha 9. There are also some really good speakers available for less than £500 these days 😊👍

[@dougg1075]

Man I have to say your reviews are awesome and I’m sure this channel will grow fast. I particularly enjoy the depth of your technical knowledge and easy way of explaining it. I sense you may have an education of the engineering kind:) I’m really looking foreword to the day companies are throwing stuff at you for review. I do enjoy reviews of the stuff coming out of China. Tube stuff as well. Bravo sir

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Doug. Very kind of your to say. My graduate degree was in electrical and electronic engineering. I suppose it helps a little. Thank you for watching and your support. Very much appreciated 😊👍👍

[@dougg1075]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 right on.

[@Robin_Buckleyyyy]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 I can vouch for his Engineering degree...😉

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@Robin_Buckleyyyy you certainly can. Thanks buddy 😊👍

[@Coneman3]

Yes Tarun would be great on TV, but KZbin is kinda the new TV 📺 🙂

[@karlhartwig3981]

Nice review, I'm looking for a new amp and all the connectivity on this is compelling. Did you spin any vinyl on it? and if so, how was the phono stage? Thanks for all your effort!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thanks Karl. I don’t have a turntable anymore 😢. The internat phono stage on the C338 is reputed to be as good as a basic entry level external one 😉👍

[@SalvadorCalaf]

Great review, not too many NAD revies in the net. I am looking for some opinion about NAD AMP1 perhaps your review will make me look for some alternatives. Thank you!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching Salva 😊👍

[@muzammelhaquemukul7089]

Maybe it's a stupid question but is it possible to use built-in chrome cast to cast KZbin from phone? Thanks.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Actually, a very good question. The amp does include Chromecast audio. I would double check with the manufacturer 😊👍

[@hoki2889]

Appreciate you making the effort of reviewing gear more tailored to beginners or people on a budget! I am learning a lot from your reviews and tips. Personally, still struggling to find a stereo amp around this price point w/o added features like DAC, streaming etc. Could even do without integrated phono/headphone and extend that later. Any hints as to where to look? Still defining my new stereo-only setup (replacing 5.1 home theater) and hoping to get more sound capability for my money.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Ernest. I would start looking at the pre/ power route. Good power amps now start at £299, thanks to the Iota VX PA3. Then just add a DAC or preamp with the functionality you need. Ensure the gain on the preamp is compatible with the power amp (double check with dealer or manufacturer before purchase). The pre/power route will yield better sound and ensure you are not wasting money on features you do not need 😊👍

[@hoki2889]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks so much! I had already thought about that after your review of the IOTA stack, but dismissed it since my streamer/DAC/preamp of choice is digital-only and I didn’t see a way to also connect a phono preamp. But obviously, passive switches were invented at some point. So I guess I should be good ;)

[@paznewis107]

@@hoki2889 Audio Vista Spark... Check out the reviews...

[@fts81]

Thanks for mentioning NAD and PSB! I actually have a couple of questions. I am debating on whether or not get the BluOs MDC module, I have a c388. The internal dac is great, but only does Bluetooth. Wondering what I’d be gaining. Secondly, I have my technics sl1200 connected to the phono stage. I have a schiit phono stage at home that is not being used. Would I benefit from that in your opinion? Lastly, I use no tone controls at all, did you use any in your review? My speakers are psb imagine x2t. Thanks Tarun, great video, looking forward for your thoughts.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Hi Felipe, I am not sure I can help much here as I haven’t used the devices you mention. I can’t imagine you would need to run the BluOs module on the C388 via Bluetooth. You should be able to stream to it via WiFi. Can’t comment on the Schitt phono stage. Try it and see what you prefer. I only would use tone controls on poor recordings.

[@fts81]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Hi Tarun, thanks for your time and always a great honest answer. I amp considering adding the phono stage just to get more amplification, honestly. But the amp drives my TT really well, and volume levels they can vary among recordings, correct? I can certainly tell the difference between a MoFi record and something just average. Yes, thanks for the BluOs. The Amp has built-in Blutooth, which is fine. The BluOs module can actually be connect via Ethernet and also work as a streamer, that is why I think I might consider the his addition. I used to have tone controls all cranked up during my teenage years, and little by little I learned to get rid of them, which actually reveals the quality of the recordings. Sound is more natural and will play as intended. I like your amp reviews, I am a dentist but always had a passion for electronics, so I am getting high quality education here!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Felipe. At least I know where to come for dental advice 😊

[@jameschurbuck1939]

I have a NAD 368 with the BluOS module. I prefer using BluOS to Google’s home app. Note that the 338 tested here can’t take the BluOS module. Also note that the 368 and 388 don’t work with Google Home.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@jameschurbuck1939 i suspect it is a cost saving measure with the C338 😉

[@kjelliwangrimmer6344]

Thanks for a very good review, have ordered Triangle Borea BR08 speakers for the C338, and hopefully it will have enough power. BR08 is very sensitive so hopefully!! Have you teste Borea BR08?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I haven’t as yet kjell. Please let me know how you get on 😊👍

[@raulitocataquiz5165]

Good and informative, thanks Tarun for this review. My first speaker is B&W DM 303 driven by NAD 312. This is great match, the 312 could make the 303 sing with the volume at 10' clock. Still have the pair till now. I think C338 is a good proposition to budding music lovers/audiophiles. I know. "When the green light goes on, good music follows".

