About the NAD C 165BEE
The NAD C 165BEE offers many of the performance advantages of far costlier stereo preamplifiers — detail resolution, bass control, and extension — for a price that won't break the bank. Its premium-grade circuitry and sturdy construction deliver realistic, lifelike sound that puts the musicians right in your room. This preamp also includes a versatile phono stage so you can enjoy your music collection on vinyl, and a top-notch headphone amplifier for high-quality private listening. Match it up with NAD's potent C 275BEE power amp and a high-performance NAD CD player to create a beautiful-sounding stereo system.
The NAD C 165BEE offers many of the performance advantages of far costlier stereo preamplifiers — detail resolution, bass control, and extension — for a price that won't break the bank. Its premium-grade circuitry and sturdy construction deliver realistic, lifelike sound that puts the musicians right in your room. This preamp also includes a versatile phono stage so you can enjoy your music collection on vinyl, and a top-notch headphone amplifier for high-quality private listening. Match it up with NAD's potent C 275BEE power amp and a high-performance NAD CD player to create a beautiful-sounding stereo system.
Advanced design and top-notch construction for better sound
Thoughtful engineering and high-quality construction are hallmarks of NAD audio components. The C 165BEE's sophisticated circuit design uses the shortest, cleanest signal paths possible for noise-free operation. This also helps preserve the lowest-levels of musical detail for sound that remains remarkably pure and transparent. A heavy-gauge steel chassis adds to the C 165BEE's durability and vibration resistance. NAD even employed an interference-canceling toroidal transformer in the preamp's power supply for punchy, dynamic performance.
Connections and convenience
This preamp offers enough inputs to connect seven audio components, including your turntable. Two preamp outputs let you use the C 165BEE to drive two independent power amplifiers. A mono subwoofer output makes it easy add a powered sub. And the included remote gives you easy control of the preamp, and the other NAD audio components in your system.
Product highlights:
- 6 line-level RCA inputs, including 1 tape monitor loop
- phono input with selectable moving magnet or moving coil settings
- 2 line-level RCA preamp outputs, including one variable output
- 1 line-level RCA subwoofer preamp output (for connecting a powered sub)
- frequency response: 3-70,000 Hz (-3dB)
- signal-to-noise ratio: 108 dB
- phono signal-to-noise ratio: 78 dB
- phono input sensitivity: 14 mV (moving magnet), 0.8 mV (moving coil)
- separate resistive and capacitive loading for MM and MC inputs for precise frequency with different phono cartridges
- toroidal power transformer
- rotary bass and treble controls with defeat switch for tone control bypass
- full-size headphone jack with independent, built-in headphone amplifier
- 12-volt trigger output
- IR input/output
- detachable AC power cord
- 2 AC convenience outlets (one switched, one unswitched)
- <1W Standby Power Consumption
- free of lead and other environmentally dangerous substances
- remote control
- 17-1/8"W x 3-7/8"H x 14-1/8"D
- Crutchfield's in-house depth measurements are made with all relevant cables in place
- warranty: 2 years
- Our 60-day money-back guarantee
- MFR # C165BEE
What's in the box:
- Stereo Preamplifier
- 6' Power cord
- Wireless remote control (SR 8)
- 2 "AA" batteries
- 4' RCA patch cord
- Owner's manual (English/ French/ Spanish/ Italian/ German/ Dutch/ Swedish/ Russian)
- Warranty information
Reviews
Customer reviews
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NAD C 165BEE reviews
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More details on the NAD C 165BEE
Researched by Crutchfield's Stacey B.
