THE future of hi-fi is quite possibly minimal component footprint, and NAD Electronics has been propagating this scenario with its “just add speakers” mantra. The latest NAD offering to follow this dictate is the C 700 BluOS streaming amplifier. It features 80 watts per channel of amplification, and thus, should be able to drive a wide range of speakers, unlike its “D” range compact models. And it takes up less space that the traditional hi-fi component.
The C 700 is housed in a solid aluminium case, with a smooth glass front panel and five-inch high-definition colour display that shows album artwork, track status, and system settings.
“Housed in a compact and modern design, the C 700 was designed with a listener in mind who seeks an uncompromised listening experience with a focus on value. Inside the solid aluminium housing is a powerful HybridDigital UcD amplifier and BluOS Enabled network streamer,” the NAD literature informs us.
“Using the intuitive BluOS app, the ability to cue music from a digital library, or stream from Internet radio and online services like Spotify, Amazon Music HD, Tidal, and Qobuz could not be easier. The C 700 delivers an experience similar to the award-winning Masters Series M10 BluOS streaming amplifier.
“The C 700 has everything needed to play music, by just adding speakers. The BluOS app creates an intuitive way to select music from dozens of different streaming services, Internet radio, or to play music stored on an external drive connected to the C 700’s USB port.
“The highly efficient UcD amplifier design is renowned for ultra-low noise and distortion through the entire frequency range, regardless of the loudspeaker load. Employing NAD’s proven HybridDigital UcD amplifier technology, the C 700 can deliver 2×80 watts of continuous power and 2×120 watts of instantaneous power, for effortless music reproduction.”
The C 700 features two pairs of RCA analogue inputs, as well as coaxial and optical digital inputs, for connecting disc players, game consoles, media adapters, and other components. There’s also a HDMI eARC port for connecting a HDTV with HDMI ARC support. This allows the C 700’s volume setting to be adjusted from the TV’s remote. Two-way aptX HD Bluetooth provides a convenient way to listen to music through wireless headphones, and stream audio from any smart device.
In addition to the audiophile grade speaker outputs, the C 700 has a subwoofer output jack – convenient low and high-pass crossover settings in the BluOS app provide a seamless blend between the subwoofer and main speakers.
The C 700, which starts shipping this month, retails at US$1,499.
What’s old is new again, this being merely a receiver for the hipster age. The only difference between this “just add speakers” wheeze and the just-add-speakers receivers of yesteryear is the even bigger wheeze by the record companies of making paying people Pay for their ‘radio’ in perpetuity by calling it something else (‘streaming’), only with much lower quality than the FM they used to get for free.
And to think that was the company that once bought us the 3020 amplifier…
So you don’t understand streaming at all. Got it