NAD C 298 Stereo Power Amplifier Owner’s Manual

C 298
Stereo Power Amplifier

Owner’s Manual

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

• Read instructions – All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the product is operated.

• Retain instructions – The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.

• Heed Warnings – All warnings on the product and in the operating instructions should be adhered to.

• Follow Instructions – All operating and use instructions should be followed.

• Cleaning – Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a dry cloth for cleaning.

• Attachments – Do not use attachments not recommended by the product manufacturer as they may cause hazards.

• Water and Moisture – Do not use this product near water for example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, or laundry tub; in a wet basement; or near a swimming pool; and the like.

• Accessories – Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The product may fall, causing serious injury to a child or adult and serious damage to the product. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table recommended by the manufacturer, or sold with the product. Any mounting of the product should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and should use a mounting accessory recommended by the manufacturer.

• Cart – A product and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops, excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and cart combination to overturn.

• Ventilation – Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation to ensure the reliable operation of the product and to protect it from overheating. These openings must not be blocked or covered. The openings should never be blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug, or another similar surface. This product should not be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided or the manufacturer’s instructions have been adhered to.

• Power Sources – This product should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label and connected to a MAINS socket outlet with a protective earthing connection. If you are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your product dealer or local power company.

• Power–Cord Protection – Power-supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the product.

• Mains Plug – Where the mains plug or an appliance coupler is used as the disconnect device, the disconnect device shall remain readily operable.

• Outdoor Antenna Grounding – If an outside antenna or cable system is connected to the product, be sure the antenna or cable system is grounded so as to provide some protection against voltage surges and built-up static charges. Article 810 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, provides information with regard to proper grounding of the mast and supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an antenna discharge unit, size of grounding conductors, location of antenna discharge unit, connection to grounding electrodes, and requirements for the grounding electrode.

• Lightning – For added protection for this product during a lightning storm, or when it is left unattended and unused for long periods of time, unplug it from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cable system. This will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power-line surges.

• Power Lines – An outside antenna system should not be located in the vicinity of overhead power lines or other electric light or power circuits, or where it can fall into such power lines or circuits. When installing an outside antenna system, extreme care should be taken to keep from touching such power lines or circuits as contact with them might be fatal.

• Overloading – Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords, or integral convenience receptacles as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock.

• Flame Sources – No naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the product

• Object and Liquid Entry – Never push objects of any kind into this product through openings as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.

• Headphones – Excessive sound pressure from earphones and headphones can cause hearing loss.

• Damage Requiring Service – Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following conditions:
  – When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged.
  – If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into the product.
  – If the product has been exposed to rain or water.
  – If the product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions as an improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to its normal operation.
  –If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way.
  – When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance this indicates a need for service.

• Replacement Part s – When replacement parts are required, be sure the service
  technician has used replacement parts specified by the manufacturer or have the
  same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substitutions may result in
  fire, electric shock, or other hazards.

• Battery Disposal – When disposing of used batteries, please comply with governmental regulations or environmental public instruction rules that apply in your country or area.

• Safety Check – Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition.

WARNING
THE LIGHTNING FLASH WITH THE ARROWHEAD SYMBOL, WITHIN AN THE EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE, IS INTENDED TO ALERT THE USER TO THE PRESENCE OF UNINSULATED “DANGEROUS VOLTAGE” WITHIN THE PRODUCT’S ENCLOSURE THAT MAY BE OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE
TO CONSTITUTE A RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK TO PERSONS
THE EXCLAMATION POINT WITHIN AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE IS INTENDED TO ALERT THE USER TO THE PRESENCE OF IMPORTANT
OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE (SERVICING) INSTRUCTIONS IN THE LITERATURE ACCOMPANYING THE APPLIANCE.

CAUTION REGARDING PLACEMENT

To maintain proper ventilation, be sure to leave a space around the unit (from the largest outer dimensions including projections) than is equal to, or greater than that shown below.
Left and Right Panels: 10 cm
Rear Panel: 10 cm
Top Panel: 10 cm
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong is provided for your safety. When the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for the replacement of the obsolete outlet.
The apparatus should only be used in moderate climates.

