LEAK Stereo 230 vs NAD C 399 Detailed Comparison

LEAK Stereo 230 vs NAD C 399

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LEAK Stereo 230

Integrated Amplifier | 75 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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NAD C 399

Integrated Amplifier | 180 watts RMS into 8-ohms

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LEAK Stereo 230

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NAD C 399

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LEAK Stereo 230

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NAD C 399

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LEAK Stereo 230 vs NAD C 399 Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Stereo 230 and C 399, two Integrated Amplifiers from LEAK and NAD. Let's have a brief look at the main features of LEAK Stereo 230 and NAD C 399 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	LEAK Stereo 230	NAD C 399
Power	75 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 115 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms	180 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 180 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
Amplifier class	Class A/B	Class D
Built-in DAC	Yes	Yes
Phono input	Yes	Yes
Headphone output	1/4	1/4
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
Weight	12.73kg / 28lbs	11.23kg / 24.7lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	5-3/4" x 12-15/16" x 17-3/8" 147.0mm x 329.0mm x 442.0mm	4-13/16" x 17-1/8" x 16-7/16" 123.0mm x 435.0mm x 418.0mm

What size room are the LEAK Stereo 230 and NAD C 399 Amplifiers good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use these amplifiers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their max power parameters:

Listening Environment	LEAK Stereo 230	NAD C 399
Near-field	Poor	Are you nuts?
Small Room	Average	Bad
Mid-size Room	Good	Poor
Large Room	Average	Good
Very Large Room	Poor	Good

The sections below take each area in turn: power output, inputs and outputs, features and physical size.

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Reasons to choose LEAK Stereo 230 over NAD C 399

MSRP Price(*)	1,695USD vs 1,999USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)	0.003% vs 0.02%	Less Harmonic Distortion
Signal to Noise Ratio	109 dB vs 95 dB	Higher ratings results in cleaner sound
Max Sample Rate	768kHz vs 384kHz	Play higher resolution media
Base Surface Area	1454.2cm²/ 225.4inch² vs 1818.3cm²/ 281.8inch²	takes less space in your room

Reasons to choose NAD C 399 over LEAK Stereo 230

Watts into 8-ohms	180 watts vs 75 watts	Delivers higher power into 8-ohms speakers
Watts into 4-ohms	180 watts vs 115 watts	Delivers higher power into 4-ohms speakers
Optical Digital Inputs	2 vs 1	More options for connecting Digital sources
Coaxial Digital Inputs	2 vs 1	More options for connecting Digital sources
Height	123mm vs 147mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Inputs and Outputs

The input and output selections that are offered is an important factor when comparing two amplifiers. Here you can find how the I/O selections of the LEAK Stereo 230 and NAD C 399 differs from each other.

LEAK Stereo 230 Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
Phono Input
1 Optical Digital Input
1 Coaxial Digital Input
USB Input:
- USB-B (Connects to your Windows or Mac PC)
- USB-A (Update only)
HDMI ARC

NAD C 399 Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
Phono Input
2 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input
USB Input:
- USB-A(Service Only)
HDMI eARC

LEAK Stereo 230 Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
1/4 Headphone Output

Outputs

Stereo RCA, Sub Preamp Outputs
1/4 Headphone Output
Subwoofer Output

NAD C 399 Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

What's in the Box of NAD C 399?

Here are the items that come with the C 399:

Integrated amplifier
6-feet AC power cord
Remote control (SR 9)
2 AA batteries
Antenna
Quick Setup Guide
Important Safety Instructions
Warranty Card