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Raulito 😊👍

[@StefanoScordamaglia]

Great review... and thanks for sharing your knowledge.. I own Wharfedale 4.1 speakers , do they pair well with NAD C338 ?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I haven’t tried them Steve so can really say. The NAD should pair well with a wide variety of speakers. It has decent driving capability and a fairly neutral tonal character 😊👍

[@timewilltell454]

Impressive review very informative, you have certainly done your research. I have had other NAD products and have been quite happy with their performance. After reading the what hi-fi review of C 338 I decided to look elsewhere. They thought it lacked detail dynamic expression and rhythmic ability. They gave it three out of five stars which is a long way from highly recommended. Thank you for your review I’ll be giving it a second look.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences 😊👍

[@jorgeluisfernandez2560]

Great review, actually i have a NAD d3020 v2 do you recommend upgrade to these C338? Whats the difference between both amps? O do you recommend marantz 7000n? Thanks a lot for reply, cheers!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Hi Jorge, I haven’t done an A/B comparison between the D3020 and the C338 but i doubt it will be much of an upgrade. The 7000n should be 😉

[@jorgeluisfernandez2560]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 ok so you recommend me to upgrade from my NAD D3020 V2 to the marantz pm7000n? I really like NAD cause they have their own musical quality but i want one more open quality soundstange amp

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@jorgeluisfernandez2560 what speakers are you using?

[@paultasker7788]

Sounds like a typical NAD. Always warm sounding even with the old 302/3020s. Not a bad thing at this price point though and nicer than harshness.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I agree Paul 😉

[@hugobloemers4425]

Good review, I specifically like the way you explain the rating on this product. BTW, I think we need a new term for these kind of products and Receiver almost covers it better that Amplifier. In the olden days we had a radio packed with our amplifier, today we have an internet gateway packed in with it. Not my cup of tea, but it is more than an Amp, a modern day receiver. Not sure what to call it though.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I would be happy to go with “modern day receiver” but I think many of us who have been around for a while would still expect an AM/FM tuner 🤔👍

[@JackTheladd]

I have this amp with my Triangle BR03 speakers. Sounds great.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you watching and sharing your experiences Jack 😊

[@paolosoddu9642]

Hi, as always a very comprehensive and informative review. I don't understand if this integrated amplifier has Spotify connect, so while using Spotify it's been visible by the app or if it's only Chromecast. It's important, because the bitrate and quality differs between the two methods, Spotify connect is also Gapless, while Chromecast isn't.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Paolo 😊👍

[@stephenmead5488]

I have a NAD C390DD class D integrated amplifier that I bought to pair up with a Magneplanar MG-1.6QR pair. This is basically a powered DAC outputting 27.8dBV. (I prefer this rating protocol since WPC is essentially meaningless.) The sound is excellent through the Maggies. I have no problem with NAD’s Class D amplifiers.

[@stephenmead5488]

Like your review style.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@stephenmead5488 thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Stephen 😊👍

[@chaindrive98]

Not sure how I missed this. Great review, as always. I thought Cambridge Audio's house sound was warm - didn't expect the same characteristics with NAD - especially the digital one. Would you still recommend if I wanted to replace my Cambridge Audio SR10 with NAD C338? I've the GoldenEar AON3 bookshelf speakers and Qacoutics sub.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Narendran. It would be a good upgrade from the SR10 😊👍

[@jldkrank]

I have a pair of Morel Solan v2 speakers that have a nominal impedance of 4Ohms and a sensitivity of 88dB, would this power it adequately or should I consider the iotavx sa3?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I haven’t heard those speakers but if they are rated at 4 ohms they will be tricky to drive. Class D amplifiers tend to be better at driving low impedance loads due to an inherent high damping factor. My money would be on the NAD C338 😉

[@jldkrank]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 thanks for the advice! Also looking at a marantz pm6006, as the old pm6004 did a great job with them

[@brynybach7741]

Another excellent video Tarun. Is there any chance you could do a review on the Manchester company Temple Audio? I'm using two D type monoblock amplifiers along with their seperate power packs of which I'm extremely pleased with. Keep them coming, you are easily understandable and a joy to listen to...

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Brynybach. I am not familiar with that company. Will have to check them out. Thank you for watching and you kind words of support 😊👍

[@thestr8jacket1]

Great review 👍 can you tell us which music tracks you tested it with 🙂

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you my friend. I have about 1000 test tracks on various play lists organised by genre 😊👍

[@emtimms]

Thanks for producing this video and attributing some subjective acoustical terms to the associated tech . It's super helpful to rookie lay-folk such as myself. A few quick Questions...1) How does activating the Bass EQ function affect the sound, generally speaking? Is the overall effect a slight increase of bass response, or is it a noticeable change? Asking because I've just purchased a pair of Wharfedale Linton's and am thinking that the low-end is a bit lean for my liking given my current low-end amplifier, and if the bass eq would fix this and allow the Lintons to sound more 'complete', or if it would be too overwhelming and ruin the intended musicality of the Lintons. 2) Would you or anyone else be able to comment on how this NAD might compare to the Rega iO in terms of overall sound (fullness, depth of bass, etc.)? I it's not comparable in feature set, but is comparable in price point. I wonder if the trade-off in features is made up for by the increased sound quality of the rega. Thanks! -Evan

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Hi Evan, from what I recall the bass eq feature works at low volumes. I would email the manufacturer to double check. I preferred the sound with it off in my setup and that is how I did my listening. I hope someone gets back to you about the Rega IO 😊👍

[@emtimms]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Many thanks for that additional info.

