NAD C 338 vs NAD C 388 BluOS-2i Detailed Comparison

NAD C 338 vs NAD C 388 BluOS-2i

Amp to replace

Change

NAD C 338

Integrated Amplifier | 50 watts RMS into 8-ohms

Check price atAmazon›

Change

NAD C 388 BluOS-2i

Integrated Amplifier | 150 watts RMS into 8-ohms

Check price atAmazon›

NAD C 338

Check price atAmazon›

NAD C 388 BluOS-2i

Check price atAmazon›

NAD C 338

See at AMAZON

NAD C 388 BluOS-2i

See at AMAZON

NAD C 338 vs NAD C 388 BluOS-2i Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing C 338 and C 388 BluOS-2i, two Integrated Amplifiers by NAD. Let's have a brief look at the main features of NAD C 338 and NAD C 388 BluOS-2i first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	NAD C 338	NAD C 388 BluOS-2i
Power	50 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 50 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms	150 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 150 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
Amplifier class	Class D	Class D
Damping factor	300	—
Built-in DAC	Yes	Yes
Phono input	Yes	Yes
Headphone output	1/4	1/4
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
Weight	4.86kg / 10.7lbs	11.25kg / 24.8lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	2-13/16" x 17-1/8" x 12-3/16" 72.0mm x 435.0mm x 310.0mm	4-3/4" x 17-1/8" x 16-5/8" 121.0mm x 435.0mm x 423.0mm

What size room are the NAD C 338 and NAD C 388 BluOS-2i 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	NAD C 338	NAD C 388 BluOS-2i
Near-field	Average	Are you nuts?
Small Room	Good	Bad
Mid-size Room	Average	Poor
Large Room	Poor	Good
Very Large Room	Bad	Good

C 338 and C 388 BluOS-2i are members of NAD's Classic series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

NAD Classic Series History

Model	Watts RMS (8-ohms)	Minimum Impedance	Built-in DAC
NAD C316BEE V2	40 watts	4-ohms	No
NAD C 389	130 watts	4-ohms	Yes
NAD C 399	180 watts	4-ohms	Yes
NAD C 388	150 watts	4-ohms	Yes
NAD C 368	80 watts	4-ohms	Yes
NAD C 328	40 watts	4-ohms	Yes
NAD C 368 BluOS-2i	80 watts	4-ohms	Yes
NAD C 700	80 watts	4-ohms	Yes
NAD C 338	50 watts	4-ohms	Yes
NAD C 3050	100 watts	4-ohms	Yes

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

**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose NAD C 338 over NAD C 388 BluOS-2i

MSRP Price(*)	799USD vs 2,049USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Signal to Noise Ratio	98 dB vs 95 dB	Higher ratings results in cleaner sound
Built-in Chromecast	Yes vs No	Compatible with Chromecast Streaming
Built-in Chromecast	Yes vs No	Compatible with Chromecast Streaming
Base Surface Area	1348.5cm²/ 209.0inch² vs 1840.1cm²/ 285.2inch²	takes less space in your room
Height	72mm vs 121mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Reasons to choose NAD C 388 BluOS-2i over NAD C 338

Watts into 8-ohms	150 watts vs 50 watts	Delivers higher power into 8-ohms speakers
Watts into 4-ohms	150 watts vs 50 watts	Delivers higher power into 4-ohms speakers
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)	0.009% vs 0.03%	Less Harmonic Distortion
Apple AirPlay	Yes vs No	Compatible with Apple Devices with AirPlay
Apple AirPlay 2	Yes vs No	Compatible with Apple Devices with AirPlay 2
Roon	Ready vs No	Roon Compatibility
BluOS	Yes vs No	Compatible with BluOS Wireless Ecosystem

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 NAD C 338 and NAD C 388 BluOS-2i differs from each other.

NAD C 338 Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
Phono Input
2 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input

NAD C 388 BluOS-2i Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
Phono Input
2 Optical Digital Input
2 Coaxial Digital Input
Ethernet Port

NAD C 338 Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

Outputs

Sub Preamp Outputs
1/4 Headphone Output
Subwoofer Output

Outputs

Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
1/4 Headphone Output

NAD C 388 BluOS-2i Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

What's in the Box of NAD C 338?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of C 338:

Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier
6-feet AC power cord
2 WiFi antennas
Bluetooth antenna
Remote control (Amp 3)
CR2025 3V battery
Quick Setup Guide
Chromecast Built-in installation instructions
Warranty Information
-inchAttention-inch note

What's in the Box of NAD C 388 BluOS-2i?

Here are the items that come with the C 388 BluOS-2i:

Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier
6-feet AC power cord
MDC BluOS 2i module (pre-installed)
2 Antennas
Remote control (SR 9)
2 AA batteries
USB/WiFi dongle
Antenna
41-inch USB extension cable
Quick Setup Guide
Mounting Instructions
Warranty Information