NAD C 356BEE DAC – An Amplifier For All Seasons

The unique modular design concept of this integrated ensures that this is an amplifier for all seasons

Perhaps more than any other brand in this test, NAD is all about affordable integrated amplifiers that deliver top-notch performance for sensible outlay, dating all the way back to the 3020. While the company has been exploring some of the more exciting ends of the price spectrum with some recent designs, it hasn’t forgotten its roots and the C 356BEE DAC is a lot of amp for the money.

NAD C 356BEE DAC

The versatile design with eight line-level inputs is available as a standard amp for $959.58, but this one comes fitted with a digital input board as part of NAD’s Modular Design Concept (MDC). Testing the digital inputs falls outside the strict remit of the review, but a quick trial run of the asynchronous USB input suggests that this is the best performing digital input of any in the test and makes the amp a bit of a bargain for anyone with a computer as a source. A phonon stage is also available, although NAD isn’t heartless enough to make you choose between the two as you can still use one of its external phonon stages as well as the digital module.

The NAD is not the most beautiful amp, finished in the customary field grey, but it does feel well assembled and well thought out. The controls are logical and easy to use with small LEDs to show source and speaker selection and aside from the slightly fiddly tone controls, it is pleasant enough to interact with. The remote is a little fussy, but does feature backlighting that’s handy for anyone who does their listening in low light.

Sound quality

The NAD shows some distinctive traits from the off with the test material and most of them are likeable. Even after very careful level matching on all six amps, the C 356BEE DAC sounds bigger than the other offerings. The vocals in the Muse recording and the piano in the Neil Cowley piece take on a slightly larger than life quality and the soundstage seems to extend a little further outside the speaker than the other amps. This means that some of the delicacy of the Neil Cowley piece is lost and some of the higher notes have a fractional harshness, but this is comparatively minor.

With the more aggressive and up-tempo parts of the test material, the news is still largely positive. The NAD has a usefully civilizing influence on the Scratch Massive track, but doesn’t over smooth it or lose the drive and attack that it needs to remain convincing.

The NAD shows some distinctive traits from the off with the test material and most of them are likeable

Similarly Aloe Blacc’s vocals are given the same slightly larger than life treatment, but this time the results are more satisfying. The area that holds the NAD back with the faster pieces is the bass, which is deep and powerful, but does find itself lacking some of the fine detail that the best in test can manage with the same material. There is plenty of impact, but the impression is slightly monotone rather than that of multiple notes. If you have a slightly lean-sounding system though, the weight of the NAD is likely to be helpful in alleviating this.

The C 356BEE DAC is an impressive proposition for the asking price – especially if you can make use of that USB input and there is a lot to like about the powerful and lively sound that it produces. The slightly oversized presentation and somewhat exuberant bass has to be taken into account and needs careful partnering to get the best out of it.

The NAD is not the most beautiful amp, finished in the customary field grey, but it does feel well assembled and well thought out

One test

If there’s one thing you can almost guarantee from any NAD amplifier then that is oodles of dynamic power. So while the C 356BEE already betters its 2x80W specification at 2x115W/8ohm, under dynamic, music-like conditions it’ll deliver a whopping 190W, 335W and 540W (16.4A) into 8, 4 and 2ohm loads. This is why NAD’s C 356BEE sounds louder than its contemporaries here even if its maximum current rating is still less than Rotel’s astonishingly load-tolerant RA-12.

Distortion increases with power (0.0003% to 0.01% over an 80W range), and particularly with decreasing load (0.005% at 60W/8ohm to 0.03% at 60W/4ohm), but the nature of the distortion itself is relatively benign. Finally, the A-wtd S/N ratio is very wide at 95.6dB and the response powerfully extended into the high treble (–1dB/100kHz) so there’s no attenuation of ultrasonic noise from SACD, for example.

Our verdict

·         Sound quality: 4.5/5

·         Value for money: 4.5/5

·         Build quality: 4/5

·         Features: 4.5/5

·         Like: Big, confident sound; excellent USB input and useful power

·         Dislike: Can sound a little unruly at the bottom and can be a little harsh

·         We say: A strong value amp that needs careful matching to get the best results

·         Overall: 4.5/5