Audio Fix / setup help

NAD C 389 / NAD C 399: reveal Bass and Treble hidden by Tone Control Off

Reveal Bass and Treble hidden by Tone Control Off. Exact C 389 or C 399 with otherwise working playback. Bass/Treble controls are absent and the owner agrees to enable tone processing while preserving the current values and a low listening level.

Manufacturer-documented Reviewed 2026-11-10 · Revision 1

Follow these checks in Audio Fix →

When this guide applies

Exact C 389 or C 399 with otherwise working playback. Bass/Treble controls are absent and the owner agrees to enable tone processing while preserving the current values and a low listening level.

Connection scope: Device controls / power only. Symptom: An option or codec is missing.

This is a documented check, not a diagnosis of your equipment. The model name does not confirm the selected input, mode, software or connected partner.

If your exact model or a required setting is unknown, use the “I don’t know” branch below. Do not apply a similarly named model’s instructions.

Checks and possible outcomes

Start at scope. Follow the link that matches what you actually observe. Alternative branches are not a single sequence of actions.

scope

Confirm the exact setup

Exact C 389 or C 399 with otherwise working playback. Bass/Treble controls are absent and the owner agrees to enable tone processing while preserving the current values and a low listening level.

Look for: Continue only when all stated prerequisites are known.

  • Manufacturer-documented NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 — original manufacturer instructions ↗Owner manuals p.14, Tone Control — Tone Control Off bypasses the tone controls and hides Bass/Treble; On makes those controls available. Balance remains a separate setting.Only NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 and the stated connection role. Unknown hardware options, partner compatibility or menu state must stop. · Source checked 2026-11-10
  • Manufacturer-documented NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 — original manufacturer instructions ↗Owner manuals p.14, Tone Control — Tone Control Off bypasses the tone controls and hides Bass/Treble; On makes those controls available. Balance remains a separate setting.Only NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 and the stated connection role. Unknown hardware options, partner compatibility or menu state must stop. · Source checked 2026-11-10

a1

Read the bypass state

Open Settings > Tone Control. Off removes Bass and Treble from the settings menu, according to both manuals; an absent control in this state is not a broken display.

Look for: Tone Control is explicitly Off.

  • Manufacturer-documented NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 — original manufacturer instructions ↗Owner manuals p.14, Tone Control — Tone Control Off bypasses the tone controls and hides Bass/Treble; On makes those controls available. Balance remains a separate setting.Only NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 and the stated connection role. Unknown hardware options, partner compatibility or menu state must stop. · Source checked 2026-11-10
  • Manufacturer-documented NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 — original manufacturer instructions ↗Owner manuals p.14, Tone Control — Tone Control Off bypasses the tone controls and hides Bass/Treble; On makes those controls available. Balance remains a separate setting.Only NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 and the stated connection role. Unknown hardware options, partner compatibility or menu state must stop. · Source checked 2026-11-10

a2

Enable only the intended processing

Record the existing state and select On if the owner wants tone adjustment. Enabling it can activate saved Bass/Treble values; keep volume low and do not add a boost merely to test the menu.

Look for: Tone processing is deliberately enabled.

  • Manufacturer-documented NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 — original manufacturer instructions ↗Owner manuals p.14, Tone Control — Tone Control Off bypasses the tone controls and hides Bass/Treble; On makes those controls available. Balance remains a separate setting.Only NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 and the stated connection role. Unknown hardware options, partner compatibility or menu state must stop. · Source checked 2026-11-10
  • Manufacturer-documented NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 — original manufacturer instructions ↗Owner manuals p.14, Tone Control — Tone Control Off bypasses the tone controls and hides Bass/Treble; On makes those controls available. Balance remains a separate setting.Only NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 and the stated connection role. Unknown hardware options, partner compatibility or menu state must stop. · Source checked 2026-11-10

a3

Inspect the restored controls

Check whether Bass and Treble now appear. Read their values; return Tone Control to Off if bypass is preferred. Balance is a separate control and is not the missing Bass/Treble option.

Look for: The controls appear or their continued absence is recorded.

  • Manufacturer-documented NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 — original manufacturer instructions ↗Owner manuals p.14, Tone Control — Tone Control Off bypasses the tone controls and hides Bass/Treble; On makes those controls available. Balance remains a separate setting.Only NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 and the stated connection role. Unknown hardware options, partner compatibility or menu state must stop. · Source checked 2026-11-10
  • Manufacturer-documented NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 — original manufacturer instructions ↗Owner manuals p.14, Tone Control — Tone Control Off bypasses the tone controls and hides Bass/Treble; On makes those controls available. Balance remains a separate setting.Only NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 and the stated connection role. Unknown hardware options, partner compatibility or menu state must stop. · Source checked 2026-11-10

result

Check the actual result

Do Bass and Treble become available with Tone Control On?

Look for: A changed setting is not proof of a physical repair.

  • Manufacturer-documented NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 — original manufacturer instructions ↗Owner manuals p.14, Tone Control — Tone Control Off bypasses the tone controls and hides Bass/Treble; On makes those controls available. Balance remains a separate setting.Only NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 and the stated connection role. Unknown hardware options, partner compatibility or menu state must stop. · Source checked 2026-11-10
  • Manufacturer-documented NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 — original manufacturer instructions ↗Owner manuals p.14, Tone Control — Tone Control Off bypasses the tone controls and hides Bass/Treble; On makes those controls available. Balance remains a separate setting.Only NAD C 389 / NAD C 399 and the stated connection role. Unknown hardware options, partner compatibility or menu state must stop. · Source checked 2026-11-10

Possible result

Checks completed — report the actual outcome

The stated observation was confirmed. Completion is not automatically Solved, an Audio Review physical test or a hardware diagnosis.

steps completed

Reaching this result does not mean the issue is solved. Only your own feedback can report improvement.

    Possible result

    Keep the observation for support

    Record the model, connection role and last visible result. Do not reset equipment, open its case, defeat protective limits or install an update to compensate for an unknown state.

    next support

    Reaching this result does not mean the issue is solved. Only your own feedback can report improvement.

      Possible result

      Confirm the unknown detail first

      An unknown detail is not a diagnosis. Check the exact manufacturer instructions before continuing.

      insufficient data

      Reaching this result does not mean the issue is solved. Only your own feedback can report improvement.

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