What Hi-Fi? Verdict
An average performance which doesn’t do quite enough to justify the price
Pros
- +
Decent build and spec
- +
plenty of inputs
- +
reasonable detail and decent bass
Cons
- -
Struggles to engage
- -
lacks power, punch and dynamics
- -
hardens at loud volumes
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
On paper, this weighty machine has plenty to shout about. It's another example of NAD's modular design series, with space on the rear of the chassis to slide in a phono module, for example.
You'll also find seven line inputs, two tape loops, a couple of preamp outputs and two sets of speaker outputs. There's a headphone output and connection on the front, too.
The C375BEE packs in plenty of power thanks to a terrifyingly large transformer, with NAD claiming 500 Watts per channel into 2 ohms or a more realistic 150 Watts of continuous power per channel into 4 or 8 ohms.
Lacking in punchand dynamics
And that's what leaves us feeling rather miffed. Kanye West's Love Lockdown provides plenty of bass and some chunky drums for the NAD to get its teeth in to, yet the amp proves surprisingly uninterested in doing just that.
There's decent weight, depth and control to low-end frequencies, and overall insight is reasonable, but there's a lack of punch and dynamics that leaves us far from engaged.
With all that muscle under the lid, this lack of drive is surprising – as is the fact that, when asked to really belt out a tune at loud volume, the amp has a tendency to harden up at the top end and sound cluttered with busier tracks.
This NAD is perfectly listenable, but for £1000 you should expect a little more.