[@robertwilson214]

I feel my next purchase may be active speakers (triangle aio?)to avoid trying to match amp and speakers.When you walk into a lot of hifi shops you feel they dont want to demo unless your spending a fortune,so you end up taking their popular amp.When you go into the shop,their first words should be..what kind of sound/tonality do you like?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@kirlu50]

I trust your assessment of the maturing of Class D technology. I owned a couple of Nad products before I really fell properly into this hobby. Now, my system has become somewhat more exotic, but if my weird preference for small specialised manufactures should subside at some point, I could easily see myself with one of Nad's good All in one units. The fact that their BlueOs control system has trickled Up to Nad's higher end stuff has made them very competitive, I find.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Totally get where you are coming from. That rack of mine is starting to look fairly congested. Thank you for watching and great to hear from you as always 😊👍

[@thisisnev]

An interesting proposition... it seems like a lot of thought went into designing the C338 as a package. If it persuades people to take their first plunge into audio, I'm all for that. I don't know which amps with switch-mode power supplies the naysayers have been listening to, but Sony nailed it 40 years ago - there's one in their TA-F55 amp and its noise floor is excellent. Maybe enclosing it in its own casing helps. (It also features a freon-filled heat pipe - now there's something we'll never see the like of again!)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I am not familiar with the Sony TA-F55 but seems very interesting from your description. Thank you for watching and sharing buddy 😉👍

[@mw9020]

Hi Tarun, great review. Do you think the new Blusound POWERNODE would be a step up from NAD C338? Already testing it (powernode) with my new LS50 meta and wondering what would be the best amp for these. Also considering spending some more for amp if needed. Thinking Hegel 95 or Musical Fidelity M5si would be max for my budget currently. Any better amp recommendation for LS50metas?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you MW. The Powernode will be of similar quality to the NAD C338. Good amps for the money but the Hegel H95 is in a different league. Hegel is also a natural partner for the LS50 Meta. Kef use it regularly to demo that speaker. I would go for the H95 even if you have to wait to be in a position to get it 😊👍

[@mw9020]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you! Do you think Hegel's 60wats is better than 150wats of MF 5si? Is Hegel that much better? Honestly, I'm a little bised toward 150w of MF but if Hegel is that good I would go for it. I hear a lot rave about Hegel but I'm not super versed in all the nuances - just want the best sound for my money. Thank you again. Really like your style of presentation!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@mw9020 unfortunately, I haven’t heard the MF M5Si. I would expect the M5Si to be closer to the H120 or even the H190 as an amplifier but without a lesser DAC an no streaming module. I can’t say it is of similar quality to the Hegel until I audition it at home though 😊

[@mw9020]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Makes sense. Haven't found yet anyone who listened to both of those. I like them both quite a lot. Thanks Tarun!

[@mw9020]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Ok, I got my hands on H95 and I must say there is a night and day difference between it and POWERNODE! Literally. Didn't expect to hear that much difference. It is huge. Now, how about Audiolab 6000A (Play). Looks like you reviewed both H95 and 6000A. Which one would you pick from those? They seem at similar price range here in the US (2000$ for H95 and 1700$ for 6000A Play). Very curious about Audiolab since I keep hearing very good reviews too. Would appreciate your feedback! Thanks!

[@pyrolinn2088]

I just purchased a floor model C338 and it is arriving today! At $480 delivered for the used price I cant see any downside. Pairing it with a pair of Gallo Strada 2's and the TR-3 sub.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@schnitzel456]

Hi Tarun, great review! Could you also review the NAD 368 and maybe do a comparison?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Hi schnitzel456, I would like to to the N Core based M10 next but I am sure I will get to the 368 as well as some point. Thank you for watching and your support 😉👍

[@schnitzel456]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Great! I just ordered the M10 after listening to the 368, 388 and the M10 with the B & W 705 Signatures. A bit above budget but well worth it I believe. Looking forward to your review!

