NAD C160 User manual

• 6 line level inputs incl. 2 Tape in/outputs with dubbing facility
• Switchable MM and MC phono input • 2 line level preamp outputs;
one is variable from 0dB to –12dB • Gold plated in and output sockets
• Pure “Class A” discrete amplifier modules • Independent headphone amplifier
• Bass & Treble control with Tone Defeat switch • Full Remote Control
• “Blue Velvet” Alps motorized volume control • Input switching through
hermetically sealed relays • 12V trigger • NAD Link
With the arrival of the all new NAD Model C160 pre-amplifier you can get
the best of both worlds: Ultimate performance combined with the conven-
ience of remote control. Its outward simplicity belies the sophistication of
the circuitry inside.
Features:
With 6 Line inputs (two of which are Tape In/Out) and a MM/MC phono
input available it’s unlikely you will run out of inputs to connect your
sources to. The C160 is fully remote controlled and comes supplied with
the NAD C Series system remote control. As the C160 has NAD Link, the
remote control will also operate many other NAD products such as CD
players, tuners etc. The headphone socket will drive virtually any non-elec-
trostatic headphones.
It is fashionable to omit tone controls nowadays: However, provided that
the tone controls are properly designed, they can really be a useful tool to
make improvements to the overall sound. The C160 tone controls only
work at the frequency extremes leaving the critical mid-band essentially
unaltered. The tone control circuits can be completely bypassed by using
the tone defeat switch.
For remote on/off switching of ancillary components in a system, such as
power amplifiers or active speakers, the C160 is equipped with a 12V trig-
ger system. When switching the pre-amplifier on, the 12V trigger output is
also activated which in turn can activate a 12V trigger input and switch on
the remote devices.
Unique is the Variable Pre-out 2 facility. Many systems can benefit from the
use of multiple power amplifiers for "Bi-Amping" (using separate power
amplifiers to drive the bass and treble section of a loudspeaker). Many
speakers are all ready set up for this with separate inputs for the low and
high frequency sections. But not all power amplifiers are identical in gain
(amplification factor). With the Variable Pre-out 2 facility differences in
loudness between power amplifiers up to 12dB can be dialed out precisely.
The low output impedance on the Pre-outputs allow the C160 to drive sev-
eral power amplifiers in parallel and/or the use of long interconnect
cables (without the degradation of the performance that can so often
become apparent when long cables are used).
Design:
Following NAD's "Music First" design brief the C160 utilizes completely
new, innovative circuit topology which allows for investment in high speci-
fication, close tolerance components. Metal film resistors, polypropylene
capacitors, hermetically sealed relays and the Alps "Blue Velvet" motorized
volume control are a few examples of this.
Special attention has been paid to the power supply section of the C160.
The toroidal transformer has 4 separate secondary windings followed by 6
main low-noise regulators. From here no less than 6 super low-noise sub-
sidiary regulators and active filters are used to maximize supply rejection
for all sections of the C160 to more than 100dB.
Often other manufacturers disregard the importance of a phono stage. NAD
recognizes the performance potential of a good turntable and has made
sure that the C160 will not be the limiting factor. The MC phono stage is
built pretty much like a small "power amp" so that a wide range of MC car-
tridges can be used while keeping noise very low combined with a high
overload margin. Likewise, the MM phono stage also can cope with a wide
range of cartridges and operates entirely in Class A. The built-in infrasonic
filter filters out unwanted rumble components from the turntable or record
itself but without introducing any significant group delays. To ensure accu-
rate RIAA response the entire circuit uses 1% tolerance metal film resistors
and 2% tolerance capacitors.
Essentially the same circuitry used for the phono circuit is also used for
both the line input and output stage: A modular FET amp operating in Class
A. The line output stage is capable of driving 10V into 600 ohms. This,
combined with the high input impedance of the line input amplifier (500
C160 Stereo Pre-Amplifier

kohms) means that the C160 can be combined with a vast range of
sources and power amplifiers. For the inputs themselves the NAD engi-
neers have opted for using relays rather then using electronic switching
between sources. All input and output sockets are gold plated.
Often it is said that performance and convenience don't go together, but
the NAD Model C160 is the exception to the rule. Despite its reasonable
price the Model C160 deserves to partnered with the finest of ancillary
components.
SPECIFICATIONS - NAD C160
Measured in accordance with EIA Standard RS-490(IHF A-202).
PHONO INPUTS
Input impedance (R and C) MM 47kohm +470pF
MC 100ohm + 1nF
Input sensitivity MM 2.10mV
MC 115uV
Input overload at 20Hz/1kHz/20kHz MM 20mV, 230mV, 2V
MC 1.3mV, 12mV, 110mV
Signal/Noise ratio MM 80dB(1k Source)
(A-weighted with cartridge connected) 77dB (IHF Source)
MC 81dB(10ohm Source)
76dB(100ohm Source)
THD(20Hz-20kHz) and IM distortion
(5V rms at Tape out) MM/MC 0.03%
RIAA response accuracy MM ±0.4dB
MC ±0.4dB
Infrasonic Filter 12dB/Oct,-3dB@10Hz
Line Level Inputs (CD, Video, Tuner, Tape1, Tape2, Aux)
Input impedance (R and C) 500kohm, 320pF
Input sensitivity ref. 0.5V 150mV
Signal/Noise ratio, A-weighted ref. 0.5V >100dB
Frequency response, 20Hz-20kHz Tone Defeat ±0.2dB
Tone In ±0.3dB
Voltage gain(Max Volume) 10.5dB
THD + SMPTE + IHF I.M. at 1V in <0.01%
at 5V in/out <0.03%
Maximum i/p level 20Hz/1k/20k 17V
Line Level Outputs
Output impedance Pre out1 75ohm
Pre out2 (Variable) 350ohm
Tape Source Z +1kohm
Headphones 100ohm
Maximum output level Pre out 15V(IHF Load)
Tape 15V(IHF Load)
Phones 10V(600ohm)
190mV(8ohm)
Controls (Volume Setting @12:00 position)
Treble ±5dB@10kHz
Bass ±5dB@100Hz
Physical Specifications
Dimensions in mm (W x H x D) 435 x 80 x 285mm 17 1/8" x 3 1/8" x 11 1/4"
Net weight 4.8kg 10.6 lbs
Shipping weight 6.0kg 13.2 lbs
NAD reserves the right to change specifications or design at any time without notice. All specifications are those in effect at time of printing.
Printed in Canada.