NAD C 3050 Integrated Amplifier Review

[kyuu]

In that case, perhaps NAD should have gone more the classic route and instead chosen a class AB solution, like this one, C320BEE (not as much power though):
(or a better class D solution would have been possible to choose/design the amp on)

At this price point, they should be using Purifi modules IMO. Or at least a newer Hypex like the NCx.

 

[HalSF]

… the myriad cheap (and some not-so-cheap) American-made monkey coffin loudspeakers of the same era!

 

[mhardy6647]

View attachment 442684

You clearly don't spend much time at places like www.audiokarma.org
That is for the best.


I have an... embarrassingly... large collection of 1970s monkey coffins.
That said.
1) there are less here than there were, say, a decade ago.
2) there are a few interesting (or at least historically significant) ones here -- although none is particularly valuable or rare.


I am (still, to some extent) a sucker for vintage "New England" loudspeakers.

 

[eddantes]

 

[phoenixdogfan]

For $1600 with those performance numbers, it's simply overpriced. If you like everything in one box with VU Meters thrown into the mix, and a classic brand, they maybe. But, personally, given the performance, I think NAD is just living on its goodwill from the days when impoverished students could buy something like the C320BEE and have quality, no frills amp that would last a decade or more for a bargain price.

 

[Ropeburn]

Generally, good amplifier: good power, good noise and distortion, good features. It just works, and 30 or even 20 years ago it'd have been a killer offer. Pretty much a Volkswagen Golf. Nothing is exceptionally great, but everything is at least good. Nothing is bad. Works very nicely in all everyday applications.

Except it's three times as pricey as it needs to be for that quality, both physically and electrically. So, no fucking thanks. I'm afraid while this would've been a good offer 20 years ago, today it's just meh and too much asked for too little. Hypex UcD is also quite outdated technology today for that money. Think about poweramps for 1000 and preamps for 500 you can buy today, and how they would compare to this. No competition really.

 

[JMW64]

For $1600 with those performance numbers, it's simply overpriced. If you like everything in one box with VU Meters thrown into the mix, and a classic brand, they maybe. But, personally, given the performance, I think NAD is just living on its goodwill from the days when impoverished students could buy something like the C320BEE and have quality, no frills amp that would last a decade or more for a bargain price.

This unit has a full function BluOS streaming section as well as Dirac Live bass control to 500 Hz so there is better value than indicated in the review. These significant features were unfortunately glossed over in the review. Also a quick Google search would have told Amir that the blinking green BluOS light was because he didn't set up the amplifiers BluOS streaming section. When configured for use it is a solid blue light. The flashing green indicates it is awaiting set-up.

 

[trevor_bartram]

The C316BEE V2 amplifier is so much better value for money at $400. The only thing that stopped me buying one is the chintzy remote & lack of FM radio. I really dislike VU meters & the flashing lights of the 3050.

 

[dtaylo1066]

For $10 more you think they could put far better DAC performance in this thing.

 

[daniboun]

In other words, this NAD doesn't seem outrageously priced in 2025 CE as assessed by this one, only slightly arbitrary metric.

This is a great example of anachronism ) Your calculator only considers the purchasing power factor. Technologies have evolved in 50 years and affordability is not the same

 

[jkasch]

For $1600 with those performance numbers, it's simply overpriced. If you like everything in one box with VU Meters thrown into the mix, and a classic brand, they maybe. But, personally, given the performance, I think NAD is just living on its goodwill from the days when impoverished students could buy something like the C320BEE and have quality, no frills amp that would last a decade or more for a bargain price.

I still haul my 21-year-old C320BEE out for the Christmas season every year. Still works perfectly. Tone and volume controls are noise free. Paid $400.

 

[DanielT]

This unit has a full function BluOS streaming section as well as Dirac Live bass control to 500 Hz so there is better value than indicated in the review.

It might make sense to have. Dirac Live bass control, for example, costs $299.