[@schnitzel456]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Last request (for now😉) : I would also appreciate it if you could do a (technical / sound quality) comparison of Qobuz VS. Tidal. Very curious to hear your vision in this regard. Read a lot of different opinions about MQA vs (‘standard’) Hi Res on Qobuz.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@schnitzel456 thank you. I may well have to look into that at some point 😉

[@andrewtamblyn2191]

Hi Tarun, How would this compare to the Powernode 2i (if MQA is not important) Great review.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Andrew. There are quite a lot of improvements to the BluOS module, DAC and a much better amplifier 😊👍

[@andrewtamblyn2191]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Sorry Tarun do you mean improvements in the C338 favour regarding a better DAC and AMP just want to make sure I have it the right way round. Thank you

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@andrewtamblyn2191 sorry Andrew. I should have checked. I was comparing to the M10 I recently reviewed. The Powernode and the C338 should be closely matched 😊

[@andrewtamblyn2191]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Not a problem, Yes the C338 and Powernode 2i are similarly priced so I wounded if you felt one had a performance edge over the other. Thanks anyway.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@andrewtamblyn2191thank you Andrew. I would have to do an A/B to find out 😊

[@paulok2153]

Nice review. Pity they couldnt make this amp a bit smaller, there seemed to be a lot of space inside the box, could be necessary for all i know. Anyway, your the man.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

They kinda do with the NAD 3045 but it doesn’t have the Google Chromecast streamer as yet 😉

[@edwardwood969]

Nice review. I purchased this unit for a secondary system, but returned it because I felt it was lacking in dynamics. Everything took on the same sound character. Did you experience this at all?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Not really. It isn’t the most dynamic amplifier at it’s price but not bad either. Depends what you had it partnered with I suppose...

[@ayewhite333]

This amp might be my first entry into hi-fi

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

It is a good all rounder A White. Thank you for watching 👍

[@rdh67dh]

I've had a C658/C268 combi. Also something to think about. More options for changing in time. A lot more money. Perhaps save a bit longer.

[@shuckylad]

Make it your only amp. Seriously just enjoy it and stay away from upgradeitis you’ll save yourself a fortune.

[@rdh67dh]

@@shuckylad I agree with saving a fortune. When it's good enough stay at it. It's all about personal taste. I just suggest something what's worth listening at the local hifi shop.

[@ayewhite333]

I ended up with a 6000A Play instead. I love the sound but can't help but feel that my Buchardt's are a touch under-powered.

[@sabavinylcollections]

hi, thanks for your awesome review , iwant to know whether my bose am5 speaker will match to this

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Saba. I haven’t tried that combo so can’t really say how they will work together 😊👍

[@meerajsarkar9247]

Fantastic review... Here something that affordable and good. ..also available in India ..

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Meeraj 😊👍

[@hdibart]

Thanks;always so interesting and enlightening.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching Henry 😊👍

[@bski3628]

Thanks Tarun for this detailed review I saw your Audiolab 6000A how does it compare to this Nad of as far as detail, bass and richness of sound. Thanks again

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

The Audiolab has more detail and a faster cleaner presentation. The NAD C338 has a warmer tonal balance though 😉👍

[@stevezeidman7224]

Great job. Terrifically informative! I do have a question. Some Class D amps, Crown for example, offer lots of power but they come with a lot of old fashion hiss. How does this device do in that regard?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Steve. The NAD is dead quiet 😊👍

[@BunnyslippersEUC]

Depends on the efficiency of the speakers and the characteristics (BRIGHT). Distance from speakers to your ears. The shape and size of the room. How good are your ears. The Crown DriveCore XLS 1002 PA has a signal to noise ration of over 103 dB. That's a big number. With Klipsch you will hear hiss, but not with Magnepans. I bought the Sony ss-cs5 speakers and the Topping PA3 class D amplifier for desk setup. In my situation I could only hear hiss at 30 cm distance. I am 38 years old I don't hear well over 16 kHz. The Topping stn is 90 dB.

[@stevezeidman7224]

True enough. Btw, don’t mean to pick on Crown. Just an example of that class today. I’m 67 yrs old. I was a Crown boy back in the 70s. I bought the IC150 pre and D159 amp. I thought I had reached audio nirvana.

[@nicksundby]

Great review. I've had several NAD products, they sound OK but pride of ownership is zero.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Nick 😊👍

[@bhupendraparekh6225]

Tarun, as always a classy review. Your review of ATC speakers almost cost me 2 grand, but just about held fire. Keep up the good work. And yeah, cannot see myself using class d. Audiophiles are a strange bunch,

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Bhupendra. Don’t worry you are not alone. I am interested to see how good an N Core amp is though 🤔👍

[@uncola6028]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 orchard audio gan monoblocks are the best sounding class d I've heard so far and I've heard most major modules

[@ohmultiverse]

Hello Tarun--Newish subscriber here. Very impressive channel. Retiring my trusty Dynaco PAS3x tube preamp and Stereo 80 solid state power amp (am I dating myself?!) and purchasing, based on your recommendation, a NAD C338 amp and NAD C538 CD player. Question: given that, for CDs at any rate, I can use either the Wolfson DAC in the 538 or the CirrusLogic DAC in the 338, I'm curious to know which you, personally, prefer. Thank you, and keep up the good work!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is great ohmultiverse! I haven’t heard the C538 but if I was a betting man, my money would be on the DAC in the CD player being better. Thank you for watching and I really appreciate your support 😊👍👍

