C 588

NAD is well known for innovative, high performance, yet affordable, turntables. While the basic operation of a turntable seems simple, extracting all the musical energy from the record grooves without exciting destructive resonances requires both science and art. Let’s take a closer look at each of the elements of the C 588 with an explanation of the choices we made.

FEATURES & DETAILS

• Belt Driven Turntable 33/45
• 10mm Glass Plater with Felt Pad
• Precision Alloy Sub Platter
• Precision AC Motor
• Isolated AC Power Supply with Universal Voltage
• 9” Carbon Fibre Tonearm with Fixed Head Shell
• Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge Preinstalled
• Vertical Tracking Angle and Azimuth Adjustment
• Rigid MDF Plinth
• Metal Feet with Tuned Isolation
• Low Resonance Dustcover
• Detachable High Quality RCA Cable with separate Ground

TONEARM AND CARTRIDGE

The C 588 features a custom designed carbon fiber tonearm shaft with a fixed metal head shell and features a decoupled counterweight and magnetic anti-skate compensation. An Ortofon 2M Red cartridge is factory installed and offers superb tracking and a delicately nuanced full range sound. The C 588 uses a longer than usual 9” tonearm to optimize overhang and reduce the tracking angle error. To perfectly align the stylus we include adjustments for azimuth and vertical tracking angle, and include a gauge to calibrate the alignment, a rarity at this price point.

CLOSING THE TRIANGLE

To fully realize the micro-dynamics of music requires a very tight mechanical coupling of the platter and the tonearm. This forms a triangle, as vibrations can travel from record being played, to the platter, through the shaft and bearing to the base (plinth), up the arm mount through the arm pivot and down the arm to the cartridge and stylus. There are many separate parts in this path and some of them are required move relative to one another through mechanical bearing interfaces. If there is any play in these mechanical interfaces musical energy will be lost. This why NAD has paid strict attention to precision machining, assembly, and testing that is so important in a turntable.

RESONANCE CONTROL AND ISOLATION

Reducing all spurious vibrations to a minimum is critical to getting the best result when playing vinyl. Since these vibrations can come from various sources, both internal and external, the materials and dimensions must all be carefully calculated reduce and balance all the resonances to prevent a buildup of energy at particular frequencies. To isolate external vibrations from the loudspeakers or footfalls bouncing the floor, we use a massive MDF base with specially tuned vibration damping feet, along with a thick non-resonant dust cover. The choice of glass platter, felt pad, MDF base, and carbon fiber tonearm, were carefully considered to work together to limit and reduce spurious vibration.