NAD C350 Amplifier

The family resemblance of this amp to older NAD amplifiers is obvious. There have been developments in areas like styling, but the principal changes externally are in matters of detailing. Internally, crude construction standards and an excess of point-to-point wiring lies in the past, and frame transformers have been replaced by toroids, which produce lower noise, a reduced hum field and less interference with adjacent circuits.

The C350 is a discrete design throughout with bipolar output devices, and like other recent NAD amplifiers, the C350 employs a proprietary Impedance Sensing Circuit, which examines the load and optimises itself accordingly. This has a side effect that the amplifier develops an identical 60 watts into both 8 and 4 Ohms. The C350 has impressive dynamic reserves, with a claimed 135, 190 and 240 watts dynamic (peak) power into 8,4 and 2 Ohms respectively, and a peak current capability of 55 amps. The C350's official continuous power rating is 60 watts/channel, though some NAD literature describes it as a 50 watter, and it is equipped with seven relay switched line level inputs, two of which are tape circuits with a dubbing link between them. Discreet LEDs indicate power status, and the selected input.

Standard NAD features, like bypassable tone controls, and Soft Clipping (a form of output limiting designed for high volume use at parties where sound quality is not an issue) have been retained, and so is a removable link between the pre-and power amp. This model even includes a second preamplifier output, which in combination with the first one can be used with gain matched power amplifiers for bi- or tri-amping. The C350 also has potential in multi-room systems thanks to a 12V trigger output which can be used to switch external components with trigger inputs from standby to on, and vice-versa.

SOUND QUALITY

'Overall one of the best of the day' was a typical panel comment, and it was also described as 'thoroughly musical' in one sum-up comment. Another listener felt that the NAD worked particularly well in the two classical pieces, thanks in part to a well-developed sense of imagery in the depth plane. 'Dynamics are not as wide as Marantz PM-6010OSE KI,' noted one, 'but it is more controlled, and it sounds very natural and very listenable'. But he also felt that 'in the long term you might want more - more detail especially'. Another praised the sound of the Ravel piano excerpt in particular, and commented that the NAD was a musical heavyweight - good for Mahler and Shostakovitch, perhaps, less so for the Spice Girls.

The hands-on testing reinforces the picture of a fine, well-balanced amplifier. It is not quite as crisply defined or as detailed as some, and it also has a warm, full bass, but there is no fat here: the bass is well controlled, tuneful and focussed. In addition, the NAD seemed equally capable of good results into most loudspeakers.

CONCLUSIONS

Excellent, all-purpose near budget amplifier offers modest analysis and dynamics, but excellent levels of consistency, tonal accuracy and a general feeling of rightness. At just a whisker short of £300, it rates as a Best Buy.