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Most stereo amplifiers treat a subwoofer as an afterthought: a single output that simply copies the full signal and leaves the sub’s own dial to sort it out. NAD’s new C 359S does better. Alongside a subwoofer output, it has an optional high-pass filter that takes the deepest bass away from your main speakers once a sub is connected. Add Class AB power, BluOS streaming and HDMI eARC, and it’s an interesting option for a 2.1 system that handles both music and TV.
- Stereo integrated amp rated at 70 W per channel into 8 Ω and 120 W into 4 Ω, Class AB.
- Subwoofer output with an optional high-pass filter for the main speakers.
- BluOS streaming and multiroom, HDMI eARC, a phono stage, analogue and optical inputs, Bluetooth aptX HD and a headphone output.
- US$1,299 (CA$1,599) through NAD dealers, according to launch coverage; NAD’s European store lists it at €1,199.
- NAD hasn’t published the high-pass filter’s frequency or slope yet.
Why the high-pass filter matters
Without a high-pass filter, a stereo amp sends the full signal to your speakers, and the sub simply plays underneath them. That works, but the speakers still have to handle the deepest notes they can’t really reproduce, which costs headroom and can muddy the midrange. A high-pass filter sends that bass only to the sub, much as an AV receiver’s “Small” speaker setting does. NAD says this lets the speakers focus on the range they handle best, improving clarity and headroom.
In practice, it turns a stereo system into a properly managed 2.1 system. It’s particularly useful with bookshelf speakers, which run out of bass and distort earlier when pushed. Our crossover finder suggests the right frequency for your speakers. Once NAD publishes the filter details, set the sub’s low-pass to match.
The rest of the package
The C 359S sticks with Class AB amplification, now fed by a switch-mode power supply, where most rivals have moved to Class D. BluOS brings streaming services and multiroom grouping with other BluOS devices; Bluesound added Apple Music to BluOS in October, which makes the platform more useful for iPhone owners. HDMI eARC means it can take sound from your TV, so a 2.1 system built around it covers films as well as music, though there’s no surround decoding.
Building a 2.1 system around it
Pair it with a fast, sealed subwoofer that suits music, such as the SVS SB-1000 Pro. Connect the sub output to the sub’s line input, turn the sub’s own low-pass dial to maximum or bypass if you use the NAD’s high-pass, and set the level so the bass sounds even, not boomy. Then check the timing with our distance and phase calculator, since a stereo amp can’t delay the sub for you. Our best subwoofers for music list has more options.
Our take
On paper, the C 359S is one of the more thoughtful stereo amps for anyone planning to add a subwoofer, and the high-pass filter is a feature we’d like to see on far more amps. We’d want to know the filter’s frequency and slope, and how BluOS handles sub level and timing, before calling it the best choice. Look out for full reviews.