CAUTION

• Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by NAD Electronics for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.
• To prevent electric shock, match wide blade of plug to wide slot, fully insert.
• Marking and rating plates can be found on the rear panel of the apparatus.
• To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture. The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and no objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on the apparatus.
• The mains plug is used as a disconnect device and it should remain readily operable during intended use. In order to disconnect the apparatus from the mains completely, the mains plug should be disconnected from the mains socket outlet completely.
• An appliance with a protective earth terminal should be connected to a mains outlet with a protective earth connection.

RESPONSIBLE PARTY
Lenbrook International
633 Granite Court
Pickering, ON L1W 3K1
Canada
Tel: 1 905 8316555

IF IN DOUBT CONSULT A COMPETENT ELECTRICIAN.
This product is manufactured to comply with the radio interference requirements of EEC DIRECTIVE 2004/108/EC.

NOTES ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
At the end of its useful life, this product must not be disposed of with regular household waste but must be returned to a collection point for the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. The symbol on the product, user’s manual, and packaging point this out. The materials can be reused in accordance with their markings. Through reuse, recycling of raw materials, or other forms of recycling of old products, you are making an important contribution to the protection of our environment. Your local administrative office can advise you of the responsible waste disposal point.

INFORMATION ABOUT COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE BATTERIES (DIRECTIVE 2006/66/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN UNION) (FOR EUROPEAN CUSTOMERS ONLY)

Batteries bearing any of these symbols indicate that they should be treated as “separate collection” and not as municipal waste. It is encouraged that necessary measures are implemented to maximize the separate collection of waste batteries and to minimize the disposal of batteries as mixed municipal waste.
End-users are exhorted not to dispose of waste batteries as unsorted municipal waste. In order to achieve a high level of recycling waste batteries, discard waste batteries separately and properly through an accessible collection point in your vicinity. For more information about the collection and recycling of waste batteries, please contact your local municipality, your waste disposal service, or the point of sale where you purchased the items.
By ensuring compliance and conformance to proper disposal of waste batteries, potential hazardous effects on human health are prevented and the negative impact of batteries and waste batteries on the environment is minimized, thus contributing to the protection, preservation, and quality improvement of the environment.

NAD is a trademark of NAD Electronics International, a division of Lenbrook Industries Limited Copyright 2021, NAD Electronics International, a division of Lenbrook Industries Limited

INTRODUCTION

GETTING STARTED

QUICK START
Refer to the supplied C 298 Quick Setup Guide for basic instructions in setting up your new NAD C 298. The following guidelines must be observed when setting up your C 298.

1. Before setting up or making connections, ensure that the C 298 and other devices to be connected to C 298 are unplugged or powered down.

2. Connect your speakers to the LEFT and RIGHT speaker terminals. Connect the speaker cables to the corresponding speaker terminal connections (R +/-, L +/-) as reflected in the C 298 rear panel. Bare wire or lose strands from the speaker cables must not touch the rear panel or other speaker terminals.

3. Connect the line output terminal of your external sources to the BALANCED and/or SINGLE-ENDED ANALOG AUDIO INPUT ports using applicable connectors.
   IMPORTANT NOTES
   • The blue terminals must never be connected to the ground (earth).
   • Never connect the blue terminals together or to any common ground device.
   • Do not connect the output of this amplifier to any headphone adapter speaker switch or any device that uses a common ground for left and right channels.

4. Connect corresponding end of the mains power cord to the AC mains the input of C 298 and the plug connected to a mains power source.
   WARNING
   For optimal performance, the C 298 requires a grounded AC receptacle or a separate earth ground. Ensure the proper grounding of your system.

5. Maintain default settings of the following control switches’
   • LEFT and RIGHT SELECT towards BALANCED or SINGLE-ENDED (both switches must be of the same setting)
   • INPUT SELECT to FIX
   • AUTO SENSE LEVEL to MID

6. Set the POWER switch at the rear panel to the “ON” setting. The Standby The LED indicator will illuminate amber. Press the front panel STANDBY button to turn ON the C 298. The Standby LED indicator will turn from amber to blue. Your C 298 is now powered up!

SAVE THE PACKAGING
Please save the box and all of the packaging in which your C 298 arrived. Should you move or otherwise need to transport your C 298, this is by far the safest container in which to do so. We’ve seen too many otherwise perfect components damaged in transit for lack of a proper shipping carton, so please: Save that box!