[@ohmultiverse]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you very much for your reply. Not to abuse your generosity, but one more question. I probably date myself by confessing that, in addition to my Dynaco PAS3x tube preamp and Stereo 80 solid state power amplifier, I still have the original pair of Vandersteen Model 1 I bought decades ago. I know that external factors such as room characteristics have critical impacts on speaker performance...but are there 2 or three speakers you think would be particularly good matches with the NAD 338 in a medium sized, fairly bright room? It would be useful to narrow the huge field down! I listen to Classical, Jazz, Classic Rock, Bluegrass...in short, any music that is GOOD! Again thank you.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@ohmultiverse Thant is tricky, there is so much great choices out there. The natural partner would be a PSB speaker as they are both Lenbrook products. I would personally wait for the replacement for the now discontinued Imagine range to come out. The Amphion Argon 1 would be another good choice. Beyond that I would suggest to pick something with a neutral sound signature as the C338 is already on the warm side. Good luck 😊👍

[@zyghom]

hi Tarun, nice video - or even supernice ;-) So, is class D where A/A-B is yet or not?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you ZH. There are pluses and minuses to each approach. I believe at the lower price points (£600 or below) Class D has some major benefits if executed correctly. By not having to spend money on linear power supplies or heat sinks, the money can go into better components elsewhere. Thank you for watching and commenting 😊👍

[@abrahamcr5903]

Hi, would you recomend the Nad or a Marantz??

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

It depends on many factors 😊

[@MrHighgate123]

Would it be possible to review tuners? Or how does someone get access to radio on these very modern hifi? Tuners/radio never seem to get mentioned im a bit old fashioned like bbc r2 etc etc r4 as well but they never get any airplay! Any up to date information would be fantastic as regards sources etc.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. I appreciate the suggestion 😊

[@bokolobs]

Hi Tarun! I actually just got this amp based on this review and recommendation! It's a very capable amp for my needs. After setting it up the wifi and Google Home, it automatically updated its system firmware to version 9624 and its Cast firmware to version 1.28.102057. This Cast firmware in particular is way behind the latest Cast firmware on my Chromecast Audio dongles, which is on version 1.42.172094. I was wondering if your C338 has the same system and Cast firmware versions. Thanks!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you buddy. That is very interesting but I can’t recall what version it was running 😉👍

[@bokolobs]

​@@abritishaudiophile7314 I found the Software Release Notes on the NAD C 338 page. That's apparently already the latest version. But hey, it works with no problems so far so if it ain't broke... Thanks again!

[@fts81]

Hi Tarun, just one question that came to my mind about these amps. They have a pre out. Is that independent from the class d amp or also class d? I’m sort of confused

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Yes the Class D modules are for the power amp and not the preamp 😉

[@fts81]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 so the pre amp is regular a/b? Just trying to understand if I ever use one as pre amp, how would it match to others.... I love your explanations on electronics! Still going through the new video though😊

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@fts81 best to check with the manufacturer. Most preamp stages can get away with being class A due to the low power requirements 😉

[@fts81]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 I’ve actually contacted NAD and here’s what they had to say: Thank you for contacting the NAD Electronics Support Crew regarding amplification used in the preamp stage of the C388. Please be advised there is no preamplifier per se in the C388. The digital audio signals are processed by the Asynchronous SRC (SRC4382), then they fed into the DAC (LME49725), then into the Volume Controller (NJW1194), then the Hypex Amplifiers, out to the speaker relays, and finally out to the speaker terminals. Which is kinda greek to me 😅😅

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@fts81 interesting. They are saying that the digital input go straight through a DAC, digital volume control and then to the Hypex Class D power amplifier module. No preamp. That is fine but I wonder what happens to the analogue inputs?

[@clemleg123]

Many thanks Tarun for a great review. I saw that WhatHifi were pretty tough on this one with just 3 stars and a pretty harsh conclusion. Do you know why you guys have had such a different experience?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I can’t really say as I haven’t read the What Hifi review. I just say what my experience is. Thank you for watching CL 😊👍

[@chaindrive98]

I stopped reading what hifi reviews after I auditioned Marantz PM6006 in 3 different places, based on their glowing tribute. I read their 6006 review and I tried to match as closely as possible including listening to the same songs they had mentioned. Thank god, I didn't make a blind buy.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@chaindrive98 in the end, after reading/watching reviewers you trust, you have to listen for yourself before buying 😉

[@chaindrive98]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Very very hard where I live. Unfortunately, I'm in a Bose-driven mass market :) I listen to yours and Z reviews as you both have presented accurate descriptions of some of the amps that I've listened to - so considering this as the baseline for all reviews.

[@clemleg123]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 how would you compare the Nad to say a Bluesound Powernode 2i (which I have). Think both use Hypex module and they obviously both have a streamer and a DAC.

[@totters1972]

Would be interested to know if you are going to look at the c298 power amp that is coming soon, massive difference in price yes - but will it be worth it?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I would probably do one of the more expensive integrated amps first. I would be interesting to see what you get for the extra money. Maybe then the pre/power 🤔

[@totters1972]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 that’s a great idea Tarun, would be very interested to see what we can possibly achieve by each upgrade step.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you @@totters1972 😊👍

[@milesdufourny4813]

Tarun, how does it compare to the Rega Brio and Audiolab 6000? They're all about the same price and power rating.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I am currently in the process of reviewing the Audiolab. 6000A. I also reached out to Rega but unfortunately at the moment they will not send products out to KZbin reviewers. I know, it is a shame. Thank you for watching Miles 😊👍

[@milesdufourny4813]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Sorry about the delay, my internet was down for a day. Too bad Rega won't give you products to review. I remember the old Audiolab integrated amp from the eighties, never had a chance to hear one because there were no dealerships in my state. My friend did buy one of their tuners in the early 90's and it was quite good. I've heard the NAD class D amps about a year ago at my friend's store - they didn't really impress me (I own a pure class A power amp) I still think A/AB is better sounding. Maybe the newer class D modules designed by Bruno Putzys at Purifi are better (NAD is using those on some of the newer amps). Anyways, have a good day and I await your next review.

