NAD C3050

The NAD C 3050 is a stereo amplifier that combines fifty years of the brand’s innovation heritage with a forward-looking vision for hi-fi. Its design draws inspiration from the classic 1970s style, featuring dual backlit VU meters, push-button input selectors, the original cursive NAD logo, and an elegant vinyl-clad cabinet with walnut finish. Behind this vintage charm lies a fully modern machine, capable of delivering top-tier audio performance thanks to HybridDigital UcD amplification technology, providing 100 watts continuous per channel and 135 watts peak power while keeping noise and distortion at virtually imperceptible levels.

The digital section is handled by the Texas Instruments PCM5242 differential DAC, a high-resolution converter that offers detailed musical response, exceptional clarity, and a stable, precise soundstage. Every note is rendered with naturalness and depth, conveying the emotion of the original performance with remarkable transparency.

Thanks to MDC2 modular technology, the C 3050 is designed to evolve over time. Its dedicated slot allows users to add new features simply by installing an optional module, such as the MDC2 BluOS-D, which enables high-resolution BluOS multi-room streaming and Dirac Live room correction. With the module installed, the amplifier becomes the hub of an advanced home music system, capable of managing up to 64 independent or synchronized zones. Through the BluOS Controller app, users gain access to an extensive music catalog with over twenty integrated streaming services, including Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, and Amazon Music Ultra HD, supporting high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz and MQA decoding for studio-quality playback.

Compatibility with Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, and voice control via Amazon Alexa or Siri makes the C 3050 fully integrable into any home ecosystem. With Dirac Live, the amplifier also addresses acoustic imperfections in the listening environment: using the included microphone and dedicated app, the system analyzes the room response and applies corrective filters that optimize sound quality, improving tonal accuracy, bass definition, and stereo imaging coherence.

The C 3050 also offers comprehensive and flexible connectivity. It features optical and coaxial digital inputs, an HDMI eARC input for connecting high-definition TVs, a low-noise MM phono stage for vinyl enthusiasts, and a series of analog line-level inputs with dedicated buffer circuits. It allows connection of two pairs of speakers with A/B switching, a subwoofer, and headphones via a dedicated amplifier. Bidirectional aptX HD Bluetooth enables both audio reception from mobile devices and transmission to wireless headphones. The unit also includes 12 V triggers, IR input, and a convenient infrared remote control.

With its perfect balance of nostalgia and innovation, the NAD C 3050 is much more than a simple amplifier: it is a tribute to hi-fi history while opening the door to the future. It combines the aesthetic and sonic warmth of analog tradition with the precision, power, and versatility of contemporary digital technology, delivering a listening experience distinguished by authenticity, dynamic range, and refinement.

Technical specifications:

• Line input / Pre-out: THD <0.005% (20 Hz–20 kHz, 2 V out); Signal-to-noise ratio >95 dB (A-weighted, ref. 500 mV out, unity gain); Channel separation >100 dB (1 kHz) >90 dB (10 kHz); Input impedance 28 kΩ + 360 pF; Maximum input >4.5 V RMS (0.1% THD); Output impedance 440 Ω; Input sensitivity 270 mV (500 mV out, max volume); Frequency response ±0.3 dB (20 Hz–20 kHz); Maximum output voltage – IHF load >2 V (0.1% THD)
• Phono input / Pre-out: THD <0.03% (20 Hz–20 kHz, 2 V out); Signal-to-noise ratio >79 dB (source 200 Ω, A-weighted, ref. 500 mV out); Input impedance 46 kΩ / 100 pF; Input sensitivity 5.5 mV (500 mV out, max volume); Frequency response ±0.3 dB (20 Hz–20 kHz); Maximum input at 1 kHz >80 mV RMS (0.1% THD)
• Line input / Headphone output: THD <0.005% (20 Hz–20 kHz, 1 V out); Signal-to-noise ratio >96 dB (32 Ω load, A-WTD, 2 V out, unity gain); Frequency response ±0.3 dB (20 Hz–20 kHz); Channel separation >60 dB at 1 kHz; Output impedance 440 Ω
• BluOS Audio: Supported formats MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, WMA-L, ALAC, OPUS; High-resolution formats FLAC, MQA, WAV, AIFF; Sampling rate up to 192 kHz; Bit depth 16–24
• BluOS Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet RJ45; Wi-Fi 5; Network file sharing protocol SMB; USB 1× Type-A (FAT32/NTFS); Bidirectional aptX HD 5.0 Bluetooth (receive and headphone)
• User Interface: Network playback on Windows and macOS; BluOS Controller app available for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and Windows/macOS desktops
• Main input / Speaker output: Continuous power 100 W per channel (8/4 Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz, nominal THD, both channels driven); THD <0.03% (250 mW–100 W, 8/4 Ω); Signal-to-noise ratio >95 dB (A-weighted, 500 mV input, 1 W out on 8 Ω); Clipping power >115 W (1 kHz, 0.1% THD); IHF dynamic power 8 Ω: 180 W, 4 Ω: 250 W, 2 Ω: 300 W; Peak output current >20 A (1 Ω, 1 ms); Frequency response ±0.3 dB (20 Hz–20 kHz); Channel separation >75 dB (1 kHz) >70 dB (10 kHz); Input sensitivity (for 100 W into 8 Ω) 540 mV, Digital: -6 dBFS
• Power consumption: Auto standby on / network standby off 0.5 W; Auto standby on / network standby on 2.0 W; Off mode 0.1 W
• Wi-Fi band: 2.402–2.480 GHz
• Dimensions: 450 × 110 × 355 mm
• Net weight: 10 kg