NOTES ON INSTALLATION

• Place your NAD C 298 on a firm, level surface.
• Avoid placing the unit in direct sunlight or near sources of heat and dampness.
• Do not place the unit on a soft surface like a carpet.
• Do not place the C 298 in an enclosed position such as a bookcase or cabinet that may impede the airflow through the ventilation slots. Allow adequate ventilation.
• Make sure the unit is switched off before making any connections.
• The RCA sockets on your C 298 are color-coded for convenience. Red and white are Right and Left audio respectively. Use high-quality leads and sockets for optimum performance and reliability.
• Ensure that leads and sockets are not damaged in any way and all sockets are firmly pushed home.
• Should water get into your C 298, shut off the power to the unit and remove the plug from the AC socket. Has the unit been inspected by a qualified service technician before attempting to use it again?
• Use a dry soft cloth to clean the unit. If necessary, lightly dampen the cloth with soapy water. Do not use solutions containing benzol or other volatile agents.

DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER; THERE ARE NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.

1 STANDBY BUTTON

• Press the Standby button to switch ON the C 298 from standby mode. The Power indicator will change from amber to blue color.
• Pressing the Standby button again switches back C 298 to standby mode. The Power indicator will change from blue to an amber color.
• The Standby button cannot activate the C 298 if the rear panel POWER switch is off.

AUTO STANDBY
The C 298 can be set up to automatically go to standby mode if there is no active input signal for 15 minutes. Auto standby mode can be enabled or disabled by the following steps.
Enable Auto Standby mode
In operating mode, press and hold the front panel Standby button and then release it after more than 15 seconds. The Bridge mode indicator light flashes three times.
Disable Auto Standby mode
In operating mode, press and hold the front panel Standby button and then release it after more than 15 seconds. The Bridge mode indicator light flashes two times.

2 POWER INDICATOR

• This indicator will light up amber when the C 298 is at standby mode.
• When the C 298 is powered up from standby mode, this indicator will change in color from amber to red and finally blue.

IMPORTANT NOTES
For the Standby button to activate, the following must occur:
The supplied power cord from the C 298 must be plugged into a power source.
b The rear panel POWER switch must be set to ON.
3 BRIDGE MODE INDICATOR

• This BRIDGE MODE indicator lights up blue when the Bridge Mode switch at the rear panel is set to ON (MONO).

IDENTIFICATION OF CONTROLS

REAR PANEL

ATTENTION!
Please make sure that the C 298 is powered off or unplugged from the main power source before making any connections. It is also advisable to power down or unplugs all associated components while making or breaking any signal or AC power connections.

1. BALANCED
   • Connect XLR audio source to these connectors. Ensure that proper pin configurations are followed – Pin 1: Ground, Pin 2: Positive (signal live), and Pin 3: Negative (signal return).

2. SELECT
   Use the SELECT switch to choose which audio input will be the active source.
   • Select SINGLE-ENDED audio input by setting the SELECT switch to the right towards the direction of SINGLE ENDED input.
   • Select BALANCED audio input by setting the SELECT switch to the left towards the direction of BALANCED input.

3. SINGLE-ENDED
   • Use a twin RCA-to-RCA lead to connect these sockets to the left and right analog output of a preamplifier, processor or any compatible device.

4. GROUND
   • Ensure that the C 298 is plugged-in to a grounded AC wall outlet.
   • If a separate earth ground is necessary, use this terminal to ground your C

5. The C 298 can be connected to the ground by connecting a ground lead wire or similar to this terminal. After insertion, tighten the terminal to secure the lead.

6. LINE OUT
   • The LINE OUT sockets allow “daisy-chaining” – use more than one amplifier to add speakers to the same channel.
   • Use dual RCA cable to connect LINE OUT to the corresponding analog audio input of compatible devices such as amplifiers, receivers or other applicable devices.

7. INPUT SELECT
   Use the INPUT SELECT switch to manage the audio output level.
   • FIX: Audio output level is fixed. The C 298 becomes like a basic amplifier with an audio output level controlled by an external device.
   • VAR: Audio output level can be adjusted using the INPUT LEVEL control knob.