The C316BEE V2 amplifier is so much better value for money at $400. The only thing that stopped me buying one is the chintzy remote & lack of FM radio. I really dislike VU meters & the flashing lights of the 3050.

Buy a NAD C 720BEE receiver in that case. I had one just a few years ago. It worked fine. Ugly as.... but that's another matter, a matter of taste. Quite physically large for the 67 watts it delivered (same amp section as the 320BEE). A used 720BEE may be around twenty years old, but one in good condition, used sparingly should have gunpowder left in it.
By the way, I tested the FM reception. That was strong and good.

A new receiver with ok performance, or rather, considering the price, superb performance, there is this one:

Yamaha R-S202 Receiver Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Yamaha R-S202 Receiver (tuner plus stereo amplifier) with Bluetooth. Money was kindly donated by a member for me to purchase it new for $200 from Amazon. The R-S202 harkens back to the old days of receivers being the most popular way to play...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[mhardy6647]

This is a great example of anachronism ) Your calculator only considers the purchasing power factor. Technologies have evolved in 50 years and affordability is not the same

thus my comment: "slightly arbitrary".
Oh, and my other comment: "lazy".

 

[goodjobgabe]

Hey all, I'm the user that let Amir borrow the amp for testing. A newcomer to the hobby, I was looking for a more elegant (ie, consolidated) solution to listen to vinyl and streaming than what I currently have:

-Two Fosi V3 monoblocks
-Fosi P4 pre-amp
-Cambridge Alva Duo
-Fosi DS2 DAC
-Klipsch Heresy III pair

I've seen some comments on here that talk about how easy it would be to go for a Fosi stack for half the price of the NAD, but it's maddening that half of their gear doesn't come with trigger connections. For someone who geeks out on stuff and is willing to go through a certain amount of trouble if there is a reasonable return, I can deal. But I also need ease-of-use so that the rest of my family can easily enjoy the stereo.

All-in-all, I kind of guessed this is about how the amp would score. Integrated's never seem to test amazing, and I might have guessed that NAD would be counting on the looks of the amp to be the thing that moves these units. But on the flip-side of the coin, it kind of does it all, and does it well enough. BlueSound is a fine solution for wireless streaming to different areas of the house, especially with SONOS shitting the bed and Yamaha kind of flubbing MusicCast. All that being said, I do have a Yamaha R-N800 on the way to test out in-home before I make my final solution (and saving a few hundred bucks ain't so bad either).

I think I'd be happy with either of those amplifiers, but if anyone has another recommendation that has phono, a DAC, can stream via AirPlay, has sub-out, HDMI e-Arc and has whole-home streaming ecosystem available, while testing better than the C3050, I'm all ears. Being easy on the eyes doesn't hurt either (though that's all a matter of personal taste).

Cheers,

Gabe

 

[Ajax]

H Amir,

Thank you very much for yet another thourough review. However, I'm confused by your recommendation as your site is dedicated to uncovering products that exhibit great engineering at an affordable price.

For a similar amount of money you can have the excellent Minidsp Flex ($475) combined with a Buckeye 252 MP power amp ($575) and if you must, a pair of second hand Macinitosh mpm 4000 VU metres ($500), which is going to smash the NAD 3050 on both function and performance. Obviously the McIntosh VU meters are an overkill but at least they work properly .

Buckeye NC252MP Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Buckeye NC252MP balanced stereo class D amplifier. It was kindly drop shipped to me by a member and costs US $575. The amp is almost the size of a loaf of bread and literally weighs nearly as much! Amazing how far amplification technology has...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Minidsp Flex Review (Audio DSP)

This is a review and detailed measurement of the Minidsp Flex audio signal processor. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $475 for unbalanced and $550 for balanced that I tested. Flex borrows the interface from SHD and puts it in a compact package. Seeing how I really liked that...

www.audiosciencereview.com

McIntosh MPM4000 Power Meter Review

This is a review and measurements of the McIntosh MPM4000 Power/dB vintage stereo meter. It is on kind loan from a member and costs used from US $500 to $999. It had come out in 1997, aimed at automotive market so requires 12 volt power. As you can see in this sample though, it can be readily...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[dougi]

Yes performance is merely "adequate", but it has everything I need (I have the LE). Digitized MM phono stage as well (not tested).

