As the CD Disc format began to fade, NAD chose to introduce the CD player NAD C568. This device, while not compatible with superformats (it only plays CDs and CD-R/-RW discs with MP3 and WMA), offers a significantly broader range of features compared to other music players. The C 568 is equipped with an optical digital output.
Alongside external aesthetic modifications, the internal circuitry was revamped with new, higher-quality components. Most of the updates were aimed at enhancing the device’s capability to play high-resolution formats; these enhancements also positively influenced the playback of standard compact discs. Key upgrades include a new high-precision clock generator that minimizes jitter, the incorporation of the latest generation Wolfson DAC chips in the DAC circuit, and operational amplifiers from the Masters Series. The cumulative effect of these enhancements resulted in a notable improvement and extension of the low-frequency range. While preserving timbre accuracy, the sound’s scale and the depth of the soundstage have been significantly enhanced.
The new external design of the C568 is ideally combined with the C368 amplifier. The player plays CDs and CD-R/W discs, and decodes MP3 and WMA formats recorded on CD-R with a playback time of up to 10 hours. As an additional convenience, the new NAD C568 offers a track, disc or selected track fragment repeat function. It is possible to program the playback sequence with a memory capacity of up to 40 tracks. Most functions are accessible from the remote control (NAD CD-9). The information display on the front panel of the device provides complete information about the track number and playback time.
The NAD C568 has the ability to play tracks from external USB drives with a data transfer rate of up to 384 kbps. On the back panel of the player you can find not only analog RCA connectors, but also digital optical and coaxial outputs for the ability to connect an external DAC. The power supply uses separate power circuits for the analog and digital parts.
Optimistic, articulate, melodious — epithets start to appear in your mind after the first few minutes of listening to the new NAD C568 CD player. Yes, this is their strong point — the school is immediately recognizable. The dynamics are not constrained, but not extreme either. Microdynamics are more interesting. The sound is detailed enough, but at the same time, it is not overloaded with information that has nothing to do with music. On the most complex programs, where there are powerful dynamic contrasts, the player’s tendency to soften the sound is detected, but it handles subtle nuances carefully. The overall tonal balance is also neutral — it does not seem slick (all timbres are in full view), warm or cold. The breadth of the panorama and the integrity of its central part attract attention in the sound stage. The most distant plane is not very expressive (a slight uncertainty of the boundaries of the stereo picture is a problem that occurs with almost every music source priced under $1000), but the foreground is very well developed. Images are endowed with flesh and are correctly maintained in scale – this is what makes the sound of the NAD C 568 realistic.
It is interesting that when playing files from a flash drive in PCM format, the sound character almost does not change compared to CD. But copies in mp3 or WMA, although they win in purity and dynamics over any pocket player, differ even more from the original in musicality. On such a path, the difference is felt immediately.
NAD C568 Specifications
- Analog Output Level: 2.2 ± 0.1 V
- Frequency Response ± 0.3 dB (ref. 0 dB 20 Hz – 1 kHz) ± 0.5 dB (ref. 0 dB 5 kHz – 20 kHz)
- Total Harmonic Distortion < 0.01%
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio 118 dB (ref. 1 kHz)
- Channel Balance ± 0.5 dB (ref. 0 dB 1 kHz)
- Dynamic Range 95 dB
- Channel Separation > 90 dB
- Standby Power Consumption < 0.5 W
- USB
- Output Level 2.2 ± 0.2 V
- Frequency Response ± 1 dB (ref. 0 dB 20 Hz – 16 kHz)
- Total Harmonic Distortion < 0.03% (ref. 0 dB 1 kHz, Audio LPF)
- Signal/noise ratio 118 dB
- Overall dimensions of the device (W x H x D) 435 x 80 x 306 mm
- Net weight 4.9 kg
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