8. INPUT LEVEL
   With the INPUT SELECT switch set to VAR, the INPUT LEVEL control knob can be used to adjust the audio output level of the C 298.
   • Turn clockwise to increase audio output level; counterclockwise to lower it.
   NOTE
   The INPUT LEVEL is a level trim only and not a full volume control.

9. AUTO-SENSE LEVEL
   Auto Sense features instantaneously turns the C 298 to operating mode from standby mode if it senses a specific input signal level applied to either the BALANCED or SINGLE-ENDED sockets. There are three Auto Sense levels SETTING| INPUT LEVEL
   ---|---
   Low| 0.85 mV
   Mid| 1.7 mV
   High| 3.7 mV

Auto Sense mode can be enabled or disabled by the following steps.
Enable Auto Sense mode
In operating mode, press and hold the front panel Standby button and then release within 10-15 seconds. The Bridge mode indicator light flashes three times.
Disable Auto Sense mode
In operating mode, press and hold the front panel Standby button and then release within 10-15 seconds. The Bridge mode indicator light flashes two times.

9. SERVICE

• Use for servicing purposes only. Not for consumer use.

10. +12V TRIGGER IN/OUT +12V TRIGGER OUT
    • The +12V TRIGGER OUT is used for controlling external equipment equipped with a +12V trigger input.
    • Connect this +12V TRIGGER OUT to the other equipment’s corresponding +12V DC input jack using a mono cable with a 3.5mm male plug.
    • This output will be 12V when the C 298 is ON and 0V when it is either OFF or in standby mode.
    +12V TRIGGER IN
    • With this input triggered by a 12V DC supply, the C 298 can be switched ON remotely from standby mode by compatible devices such as amplifiers, preamplifiers, receivers, etc. If the 12V DC supply is cut off, the C 298 will return to standby mode.
    • Connect this +12V Trigger input to the remote device’s corresponding +12V DC output jack using a mono cable with a 3.5mm male plug. The controlling device must be equipped with a +12V trigger output to use this feature.

11. BRIDGE MODE
    The C 298 amplifier can be configured to be MONO (Bridge Mode), more than doubling its output power. This way, the C 298 can be used as part of a high- power stereo or home-theatre system, by connecting additional power amplifiers.
    • In BRIDGED MODE (switch at ON (MONO) setting), the C 298 will produce approximately 620W into an 8-ohm loudspeaker. In this mode, the amplifier sections will react as though the speaker impedance has been halved. Low impedance speakers (under 8 ohms) are not recommended when using Bridge Mode as these may cause the
    amplifier’s thermal cut-out to operating if played at high levels.
    • Set BRIDGE MODE switch to the “ON (MONO)” position and connect the speaker to the terminals marked “L +” and “R-” ensuring that the “L+” is connected to the “+” terminal of your speaker and the “R-” is connected to the speaker’s “ – ” terminal.
    • Set BRIDGE MODE switch to OFF (Stereo) for normal operation.
    IMPORTANT NOTE
    If C 368 is the signal source, connect only C 368 Right channel PRE OUT to C 298 LEFT input (both C 368 and C 298 in BRIDGE mode). Never use C 368 Left channel PRE OUT to drive C 298 LEFT input.

12. SPEAKERS
    • Connect C 298’s Right speaker terminals marked “R +” and “R-” to the corresponding “+” and “-“ terminals of your designated right speaker. Repeat the same for C 298’s Left speaker terminals and corresponding left speaker.
    • Double check the speaker connections before powering up the C 298.
    IMPORTANT NOTES
    • The blue terminals must never be connected to the ground (earth).
    • Never connect the blue terminals together or to any common ground device.
    • Do not connect the output of this amplifier to any headphone adapter, speaker switch, or any device that uses a common ground for left and right channels.
    NOTES
    • Use 16 gauge (American Wire Gauge or AWG) or lower stranded wire. Connections to the C 298 can be made with banana-type plugs.
    • Bare wire or pins can also be used by loosening the terminal’s plastic nut, making a clean, neat connection, and re-tightening. To minimize the danger of a short circuit, ensure that only 1/2-inch of exposed wire or pin is used to connect and no loose strands of speaker wire.