[@addokwabina3096]

Is it necessary to add an equaliser to your amplifier with built in Dac?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

No you have some control over low end using the bass eq button 😉

[@JoelOman1980]

Sooooo... This compared to the NA6006+PM6006 combo from Marantz? Just for the Spotify Connect feature? Knowing the Marantz combo is well above in price, it uses the traditional Class A/B and separate components of course, might this be a "steal" in that case? (I currently own the PM6006, but the price of the NA6006 is basically the same as the NAD C338...)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That would be an interesting comparison Joel 😊

[@JoelOman1980]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Scratch that thought, I did the most stupid thing possible in my shoes. After watching your video I thought, "Why don't I just take a stroll to the local stereo shop (close to my office) and listen to the NAD C338 for myself?" I ended up also listening to the Hegel H95........ BIG mistake! Might have to set my budget for a Spotify Connect-device a bit higher. Thanks anyway, good review! :)

[@andreperron8466]

Hello Tarun me I am using NHT 1.8 floor loudspeakers cut in 45 degree diamond point what do you think if it would be connected with the NAD c338 or a denon pma800 they are the same price what would be the best choice, thank you,from Montreal,Canada

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I haven’t heard the Denon PMA800 but the NAD C338 is a very good allrounder 😊

[@andreperron8466]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Merci

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@andreperron8466 vous êtes les bienvenus

[@andreperron8466]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 finalement j'ai acheté le tribute 11 de Rotel

[@lonniefarmer7067]

You made the case that the A/B is giving way to the "D". The new Marantz 300's make the same case, so vindication all round. As long as efficiency does not give away quality this and the controlled powered speakers are the future.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Lonnie. Certainly at this price point Class D seems to have caught up ground with Class AB. I am consciously trying a few amplifiers at the circa £500 price point. After which I will try bunch of amplifiers at a higher price point. It will be interesting to see if the more expensive class D amplifiers based around the N Core module can compete with class AB, Class A and valve amplifiers at that price point.

[@danbalkey2580]

C88 would be nice also. Vary good review on this model.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Dan 😊👍

[@Vincent-of7yv]

Sehr gut erklärt. Danke aus Deutschland 🙏👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Danke schön 😊👍

[@ghty56222]

can this AMP be connected to my AVRs pre outs? and would there be any volume control prpblems between the untis. ty

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

It doesn’t have a home theatre bypass mode as far as I recall. So you are better of looking for an amp with a fixed line input mode like the Audiolab 6000A.

[@amarcy5369]

Hi sir interesting review, I’m looking to replace my aged amp But don’t want any digital add ons . Not even a phono stage, I have a separate amp to perform that duty . My budget is approximately £500 pounds . I feel it’s getting increasingly difficult to find such a basic design particularly at this price point. So any thoughts from your good self, will be most welcome. Best wishes and kind regards from Mike in the U.K. 👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Mike. I would start looking at the pre/ power route. Good power amps now start at £299, thanks to the Iota VX PA3. Then just add a DAC or preamp with the functionality you need. Ensure the gain on the preamp is compatible with the power amp (double check with dealer or manufacturer before purchase). The pre/power route will yield better sound and ensure you are not wasting money on features you do not need 😊👍

[@zindahoon]

Very good review Tarun 👏 👏

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Atri 😊👍

[@meowkub]

Very good review, thank you! I'm deciding between a couple months old Cyrus One Cast which the price is about double a brand new C338. having hard time deciding whether i should go with cyrus one cast or c338. i'll pair it with B&W CM1

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Have you checked out my review on the Cyrus One Cast?

[@meowkub]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 yes sir i did, it was a great review and you gave a recommended rating on that. What I’m curious is since nad c338 is a highly recommended product, will c338 is good enough for b&w cm1?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@meowkub the Cyrus is better but the NAD C338 gives you more bang for your buck. Hence, the rating 😊

[@meowkub]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 thank you again, appreciate your advice!

[@jampam-jf8mt]

Would this amp be a good match for Dali Opticon 6 mk2?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I can’t say 😊

[@jampam-jf8mt]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Hopefully you can review a pair of Opticons..

