In 2022, NAD Electronics introduced the Limited Edition C 3050 LE Integrated Amplifier of which only 1,972 were made (an homage to NAD’s founding in 1972) and as expected, they sold out very quickly. For more details, read our previous report: NAD Celebrates 50 Years With New C 3050 LE Vintage Amplifier.
As a follow-up, NAD has announced the C 3050 model that offers similar sonics but without some of the modules that were included with the C 3050 LE.
NAD will be demonstrating the new C 3050 at High-End Munich 2023 that runs from May 18 – 21; for those attending the show, NAD will be in Room D108 in Atrium 3.
Retro and Modern Product Design
Just like the C 3050 LE, NAD draws upon classic 1970s industrial design while internally incorporating a modern HybridDigital UcD output stage and high-performance Texas Instruments PCM5242 differential DAC.
This combination is intended to deliver excellent detail, immersive three-dimensionality, and wide dynamics. With NAD’s HybridDigital UcD amplifier technology, the C 3050 delivers 100 Watts per channel of continuous power and 135Wpc of instantaneous peak power.
Dual VU meters, push-button input selectors, a walnut-finished vinyl-clad cabinet, and a dark grey front panel displaying the original New Acoustic Dimension logo in its 1970s cursive typeface seamlessly blend past and present.
The C 3050 also features NAD’s MDC2 future-proofing technology. By installing an optional module at extra cost into one of two MDC2 expansion slots on the rear panel, listeners can add additional capabilities such as BluOS high-resolution multi-room streaming and Dirac Live room correction.
Music Everywhere
Featuring dual-band Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet, the BluOS platform brings integrated support for more than 20 popular streaming services, including several that offer lossless and high-resolution audio, such as
- Amazon Music Ultra HD
- Deezer
- Qobuz
- Tidal
BluOS supports high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/192kHz, with MQA decoding and rendering capability.
The MDC2 BluOS-D module also allows for playback from a personal library and thousands of internet radio stations. With the MDC2 BluOS-D module installed, the C 3050 can be part of a whole-home music system with as many as 64 zones.
Control
Various options for music control are made possible with the BluOS Controller app, available for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.
The MDC2 BluOS-D supports Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect, so users can cue up music in the apps for those services, then transfer playback to the C 3050.
Support for Apple AirPlay 2 allows streaming to the MDC2 BluOS-D from any app on an iPhone, iPad, or Macintosh computer.
Playback by voice is possible using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Siri.
Advanced bidirectional aptX HD Bluetooth connectivity allows users to stream directly to the MDC2 BluOS-D from a smart device, or stream audio from the C 3050 to a pair of wireless headphones.
Dirac Room Correction
The optional (requires extra purchase) MDC2 BluOS-D module lets C 3050 owners perform room correction to optimize speaker performance. Using a series of test tones played out to the listeners’ speakers, Dirac software analyses the results and creates correction filters to counteract common acoustic problems like standing waves and unwanted reflections.
Plug and Play
C 3050 includes several input options. This includes analog and digital inputs as well as ultra-low-noise MM phono input for turntable connection.
In addition, HDMI eARC is included which isn’t always available in two-channel amplifiers.
The C 3050 also includes A/B Speaker connections and switching.
The C 3050 also has a dedicated headphone amplifier, and pre-out/main-in jacks to connect to a more powerful amplifier, or the option to be used as a preamp only.
The C 3050 includes an IR remote control and has installer-friendly features like a 12V trigger and IR input.
Frin Cas Oostvogel, Product Manager, NAD Electronics: “The C 3050 may look like a throwback to the ’70s, and deliberately so….Yet at the same time, it eclipses many of today’s amplifiers in upgradability, performance, and forward-looking features.”
Feature/Detail Summary
To review, here are the major product highlights for NAD C3050.
- Cabinet: Walnut-finished vinyl-clad cabinet, with dark grey front panel, front-panel VU meters, push-button input controls, and 1970s cursive branding.
- Continuous Power Output: 100 Watts per channel into 8/4 ohms
- Instantaneous Power Output: 135 Watts per channel
- Expansion Module: This allows the addition of BluOS high-resolution multi-room music streaming and Dirac Live room correction. The module requires additional an extra purchase.
Tip: 500Hz limited version of Dirac Live with optional module. A full bandwidth license can be purchased from Dirac.com
- DAC: High-performance TI PCM5242 differential DAC
- Phono Input: Ultra-low noise MM phono stage with infrasonic filtering circuitry
- Digital Audio Inputs: One optical, one coaxial digital input
- Analog Audio Inputs: One set of line-level analog inputs with low-noise buffer amplifiers
- Audio Outputs: Analog Pre-amp out/Main-in connections
- HDMI: HDMI-eARC input included
- Speaker Connections: A/B speaker terminals
- Subwoofer Output: Allows connection of an externally powered subwoofer.
- Headphone Output: Dedicated headphone amplifier with front-mounted ¼-inch front panel headphone connection.
- Remote Control: IR remote control included
- CI Control: 12V Trigger out, IR in
Availability and Pricing
The NAD 3050 will be available globally this month for USD $1,299 at Crutchfield and CAD $1,899 at authorized NAD dealers.
Tip: The BluOS MDC2 module adds BluOS and Dirac for $599 at Crutchfield.
Related Reading
ORT
May 12, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Spot on good looks because of the traditional use of VU Meters and vintage styling. But…MQA means no way! Ever.
Perhaps MQA is there only if you add the BluOS? To Hades with BluOS for caving on the BS of MQA. They claim (from 2022) that they are “proud to be the first multi-room ecosystem to support MQA”.
Hopefully the last. And then they can refund the MQA licensing fees to those that bought anything that included this tripe.
I hope they lose so much money on that shinola that they are forced to admit the stooooopidity of buying that crap and foisting it on frAudiophiles (who else would fall for that poop but ego driven maroons?) and by ASSociation any one that bought something with “MQA” on the chassis.
Yes, I loathe MQA. Odd that a company that calls itself “NAD” lost its own ‘nads and fell for Darth Stewfart’s Folly. Stewfart fancies himself a “Knight Pimplar®” and MQA is his “Holy Fail®”.
This integrated is otherwise gorgeous and worthy and like I said, hopefully you only have to be a BluOS fan to get fuqued (without the happy ending!) by MQA. If it comes standard sans the FARCE® then one could easily buy it and then spend $170 or so and get a Grace Digital Link for webbing your music.
ORT
Karl
May 14, 2023 at 12:03 am
Merely having the capability to decode MQA, without any limitations on playing other formats, doesn’t seem like a reason not to buy one of these. Who cares if it’s capable of playing MQA if you’ll never use that feature?
Seems like MQA is a failed business, either way:
https://www.ecoustics.com/news/mqa-bankruptcy/
ORT
May 14, 2023 at 6:39 pm
Hi Karl –
I despise MQA and its filthy Frahnkensteen of a creator and do NOT want any of my money to go to paying that SFB ‘loid for licensing of his turd.
That is why I refuse to buy any thing carrying “The Mark of the Leach”, aka Darth Stewfart, aka Blob Stewfart, aka that Asstrich of a idiot, bob stewart.
You want to pay for nothing? Fine! Do so! Go right ahead! 😉
Don QuixORTe’
Brian
May 14, 2023 at 4:59 am
Such a good looking unit! Fingers crossed for a Class A/B version.