Features & specs
| Inputs | ||
|---|---|---|
| RCA Inputs | 6 | |
| XLR Inputs | 0 | |
| 3.5mm Inputs | 0 | |
| Phono Inputs | 2 | |
| Phono Input Type | Moving Magnet/Moving Coil | |
| Optical Digital Inputs | 0 | |
| Coaxial Digital Inputs | 0 | |
| Digital XLR Inputs | 0 | |
| USB Type A | 0 | |
| USB Type B | 0 | |
| Ethernet Port | No | |
| Outputs | ||
| RCA Outputs | 2 | |
| XLR Outputs | 0 | |
| Optical Digital Outputs | 0 | |
| Coaxial Digital Outputs | 0 | |
| Digital XLR Outputs | 0 | |
| Subwoofer Outputs | 1 | |
| Discrete Sub Outs | No | |
| Headphone Output | No | |
| Audio Features & Specs | ||
| Frequency Response | 20-20k | |
| S/N Ratio (Phono) | 78 | |
| S/N Ratio (Line) | 108 | |
| THD | 0.001 | |
| DAC Bit Depth | N/A | |
| DAC Sample Rate | N/A | |
| Home Theater Bypass | No | |
| Wireless Features | ||
| Bluetooth | N | |
| Bluetooth Formats Supported | N/A | |
| Wi-Fi | N/A | |
| Frequency Bands | N/A | |
| Ecosystems | ||
| Apple AirPlay | No | |
| DTS Play-Fi | No | |
| Chromecast built-in | No | |
| Roon | No | |
| HEOS | No | |
| MusicCast | No | |
| BluOS | No | |
| Music Services | ||
| Amazon Music | No | |
| Apple Music | No | |
| Pandora | No | |
| Qobuz | No | |
| SiriusXM | No | |
| Spotify | No | |
| Tidal | No | |
| TuneIn | No | |
| YouTube Music | No | |
| Control | ||
| Apple Control App | No | |
| Android Control App | No | |
| Amazon Alexa | No | |
| Google Assistant | No | |
| 12 Volt Trigger | Out | |
| IR Control | In/Out | |
| RS-232 | No | |
| Other Specs | ||
| Width (Inches) | 17.125 | |
| Height (Inches) | 3.855 | |
| Depth (Inches) | 14.08 | |
| Parts Warranty | 2 Years | |
| Labor Warranty | 2 Years | |
Product Research
Features
Controls
Connections
Specifications
Features
Tape Monitor: If you own a 3-head tape deck, the tape monitor loop allows you to monitor recording quality as the recording is made.
Phono Input: The phono input has two sets of stereo RCA jacks; one for moving coil and one for moving magnet cartridges (only one or the other is used, not both). There is also a ground terminal.
Dual Preamp Outputs: The second set of preamp outputs is convenient for bi-amping speakers.
Subwoofer: The single RCA subwoofer output is crossed over at 100 Hz.
Remote Control: The SR 8 wireless remote will control the C 165BEE and NAD CD players and Tuners.
Controls
Front Panel:
- Input: six individual buttons to select input (Phono, CD, Tuner, MP, Aux, and Tape 2)
- Tape Monitor: engage/disengage the tape monitor loop
- Tone Defeat: bypass the bass and treble controls
- Bass: rotary bass adjustment; +/-5dB @ 100Hz
- Treble: rotary treble adjustment; +/-5dB @ 10kHz
- Balance: rotary left/right balance
- Volume: rotary volume control
Rear Panel:
- Power: master power switch
- Volume: rotary dial; adjusts volume of Pre Out 2 (relative to Pre Out 1)
- MM/MC: select moving magnet or moving coil phono input
- MC Load: choose the resistive load that most closely approximates the value of your specific MC cartridge
- MM Load: choose the input capacitance optimized for your specific MM cartridge
Connections
Rear Panel:
- Phono Inputs: stereo RCA inputs for moving magnet and moving coil cartridges
- Phono Ground: ground terminal for the turntable input
- Line Inputs: stereo RCA input jacks for CD, Tuner, MP (Media Player), Aux, Tape 2, and Tape Monitor
- Record Outputs: stereo RCA output jacks for Tape 2 and Tape Monitor
- Pre Out 1: stereo RCA preamp outputs
- Pre Out 2: stereo RCA outputs for feeding another amplifier, a rotary dial beside the outputs adjusts the volume relative to the Pre Out 1 jacks
- Subwoofer: single RCA preamp output