[@dannyoblomov3017]

Is there a sound difference with the c328? What do you think

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I haven’t tried it Danny. I will probably get it in for review at some point though. Thank you for watching 😊

[@victorlazzlo7626]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 hi. I am searching for a streaming amp that has 2 way bluetooth. Intent on using with both Dali Opticon2 standmounts and Dali io-6 wireless headphones apt X Hd. Price range £600 - £1000. Any advice welcomed. Thanks

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@victorlazzlo7626 I would check if the Bluesound Powernode 2i has two Bluetooth. I would be surprised if it doesn’t 😉

[@danielpeachey4100]

Any idea how this would compare against the marantz pm 700 n ? Thanks in advance.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I haven’t heard the Marantz so can’t say. Maybe someone else may be able to comment here 😉

[@roquesoprano913]

Thank you Tarun 👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching Roque 😊👍

[@Anand.Asrani]

Looks like you've dug up a diamond tarun ! Can wear so many hats .. Cheers

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Anand. I am glad you liked the review and really appreciate your support 😊👍

[@goldenearaudioreview4904]

Great video again. Really enjoying your channel. If you would like your chapters to be hyper linked and display in the video you would need to add "0:00 - intro" to the top. Thanks for making your videos!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. I need to figure out how exactly to do that 😊

[@goldenearaudioreview4904]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 just use 1:00 vs 1.00 and it should start working for you. You have use 0:00 at the beginning of your list of chapter breaks if you want chapters in the timeline of the video itself.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for showing me how to actually do that 😊👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Just amended the last half a dozen videos and checked it. All good now thanks to you showing me how to do it 😊👍👍

[@goldenearaudioreview4904]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 very welcome! I actually figured it out from a Think Media video. If you curious check out there channel as they have really helped me with stuff like this.

[@latinochico]

Will the C338 go well with wharfedale Diamond 12.2 ?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I haven’t tried that combination 😊

[@latinochico]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 ok thanks for your feedback

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@latinochico you can never tell until you try but I think the C338 will be better suited to speakers with a cooler tonal balance like the B&W 600 series 😊

[@Mrhifitunes]

An other great video. Great to see that new technology matures. After all new insight might improve the performance and bring us a step closer to real life sound reproduction. This seems a be a balanced system...still I find it odd that we don't see modular systems anymore...arcam, naim and others made some systems that can be upgraded if needed. This way you don't need to buy something new and get rid of the old stuff...isn't this not more eco friendly? Also considering that things,in the digital area, evolve faster...both hard and software

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you buddy. I suspect it part of the disposable culture we live in these days. Of course, manufacturers want you to keep buying new gear. I agree, there should be more modular systems available. The more expensive NAD amps have slots for the DAC module, streamer, etc. 😊👍

[@Mrhifitunes]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 why not a modular system the same way computers are build. Standardised slots which accepts digital/analoge/network/pre-power amp/... modules from any manufacture you like. ;) I think meridian had such a system before. (only accepting meridian components of course) ..not 100% sure

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@Mrhifitunes I am with you all the way on this buddy. Modular the way to go! 😊👍

[@simzou4373]

Good job

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 👍

[@felixlaboy1453]

Great review buddy. ? Would you recommend this over the IOTAVX SA3

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Felix. Both are good, it all comes down to taste and whether you want a better in built DAC and a inbuilt streamer over what you get in the Iota VX SA3. That is how the NAD justifies the extra £200 it costs to buy 😉👍

[@richardsinger01]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 how about the Audiolab 6000A Play for another £200 on top? A one box solution with class A/B amplification.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Hi @@richardsinger01 , I am listening to the 6000A as I write this. Hoping to get the Play version in at some point as well. Watch this space 😉👍

[@richardsinger01]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 the thing that puts me off Play-fi is the lack of gap less streaming. It’s a bit of a deal breaker for me. I’ve only just discovered this - it’s a shame because the Audiolab and the Quad Vena play look excellent otherwise.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@richardsinger01 I understand, that would put some people off.

[@willbrink]

For me, class D still not ready for prime time, but it's arrived for some, and I'm happy to allow others to be the beta testers. I also feel like makers are interested because they're less costly to build, but they're not passing those savings onto buyers. If I have the choice between a good A/B traditional amp or class D for a similar price, I will take the traditional amp every time personally.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I think that is still the majority view Will. Certainly at this price point C!ass D seems to have reached a parity with Class AB. I would mind taking the N Core for a spin to see if it is the case further up the food chain 😉

[@willbrink]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 i'm happy with parity if they pass on the cost savings too, but seeing some class D amps and such on parity cost wise with great quality A/B amps, and in such a case I stick with A/B amps myself. The class D stuff that sounds good and a cost savings makes sense to me. Paying 2k, 3k, 5k, etc for a class D amp or integrated? Not so much...

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Makes sense. Thank you @@willbrink 😉

[@steven2809]

@@willbrink Try the outstanding XTZ Edge A2-300......300 watts into 4 ohms for £430! Using the award winning B & O Icepower class D modules. You will change your mind! 🙂

[@willbrink]

@@steven2809 Sounds like a fair priced bit of kit, but of course it's only about watts. I will have to audition some latest gen D amps soon.

[@Raymondey]

Waiting for Triangle Trio review, it will be interesting what are your impressions compared to Sean and Steve. Thomas also has these in review queue :)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That review should be completed soon 😉

[@jimshaw899]

I am interested in hearing more about the Chromecast connection.

[@BasvanHeelRoseboom]

Its real great. Better then a seperate unit.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Hi Jim, it is really simple to set up. Just download Google home on your device and the follow about 3 onscreen instruction to set up the WiFi and select the amplifier. You just then run the streaming service of your choice 😉

[@steven2809]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Yes ....but will it play gapless...? 🤔

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I only use Tidal so best to double check with the manufacturer.