13. POWER
    • Supplies the AC mains power to the C 298.
    • When the POWER switch is set to ON position, the C 298 goes to standby mode as shown by the amber status condition of the front panel Power indicator.
    • Press the front panel Standby button to switch ON the C 298 from standby mode.
    •If you do not intend to use the C 298 for long periods of time (such as when on vacation), switch off the POWER switch.
    • With POWER switched off, the front panel Standby button cannot activate the C 298.

14. FUSE HOLDER
    • Only qualified NAD service technicians can have access to this fuse holder. Opening this fuse holder may cause damage thus voiding the warranty of your C

16. AC MAINS INPUT
    • The C 298 comes supplied with two separate main power cords. Select the main power cord appropriate for your region.
    • Before connecting the plug to the main power source, ensure that it is firmly connected to the C 298’s AC Mains input socket.
    • Always disconnect the mains power plug from the mains power source before disconnecting the cable from the C 298’s AC Mains input socket.

REFERENCE

SPECIFICATIONS

All specs are measured according to IHF 202 CEA 490-AR-2008 standard. THD is measured using AP AUX 0025 passive filter and AES 17 active filter.

AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS
ANALOG AUDIO INPUT/LINE OUT

ANALOG AUDIO INPUT/SPEAKER OUT

Rated output power into 8 Ohms (Stereo)| 185 W at 8 ohms (ref. 20 Hz-20 kHz at rated THD, both channels driven)
---|---
Rated output power into 4 ohms (Stereo)| 340 W at 4 ohms (ref. 20 Hz-20 kHz at rated THD, both channels driven)
Rated output power into 8 Ohms (bridge mode)| 620 W at 8 ohms (ref. 20 Hz-20 kHz at rated THD, both channels driven)
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz)| <0.005 % (1 W to 185 W, 8 ohms, and 4 ohms)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio| >98 dB (A-weighted, 500 mV input, ref. 1 W out in 8 ohms)
| >120 dB (A-weighted, ref. 185 W out in 8 ohms)
Clipping power (Stereo mode, at 1 kHz 0.1 % THD)| >200 W
Clipping power (Bridge mode, at 1 kHz 0.1 % THD)| >690 W
IHF dynamic power (Stereo mode, at 1 kHz 1 % THD)| 8 ohms: 260 W
| 4 ohms:  490 W
| 2 ohms:  570 W
IHF dynamic power (Bridge mode, at 1 kHz 1 % THD)| 8 ohms: 1000 W
| 4 ohms:  1100 W
Peak output current| >25 A (in 1 ohm, 1 ms)
Damping factor| >800 (ref. 8 ohms 20 Hz – 6.5 kHz)
Frequency response| ±0.2 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
| -3 dB at 60 kHz
Channel separation| >100 dB (1 kHz)
| >80 dB (10 kHz)
Stereo Mode input sensitivity (for 185 W in 8 ohms)| Fixed Gain mode: 1.43 V
Stereo Mode Gain – Line In – Balanced and Single-ended| Fixed Gain mode: 28.6 dB
| Variable Gain mode: 8.5 dB – 28.5 dB
Bridge Mode Sensitivity – Line In – Balanced and Single-ended| Fixed Gain mode: 3.78 V for 620 W in 8 ohms
| Variable Gain mode at maximum: 1.41 V for 620 W in 8 ohms
Bridge Mode Gain – Line In – Balanced and Single-ended| Fixed Gain mode: 25.4 dB
| Variable Gain mode: 14.5 dB – 34.5 dB
Standby power| <0.5 W

DIMENSION AND WEIGHT

• – Gross dimension includes feet and extended rear panel terminals.
  Specifications are subject to change without notice. Check out www.NADelectronics.com for updated documentation or the latest information about C 298.

www.NADelectronics.com
©2021 NAD ELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL
A DIVISION OF LENBROOK INDUSTRIES LIMITED
All rights reserved. NAD and the NAD logo are trademarks of NAD Electronics International, a division of Lenbrook Industries Limited.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form without the written permission of NAD Electronics International.
While every effort has been made to ensure the contents are accurate at the time of publication, features and specifications may be subject to change without prior notice.
C298-OM-EN-V05 – JAN 2021

References

• NAD Electronics | High Performance Hi-Fi and Home Theatre

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