NAD C 389 is an upgradeable integrated stereo amplifier with HDMI eARC built-in

NAD has introduced its C 389 HybridDigital DAC amplifier, which the company describes as: “the perfect cornerstone for an audiophile-grade stereo system combining exceptional sound quality with the flexibility and the long-term value offered by NAD’s latest Modular Design Construction platform, MDC2."

Hifi Choice - 20 July 2022

The C 389’s HybridDigital amp delivers 130 watts of continuous power and it’s been designed to handle any speaker load. 

You’ve got an array of digital and analogue connections to choose from, including a pair of digital optical and coaxial inputs, an ultra-low-noise moving magnet phono stage, two sets of speaker outputs, two subwoofer outputs, preamp outs and a dedicated headphone amp.

Flexible and adaptable

• This amplifier has an HDMI eARC socket so you can hook up a compatible TV and ditch its internal speakers in favour of your own stereo pair.
• Two MDC2 expansion slots on the rear panel provide an element of future-proofing, allowing dedicated modules to be added to the amplifier, opening up new features. 
• Open for new exciting add-ons, such as the MDC2 BluOS-D which connects to your home network via wi-fi or ethernet and taps into the BluOS high-res multi-room streaming platform.
• Also includes Dirac Live room correction to help with system set-up, so your music sounds great anywhere, any time.  

Ideal for vinyl lovers!  

• The C 389 features a precise MM phono section with accurate RIAA equalization, high overload margins, and extremely low noise.
• The phono section incorporates an innovative circuit that suppresses the infrasonic noise that is always present during vinyl playback, without affecting bass performance.

Features & Details

• Customised HybridDigital UcD amplifier in fully balanced bridged configuration
• Continuous Power: 130 Watts per channel into 8/4 ohms
• Instantaneous Power: 210 W into 8 ohms, 300 W into 4 ohms, 350 Watts per channel
• Vanishingly low harmonic and intermodulation distortion
• Nearly unmeasurable noise through the entire audio band
• Dual MDC2 ports for expanded functionality
• Optional MDC2 BluOS-D module adds BluOS Hi-Res multi-room music streaming and Dirac Live room correction
• Jitter-free 32-bit/384kHz ESS Sabre 9028 DAC
• Ultra-low-noise MM phono stage with infrasonic filtering circuitry
• Two optical, two coaxial digital inputs
• HDMI-eARC input
• Two pairs of line-level analogue inputs with ultra-low-noise buffer amplifiers
• Two sets of speaker outputs
• Two-way Qualcomm aptX HD Bluetooth
• Dual subwoofer outputs
• Dedicated headphone amplifier
• CI-Friendly – IR remote, 12V Trigger in/out, IR in/out, RS-232 Serial port
• Seamless integrations with smart home control systems such as Control4, Crestron, RTI, URC, Lutron, and Elan