- IR In: 3.5mm mini-jack input, used to control this unit using an optional infrared repeater or the IR output of another component
- IR Out: 3.5mm mini-jack output, used to control another NAD component
- 12 Volt Trigger Out: turn on/off another device along with the C 165BEE; the +12 volt trigger output is a 3.5mm mini-jack; the maximum output is 50 mA
- AC Input: 2-pole IEC power input for use with included cord (or optional upgraded cord)
- AC Output:
- Switched: 120 watts max
- Unswitched: 360 watts max
Front Panel:
- Headphone: Standard 1/4" headphone jack
Specifications
- THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): <0.001% (20 Hz - 20k Hz, 2 volt output)
- Signal/Noise:
- >108 dB (ref 500 mV in/500 mV out)
- >106 dB (ref 2 volt out, maximum volume)
- Frequency response:
- +/- 0.1 dB: 20 Hz-20 kHz (tone defeat on)
- +/- 0.5 dB: 20 Hz-20 kHz (tone defeat off)
- Preamp output impedance: 75 Ω
- Line input impedance: 100 kΩ + 320 pF
- Line input sensitivity: 158 mV (ref 500 mV output)
- Headphone output impedance: 10 Ω
- Maximum input signal: >9 volts
- Maximum output level:
- Preamp: >10 volts into 600 Ω
- Tape out: >10 volts into 10 kΩ
- Sub out: >7 volts into 1 kΩ
- Headphones: >5 volts into 600 Ω/>2 volts into 32 Ω
- Channel separation: >80 dB (ref 1 kHz and 10 kHz)
- Phono input:
- Impedance:
- MC: 40,100.6 kΩ + 1 nF
- MM: 47 kΩ + 220 kF
- Input sensitivity:
- MC: 0.15 mV (1 kHz, 500 mV output)
- MM: 2.63 mV (1 kHz, 500 mV output)
- Signal/Noise:
- MC: >78 dB
- MM: >86 dB
- Infrasonic filter: -3 dB at 10 Hz, -14 dB at 5 Hz
- Channel Separation: >60 dB (1 kHz, 10 kHz)
- Impedance:
- Tone control:
- Bass: +/-5dB @ 100Hz
- Treble: +/-5dB @ 10kHz
- Power Requirement: AC 120V 60Hz
- Power Consumption:
- Normal Operation: 21W
- Standby: <0.8W
- Weight: 13.23 lbs (6 kg)
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Customer Q&A
11 questions already asked
Q
Can I use the Ashly KLR 3200 with my NAD C162 preamp to power my Klipsch Cornwall speakers for home listening?
[ STEPHEN Sep 04, 2022 ]
1 answer
A
This should be possible using an dual RCA to 1/4" TS adapter. Our advisors are happy to with picking the accessories you need. Please give us a call at 1-800-324-9695.
[ ZACHARY Sep 04, 2022 ] Staff
Q
Can the bass & treble be adjusted using the remote control?
[ DAN May 13, 2022 ]
3 answers
A
Not as far as I can tell. But what a nice piece of equipment.
[ JERRY May 14, 2022 ]
A
No. What the remote does is to switch between tone defeat (a flat response, blue light on) and tone enabled (blue light off). When enabled, you have to manually adjust the bass & treble knobs. Once you have adjusted the tone controls where you like them, you simply switch between the two modes via the remote.
[ MICHAEL May 13, 2022 ]
A
There is a "Tone DFT" button which presumably will defeat an altered bass or treble and take the preamp back to flat. The remote does not have individual bass and treble controls.
[ JAMES May 13, 2022 ]
Q
I have willsenton r8 integrated tube amp.Can this nad improved my base/bass I'm looking to improve it more the willsenton do have but I want a bit more?
[ CARLOS Apr 30, 2022 ]
6 answers
A
I owned a Harmon/Kardon 730 twin powered receiver unit prior to buying my NAD component units but I've never felt receivers or amps improving bass - I have an Equalizer from the 80's which I use specifically for my NAD amp and it gives me more punch with bass and high treble - it seems like Equalizers are hard to find now and not manufactured - so this would be my answer to this question
[ RICHARD May 15, 2022 ]
A
I don't know if the NAD will increaae bass response but maybe, just MAYBE, inserting an equalizer betwee the NAD (or another pre-amp) and the Willsenton pre-in might help.
