This site uses cookies to provide you with the best possible experience. To learn more please view our Privacy Policy.
For decades, audiophiles have organized their systems with a source component, such as a CD player, along with a preamplifier and a power amplifier driving a pair of speakers. However, times have changed and today many music lovers have replaced their physical media with digital music files. It is for this purpose that the C 510 DirectDigital™ Preamp/DAC was created. Harnessing the power of DirectDigital, the C 510 accentuates all music tracks, delivering a gripping and engaging musical experience when combined with your favourite power amplifier. As a member of the NAD preamp family, the C 510 is a reliable, innovative product for digital audio systems everywhere.
Read more of this product's story
The C 510 Direct Digital™ Preamp/DAC promises to redefine hi-fi separates. For decades, audiophiles have organized their systems with a source component, such as a CD player, along with a preamplifier and a power amplifier driving a pair of speakers. This has recently changed and today, the CD player might be replaced by a computer or dedicated music streamer connected to the Internet or local Network Attached Storage. The best of these are capable of streaming high-res 24-bit studio master recordings, which are now readily available. Thanks to the incredible convenience and stunning sound quality of computer audio, many music lovers have completely replaced all physical media with digital music files. It is for this purpose that the C 510 Direct Digital Preamp/DAC was created.
Unlike a traditional analogue preamplifier, the C 510 Direct Digital Preamp/DAC does not produce any noise or distortion that can obscure detail and limit the performance of many systems. By performing preamp functions like volume and source selection in the digital domain, the C 510 shortens the signal path and opens up new system possibilities. Whether driving your favourite power amplifier or feeding active loudspeakers, the C 510 has the requisite drive and finesse to get the best possible performance.
Built using the incredible processing power and precision of our own Direct Digital™ architecture, the C 510 ushers in a new era of affordability for state-of-the-art performance. The C 510’s dynamic range betters other DACs and preamplifiers by about 20dB. That is a thousand times more accurate! You can hear it in both the precision micro-dynamics and the dead silence of this remarkable device. As the volume level is controlled by mathematics in the digital domain, there is no mechanical or electrical imprecision. Of course, this requires very high resolution, which is provided by the 35-bit architecture of the C 510; even 24-bit files are not truncated until well below the threshold of audibility.
The C 510 includes connectivity for a wide variety of digital sources including an Asynchronous USB Type B port for direct connection to your PC or Mac. Meaning that the C 510 provides the precision clock for the USB data rather than the imprecise clock in the computer, plus it supports sampling rates of up to 24-bit/192kHz. Two HDMI inputs with a video pass through provide a secure encrypted path for High Res Audio, and allow the C 510 to perform a role as a video switcher. The 2-channel PCM audio track that is present on all video programming is stripped from the HDMI input with the video passing untouched to a connected video display. We have also included 3 SPDIF inputs— all 24/192 capable—in Optical, Coaxial and AES/EBU formats.
The analogue output operates in true balanced mode driven by a Class A biased operational amplifier. Both Balanced XLR and single-ended outputs are provided to get the best performance with any amplifier. As with all NAD products, we have taken special care designing the power supply and critical circuit layout to optimize the performance of the premium parts used extensively throughout the C 510. A 12V trigger and RS-232 port allow for system automation interface. Selected input and incoming sample rate are displayed on the front panel display.
As a pure digital device, analogue inputs have not been included. This purity of design and singleness of purpose is in the very best tradition of high-end audio. Like all NAD products, the C 510 Direct Digital™ Preamp/DAC offers exceptional value and a remarkable level of performance. The C 510 is the perfect centrepiece to a cutting edge high-resolution digital audio system.
IMPORTANT – DOWNLOADING ANY SOFTWARE AND/OR PROGRAM, OR DOCUMENTATION ONLINE, INDICATES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS AGREEMENT, YOU MAY NOT DOWNLOAD ANY SOFTWARE AND/OR PROGRAM, OR ONLINE DOCUMENTATION.
NAD Electronics International, a division of Lenbrook Industries Limited (“NAD”) furnishes this software and/or program, and online documentation, licenses their use to you as provided in this Agreement.
Under this Agreement NAD grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicenseable, royalty-free limited license to use the program or online documentation for use solely for the purpose of upgrading NAD Products.
YOU AGREE NOT TO MODIFY, ADAPT, TRANSLATE, REVERSE ENGINEER, DECOMPILE, OR DISASSEMBLE THE PROGRAM OR ONLINE DOCUMENTATION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR IN THIS AGREEMENT OR UPON NAD’S WRITTEN REQUEST. IN ADDITION YOU AGREE NOT TO TRANSFER OR DISCLOSE THE PROGRAM, ONLINE DOCUMENTATION OR ANY PROGRAM YOU DEVELOP FROM THEM IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO ANY THIRD PARTY EXCEPT UPON NAD’S PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL. FINALLY YOU AGREE NOT TO USE THE PROGRAM IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN AS OUTLINED IN THE ONLINE DOCUMENTATION.
This license is effective until terminated. You may terminate it at any time by giving NAD written notice to that effect. NAD may terminate it if you fail to comply with this Agreement by giving you notice. Upon termination you will destroy the program or documentation and all copies you have made of them. In addition upon termination you will have no recourse against NAD for your inability to use the program or accompanying documentation.
The software and documentation are provided “AS IS” and without warranty of any kind and NAD expressly disclaims all other warranties, express or implied. NAD will not be liable for damages, either direct or consequential, arising from the use of this product or from the inability to use this product, even if we have been informed in advance of the possibility of such damages. While we have made every effort to ensure that the Upgrade Software and/or Program, or Documentation operates in the manner described, we do not guarantee operation to be error free. Upgrades, modifications, or repairs to this program or documentation will be strictly at the discretion of NAD. If you encounter problems installing or operating the Upgrade Software and/or Program, or following the Documentation, please contact NAD Electronics at support@nadelectronics.com
Because of the great variety of PC-compatible, operating system versions, and peripherals currently in use, we do not guarantee that you will be able to use Upgrade Software and/or Program successfully on all such systems.
You acknowledge that NAD owns all right, title and interest, including but not limited to all copyrights, trade secrets, and other intellectual property in and to the programs and accompanying documentation.
YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTAND IT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY IT. YOU FURTHER AGREE THAT IT IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND NAD CONCERNING THE PROGRAM AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION AND THAT IT SUPERSEDES ANY DEMONSTRATION, ADVERTISEMENT, PROPOSAL OR PRIOR AGREEMENT, ORAL OR WRITTEN BETWEEN YOU AND NAD OR BETWEEN YOU AND ANY OTHER PARTY RELATING TO THE UPGRADE SOFTWARE AND/OR PROGRAM, AND ONLINE DOCUMENTATION.
Please indicate your acceptance by pressing the I Agree button below.
Please Check your email
to Confirm your Subscription
