NAD C328 $700
50×2 Stereo Integrated Amp (2 3/16h, 17 1/8w, 11 1/4d)

C328 is NAD’s most recent introduction in its Hybrid Digital line. With its sleek profile and outrageously high performance, C328 brings this new echelon of NAD technology to its lowest

price point. C328 is the first piece of electronics REALLY worth buying- because it reveals character.

I have compared C328 to a Yamaha AS-501 extensively. I respect Yamaha as a solid, reliable product line. The 501 is indicative of what the field of integrateds has to offer for the general price range.

C328 has significantly better inner detail and air. The 501 is darker, murkier and simply glosses over the midrange definition of music. The transient attack and DELICACY that C328 has is strikingly superior. With C328 you can discern tender CHARACTER differences in pianos, guitars, and most importantly female singers (!). C328 lets you INTO a deeper world of involvement than the big boxers. The same goes for its bigger brothers in the family.

C328 is the least expensive integrated I’ve heard that brings you a marked level improvement from its similarly priced brethren. The fact that it’s TOUGH as well, is just a bonus.

I could make this entry very short and just say, C328 is a C338 without the network capabilities.

But that would be too easy and not enough fun. We’ve had C338 for a couple years, which has the identical preamp and amp within. It’s been stellar!

I can’t brag up enough that NAD integrateds, including C328, are conspicuously over achievers in their power amp sections in particular. While rated at 50×2, it hits peaks of more than double that rating. I need to point out that THE OTHER GUYS barely reach their rated power. NADs are also comfortable into low impedances. It matters, and it matters a LOT.

Take a look at competitors and you’ll see them hedging their stability right on the back panel of their amplifiers! The other guys have high current and low current modes. In their high current mode (which of course sounds better than the low current mode) they warn not to run speakers that are 4 ohms! They say flat out, your speakers have to be 8 ohms. That limits your speaker choice tremendously! What if the speakers you like best ARE four ohms? No go with Yamaguchi.

With NAD, you buy the speakers you like without worrying about their impedance. Further, you can run two pairs of them or, add a subwoofer at line or speaker level without worry.

C328 has the same feature set as C338 EXCEPT that it doesn’t have Wi-Fi/Chromecast. It does have two RCA analog ins, Bluetooth, MM Phono, 2 OPTs, 2 Coax and subwoofer out.

Since many of you will use C328 with small shelf speakers I want to brag up its BASS EQ circuit.

When engaged, BASS EQ adds what is often just the right bump (7dB at 80Hz) to a less than full range speaker, whether tower or shelf model. It is especially useful for us late night listeners where the volume has to be on the light side.

In short, if you want resolving speakers and are pushing your budget to attain them, consider C328 as a high quality, affordable front end solution. With any luck, saving a few pennies with C328 will allow you to allot more money to your speaker purchase!