NAD C 569 Brings New Digital Technology To Your CD Collection
NAD has announced the C 569, a £749 CD player joining its Classic Series. Due in late November, it sits between the entry-level C 538 and flagship C 589, bringing some of the more expensive model’s digital-processing technology to a lower price.
For anyone building a CD collection, it offers a dedicated source component with its own digital-to-analogue converter, plus the option to use a separate converter later. At this price it represents a substantial part of a starter-system budget, so it is worth understanding exactly what it does and what else you need.
Quick Reference
- Product: NAD C 569 CD player
- Price: £749 / €949 / US$999
- Availability: Expected in late November 2026
- DAC: ESS ES9039Q2M Sabre
- Processing: NAD Dynamic Digital Headroom and QRONO d2a
- Outputs: Stereo RCA analogue, optical and coaxial digital
- Controls: Front-panel buttons, CD-Text display and supplied remote
Two Ways To Connect
The simplest route is to use the analogue outputs to connect the C 569 to a suitable line input on an amplifier. Its built-in DAC converts the information read from the disc into an analogue audio signal, so a separate DAC is not required.
Alternatively, the digital outputs let another component handle that conversion. This could be an external DAC or an amplifier with a compatible digital input. Used this way, the C 569 acts as a CD transport: it reads the disc and passes the digital audio onwards.
The player does not replace the rest of a HiFi system. You will still need amplification and speakers, or compatible powered speakers with suitable connections and volume control.
What The Processing Does
NAD’s Dynamic Digital Headroom, shortened to DDH, tackles a problem called inter-sample clipping. During digital-to-analogue conversion, reconstructed signal peaks can exceed the available headroom, creating distortion. NAD says DDH is designed to prevent this.
The C 569 also uses QRONO d2a, a digital-processing technology from Lenbrook Media Group. NAD says it improves timing and resolution during playback, with support for PCM and MQA-encoded music. Ordinary audio CDs use PCM, so this technology is not restricted to specialist MQA discs.
These are engineering features and manufacturer claims, rather than a listening verdict. They do not change the music recorded on a disc or guarantee that every album will sound better.
Familiar Controls And Album Information
A tray-loading mechanism handles the discs, with an NXP-based servo system controlling tasks such as disc speed and laser tracking. NAD says it has arranged the internal circuitry to reduce unwanted noise and interference.
The display supports CD-Text, allowing it to show album and track information where that information is included on the disc. Front-panel buttons and a supplied remote handle everyday operation.
At 435mm wide, 83mm high and 294mm deep, the C 569 is a full-width HiFi component. Check your shelf space before buying, including room to connect the equipment behind it.
Price And Availability
The NAD C 569 is expected to reach authorised dealers in late November 2026. Announced pricing is £749 in the UK, €949 in Europe and US$999 in the United States.
What The Terms Mean
DAC: Digital-to-analogue converter. It turns digital audio data into the analogue signal used by an amplifier.
CD Transport: The disc-reading part of a system, sending digital audio to a DAC elsewhere.
PCM: Pulse-code modulation, the way ordinary audio CDs represent sound digitally.
Headroom: Extra capacity for signal peaks before a circuit or processing stage reaches its limit.
CD-Text: Album and track information stored on compatible CDs. It is not included on every disc.
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