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Features
Specifications

Features

Overview: The NAD C 556 Turntable will make your vinyl record collection sound lush, vibrant and spacious. The secret to a good sounding turntable is to make a rock solid mechanical connection between the platter and the pickup stylus. Any play or vibration will either add resonant coloration (making the smack of a snare drum sound like a thud) or subtract the fine detail that is the primary benefit of well-played vinyl. To achieve this goal NAD uses special materials and techniques. With its minimalist design, NAD's C 556 Turntable offers accurate reproduction of vinyl music by using performance-focused parts and components that put music first.

High Quality Mechanisms: The three mechanisms that make up a turntable are the platter that supports and spins the record; the tone arm, which allows the stylus to accurately track the record; and the cartridge, which transforms the vibrations in the record groove into the electrical signals that are sent to your preamplifier.

• Rigid Platter: The platter of the C 556 uses a special phenolic resin that is pressure cast to create the ideal properties of being both massive and inert. The mass creates a "flywheel effect" that eliminates small, and very unmusical, speed variations called wow and flutter. The mass also rejects unwanted external vibrations, and combined with the extreme hardness of the phenolic material, suppresses vibrations in the audible range. This massive platter requires a precision low friction bearing to allow smooth and stable revolving motion. A special bronze body with a stainless steel ball bearing provides a point-perfect contact with the hardened steel shaft of the platter assembly. This is the ideal design for minimal friction, and a complete elimination of any play or "wobble". The bearing is firmly connected to the rigid and well-damped base that provides a rigid connection to the tone arm. A precision synchronous clock motor keeps the platter spinning at exactly 33 1/3 RPM and its own vibrations are carefully isolated from the platter by a synthetic rubber belt and from the base by rubber isolation mountings.
• Hand-Built Tone Arm: The tone arm must have the lowest possible mass while still maintaining a rigid, vibration-free connection to the record. To achieve this contradictory goal, the C 556 uses a hand-built arm featuring an alloy tube and precision bearings at the gimbal pivot. A simple counter weight balance is combined with a magnetic anti-skate bias control to make for a friction-free pivot that allows the cartridge to operate in an ideal environment.
• Pre-Mounted Cartridge: The pre-mounted Ortofon OM 5e cartridge (MM) is itself a masterpiece of modern engineering. Building on 50 years of cartridge design expertise, and including the latest materials and precision manufacturing techniques, Danish company, Ortofon, has created a cartridge that outperforms some of the most expensive cartridges from the not-too-distant past. The OM 5e (Optimum Mass) features an elliptical diamond stylus that can extract the maximum information from your LPs while tracking flawlessly and exerting only 1.75 grams of tracking force to preserve your precious record collection.

Tailored Speeds: To further reduce speed inconsistencies and wear on the drive belt, you can modify and change the playing speed of your vinyl records. By removing the platter, you can move the belt to either the 33 or 45 rpm wheel of the drive pulley to attain the correct pitch of a musical track.

Attached Output Cable: The NAD C 556 Turntable is fitted with an attached 41" stereo RCA cable. Connect the turntable to the Phono input of your home receiver. If your home receiver is not equipped with a Phono input, you will need to purchase an external phono-preamplifier (such as the NAD's phono-preamps, sold separately).

Dust Cover: The NAD C556 comes supplied with a dust cover to prevent dust build-up on the turntable.

Specifications

Turntable:

• Drive System: Belt drive
• Motor: High torque synchronous motor
• Speed: 33.3 and 45.1 rpm
• Suspension System: 3 energy absorbent synthetic rubber feet

Tone Arm:

• Operation: Manual
• Length: 289mm total length; 244mm pivot to stylus
• Effective Mass: 9 grams
• Overhang: 19.1 mm
• Cable Capacitance: 150-400pF

Electrical Characteristics:

• Recommended Load Resistance: 47 kohms
• Recommended Load Capacitance: 200-600 pF
• Internal Inductance: 450 mH
• Internal Impedance, DC Resistance: 750 ohms

Mechanical Characteristics:

• Cartridge Weight: 5 grams
• Tracking Weight: 1.5 - 2.0 grams (15-20 mN)
• Replacement Stylus Unit: Stylus 5E

Physical Dimensions:

• Dust Cover Down: 17.4375" (w) x 4.5" (h) x 14.25" (d)
• Dust Cover Up: 17.4375" (w) x x 15.875" (h) x 16.75" (d)
• Weight: 15.4 lbs