[ GREGORY May 02, 2022 ]
A
My 165 drives a nad 268 , lots of bass thru my klipsh horns, you might try a new amp instead of preamp
[ REIN Apr 30, 2022 ]
A
Hi, Carlos,
What speakers are you driving with the R8? I would advise that you look into bass response of the speakers first- even some top-rated speakers are a little thin at the bottom end for some listeners and/or music styles. If you don't already have a subwoofer, a good sub might be the answer for you. I'm very happy with the NAD preamp, but you might have a solid preamp in the R8 already, and be needing to spend the price of a good preamp at the other end of your system instead. Hope this is helpful.
-Mike
[ Michael S. Apr 30, 2022 ]
A
This unit replaced a 43 yr old Phase Linear 4000 Series 2 pre-amp that was connected to a Carver 4.0t amp driving a pair of Altec 811B/416 speakers in 8 cu ft enclosures. The Phase had more base but also had a built in base equalization giving 8db boost @50hz, in addition to the normal base control. I always left the base boost on hence more bass. (The Caver was $795 back in 1978) Your amp set up indicates you are also seriously concerned with bass quality. The NAD, with the carver,seems to open up the base register. Bass violins tend to sound more as individual instruments rather than just a single large instrument. I've been playing around with audio since I was 15 yrs old (1961), and one thing I have learned is the importance of speaker placement. I would try experimenting with speaker location first. I would then call Crutchfield for their advice. They have a 60day satisfaction policy and an extensive selection of high end pre-amps that your taste and set up deserves
[ ROBERT Apr 30, 2022 ]
A
The NAD preamp is designed to produce a very flat response curve.
You can boost the bass using the tone control but I don't think this will solve your problem.
You need a subwoofer.
[ EDWARD Apr 30, 2022 ]
Q
NAD C 165BEE can I plug in a Smart TV into this preamp and listen to my tv through my sound system?
[ PAUL T Aug 30, 2021 ]
7 answers
A
You can not directly connect unless your smart TV has RCA output jacks, which most new models do not. If your TV comes with Toslink, coaxial, or USB outs, you can run those to a DAC that is equipped with RCA outs. This will be an improvement to sound quality as well. There are many DAC's to choose from, but for a modest price, I suggest the Cambridge DAC Magic 100. Your sweet NAD pre amp will do the rest. I also suggest using this DAC with your other line source components, as you will enjoy the sonic improvements, and your friends will marvel at your awesome set up.
[ JEFF Aug 30, 2021 ]
A
Yes, one way is patch through the headphone output into the AUX stereo input on the 165.
[ Fred Aug 30, 2021 ]
A
You should be able to depending on your TV. I have to use the Optical Digital Audio Output from my LG to a DAC (Digital Audio Converter) and then use audio cables from that to the AUX input on the preamp. Audio cable and DAC are relatively cheap depending on your budget. My setup works great for me.
[ TIMOTHY Aug 30, 2021 ]
A
I don't know for sure on a smart t.v. but I plugged a regular t.v. into one of the non phono inlet and it does work for that.
[ GREGORY Aug 30, 2021 ]
A
Yes if the tv has a pair of analog audio outputs (left & right). Plug into the aux or any of the other inputs except the two phono inputs.
[ PAUL A. Aug 30, 2021 ]
A
I believe so assuming there is an audio-out on your TV, which I'm sure there is. If the TV has RCA for audio out, you can go straight into one of the unused inputs of the preamp, such as Aux or one of the Tape-in. If the TV only has optical audio out, you might need a D/A converter in the middle.
[ JOHN Aug 30, 2021 ]
A
Yes you can listen to audio out from the smart tv to aux in on the preamp. I have an LG and you have to toggle the audio setting for audio out. I have mini headphone jack on the tv with a patch cord to left and right RCA connectors to the aux jacks on preamp.
[ RICHARD Aug 30, 2021 ]
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Cleaned up my system without having to spend a lot of money. Noticed a deeper, cleaner bass, mid-range, and brighter treble. Noticed things on my CD's that I hadn't heard before. Subtle, but noticeable. This replaces a carver C-1. Unit pairs nicely with my Sony ES disc player and Mac7270.
HowardS from Seattle,WA.