[@steven2809]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Well I can tell you that Chromecast does NOT support gapless playback. For me and anyone else that enjoys classical music or indeed many ‘gapless’ albums that makes it useless.... so not such a compelling feature! 😕

[@andreasmoller9798]

I use to own a nad c375bee, my first amp i have bought for my b&w 683 s2, the only amp in the $1000 range that had the power to drive my speaker and on the same time sounded good, its dynamic, very tight bass, little roll of in the highs, It Broke down in 4 years, It was getting pretty hot when playing loud, recently i got hegel h190, same Power on paper but it measures 201 watt into 8 ohms, 348 watt into 4 ohms, around 525 watts into 2 ohms It does not get as hot at louder volume levels, hegel has larger soundstage, more detailed sound, dark background, sound more neutral, witch can take some time to get use to, to my experince the hegel plays whats in the recording, never experinced that with Any other amplifier, also a good dac, but at times i use dragonfly red usbdac, not as refined but have more of that sound signature i like, but It Also depends on the music i listen to, great video by the way, very useful information😃

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and commenting Andreas. It was great to hear about your experiences 😉

[@raffiequler7510]

Andreas, you could have repaired your NAD for $100 instead of paying Hegel $4000 for their overkill amplifier. NAD amplifiers are the best value in this overpriced hi-fi market.

[@andreasmoller9798]

@@raffiequler7510 i only paid $3000 for my Hegel h190, witch are not still cheap, but well worth it, i would say that the nad might be more value, but the hegel is more of a quality pruduct, with the hegel you get a good dac, witch will be as good as seperates for around $1000, the nad dosen’t have a dac, Hegel has better details, better bass controll and bigger and more refined soundstage, and with my new speakers b&w 702 s2 the nad would not do them justice quality wise

[@raffiequler7510]

​@@andreasmoller9798 You are forgetting that NAD would repair your amp for $100. Ask Hegel how much they charge for repair. Any amp can break and your Hegel will break as well. Please stop bullshitting about quality. My NAD C340 has been serving me for 21 years now. It only broke down once in 2010 and cost me less than $60 to repair.

[@andreasmoller9798]

@@raffiequler7510 the hegel is better no doubt, if you want details bigger soundstage and more bass controll the hegel h190 is superior to the nad c375bee, if you prefer nad thats ok, but i don’t, i got a lot better sound with my speakers with the hegel, even my old b&w 683 s2, performed better with the hegel amp, i like the nad for the time i had it, and for the $1400 i paid its almost untouchable but when you put it against the more expensive Hegel h190 and denon pma 2500ne that i also had for demo, the nad can’t just compete with those 2 amps, my nad broke after 4 years, i fixed it and it cost me around $250, maybe i was unlucky with my unit, but i won’t ever buy a nad again

[@kingmonkey88]

Seems like a lot of manufacturers are going down the Class D route. They look much simpler compared to the typical class A/B designs. Maybe Class D's are more cost effective? Most people seem to think all Class D's sound the same due to using the same switching boards. My Audio Research Amp is Class D but with a in house designed switching module rather than off the shelf.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing Din. It certainly seems that Class D have reached a parity with Class AB at the budget at mid priced levels. I want so see if it is the case in the more expensive amps at above £1k. 😉

[@brianlafrance4512]

So many decisions. Currently streaming from the USB C out of smartphone into a audioquest red then to a HK AVR 240 into Kef q150s and a klipsch 12 inch sub. Its sounds 'good but am looking to upgrade into an all in one integrated. Not sure if the streaming through chromecast will be better than straight from the phone or not. More convenient but not sure how much money I need to spend for it to be an actual upgrade.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Just be clear about what you want to achieve by upgrading. Otherwise you risk upgrading for upgrading sake. That is seldom a road to musical satisfaction 😉

[@brianlafrance4512]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 looking for convenient changing of songs and sources as I have to go do it on the connected phone. A noticeable difference in sound quality over the the 18 year old avr. Maybe more power also. Issue is how much do I need to spend to feel it is an upgrade. Thank you for your help. I have only had the kef a few weeks and I do like them.

[@brianlafrance4512]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 i am flexible. Want to stay under a thousand or so. Looking for value and longevity with the ability to resell at low loss if I decide to change or move up. I have a bunch of flac albums on a NAS. I considered a bluesound powernode 2i also. Also looked at the parasound 200 classic with some streamer replacing the smartphone or computer at some point. The bass management, power, and flexibility were really good. Also the outlaw 2160. There's a refurbished c338 on ebay with Warranty for $520 right now and that seems good bang for the buck. Could resell NAD as needed too. Thanks again.

[@hclandscapes]

I had a nad c388, two of these amps went faulty in one year, its well documented online, there were loads of software updates to fix bugs, this was a while ago now so perhaps they have got it sorted? I thought the Sound quality was ok and played loud with ease but really weak on bass , when i switched back to a class a/b amplifier i couldn't believe how much more low end was produced, but overall built quality seemed good and i liked that it never got hot during long listening periods. But based on my experiences i would have a hard time recommending this amplifier. Apparently the NAD masters line is really good though.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experiences Harry. I haven’t heard about any particular issues with the C338 😉