NAD has a distinguished reputation for creating exceptional amplifiers. Its lineage includes models such as the 3020 from 1978 and today's C 328, with numerous awards and five-star reviews. The C 316BEE competes admirably, with accolades like the EISA award for "Best Product 2008-2009" and top recommendations from international audio magazines and websites.

With the resurgence of vinyl, NAD has updated the design of the C 316, adding its highly acclaimed phono stage. This complex circuit combines low noise with high gain margins, eliminating noise and distortion. The RIAA equalization is extremely accurate, and it also features an infrasonic filter to prevent interference that could cause parasitic feedback.