NAD - C 298 Stereo Power Amplifier
Clean, controlled power for speakers that deserve more grip and space.
When Better Speakers Need a Better Foundation
Good speakers can only do so much when the amplifier runs out of control. Bass softens, imaging flattens, and music starts to feel compressed just when the system should open up.
The right power amplifier does not make itself the centre of attention. It gives the speakers the current, headroom, and stability they need so the whole system sounds less strained.
Purifi-Based Power with NAD Practicality
We chose the NAD C 298 because it brings Purifi Eigentakt amplification into the Classic Series with the flexibility real systems need. It can run as a powerful stereo amplifier, or be bridged into a high-output monoblock when the system grows.
Balanced inputs, single-ended inputs, trigger control, input level adjustment, and line output make it easy to integrate into a clean two-channel setup, a hidden equipment location, or a more ambitious system plan.
What the Specs Won't Tell You
Speakers Feel Less Restricted
The C 298 gives demanding speakers more current and headroom, so music can expand without sounding pushed. That matters most when the room is larger, the speakers dip in impedance, or the volume rises.
Quiet Passages Stay Clean
Power is only useful when noise and distortion stay out of the way. The C 298's low-noise design helps small details remain easier to hear between bigger musical moments.
It Can Grow with the System
Start with one C 298 as a stereo amplifier. If the speakers or room call for more authority later, a second unit can be added and each amplifier can be bridged as a monoblock.
Expert Consensus
Stereophile called the C 298 a transparent, uncoloured, powerful stereo amplifier that can drive most speakers to levels beyond normal domestic listening.
The Absolute Sound highlighted the C 298's imaging, separation, and smooth continuous presentation, noting its ability to place performers with fine left-to-right and front-to-back focus.
EISA recognized the C 298 for its combination of performance, versatility, flexible inputs, signal-sensing operation, and bridge-mode upgrade path.
The Audio Two Verdict
The C 298 is the power amplifier we look at when a system needs more control without changing the character of everything around it. It pairs especially well with the C 658, but it can also serve as a serious upgrade for many preamp-based systems.
If your speakers sound promising but not fully in control, this is the kind of amplifier that can make the system feel more open, more organized, and easier to listen to for longer sessions.
The Industry Take: "The NAD C 298 challenges more expensive amps." — Stereophile
Tech You Can Hear
| What You Hear | Why It Happens |
|---|---|
| Speakers gain grip and dynamic headroom | Purifi Eigentakt amplification |
| Music opens up with less strain | 185W x 2 into 8 ohms and 340W x 2 into 4 ohms |
| A larger system can gain more authority later | 620W x 1 bridge mode into 8 ohms |
| Preamp connections stay clean and flexible | Balanced and single-ended line inputs |
| Hidden systems turn on more easily | 12V trigger and auto turn-on with selectable threshold |
| Multiple amp layouts are easier to manage | Input level control and line output for daisy chaining |
Technical Highlights
- Purifi Eigentakt amplification
- 185W x 2 into 8 ohms
- 340W x 2 into 4 ohms
- 620W x 1 bridge mode into 8 ohms
- Balanced and single-ended line inputs
- Input level control and line output for daisy chaining
- 12V trigger input/output and auto turn-on with selectable threshold
Why Choose Audio Two
Audio Two ships across Canada. That said, a system at this level is worth a conversation before you commit — we can make sure it's the right fit for your room, your source, and how you actually listen. Reach out and we'll help you get it right.