You can separate the pre and amp and use as a pre which I do sometimes. I went the opposite to the previous post: simplified from a flex and March Audio Hypex amp to this.

 

[JSmith]

Hey all, I'm the user that let Amir borrow the amp for testing.

Thanks for doing so, very good of you.


JSmith

 

[No one who matters]

For a long time I’ve held that Lenbrook doesn’t quite get it. Then I realized that I’m not the target market. Their target is (mostly) mass market (with some higher end offerings) with a little bit of spare income, and a little bit of knowledge.

In other words, upper middle market.

A while back, one of their support people informed me they used Ubiquity routers to test their wifi functionality - not considering that most upper middle market customers don’t buy routers that broadcast across a football field. So they were dismayed to learn users were getting drop outs even at close ranges. Derp.

BlueOS used to make me sad… very sad… until I assigned addresses and went Cat 6 for everything in the network. The Ux is still poorly laid out and the search function has bugs. They are very proud of BlueOS in its latest iteration.

Nope, I’m not the target market for them. I have a fair amount of their stuff because like the OP who kindly submitted for review, I had other users to consider. They hate BlueOS more than I marginally like it.

 

[diddley]

Hey all, I'm the user that let Amir borrow the amp for testing. A newcomer to the hobby, I was looking for a more elegant (ie, consolidated) solution to listen to vinyl and streaming than what I currently have:

-Two Fosi V3 monoblocks
-Fosi P4 pre-amp
-Cambridge Alva Duo
-Fosi DS2 DAC
-Klipsch Heresy III pair

I've seen some comments on here that talk about how easy it would be to go for a Fosi stack for half the price of the NAD, but it's maddening that half of their gear doesn't come with trigger connections. For someone who geeks out on stuff and is willing to go through a certain amount of trouble if there is a reasonable return, I can deal. But I also need ease-of-use so that the rest of my family can easily enjoy the stereo.

All-in-all, I kind of guessed this is about how the amp would score. Integrated's never seem to test amazing, and I might have guessed that NAD would be counting on the looks of the amp to be the thing that moves these units. But on the flip-side of the coin, it kind of does it all, and does it well enough. BlueSound is a fine solution for wireless streaming to different areas of the house, especially with SONOS shitting the bed and Yamaha kind of flubbing MusicCast. All that being said, I do have a Yamaha R-N800 on the way to test out in-home before I make my final solution (and saving a few hundred bucks ain't so bad either).

I think I'd be happy with either of those amplifiers, but if anyone has another recommendation that has phono, a DAC, can stream via AirPlay, has sub-out, HDMI e-Arc and has whole-home streaming ecosystem available, while testing better than the C3050, I'm all ears. Being easy on the eyes doesn't hurt either (though that's all a matter of personal taste).

Cheers,

Gabe

Thank you for sending it in.

 

[JDS]

I see what you're gettin' at -- but to look at the price from a different perspective.
Let's compare the "original" NAD integrated amplifiers (all analog, linear P/S, etc.) in terms of price.
Because I am lazy I just used the US BLS CPI inflation calculator backwards to the year 1975 (realizing that the NAD amplifiers that inspired this model came a few years later, and inflation was rampant in those days*).
View attachment 442666

As a comparator (from my own hifi shopping history): In 1978, an Onkyo A-5 integrated amplifier (45 wpc) was $270, and the aforementioned Yamaha CA-610II (45 wpc @ 0.05% THD, 20 - 20kHz per "FTC '74") was $290. As my previous post strongly implies -- I bought one of the latter.

View attachment 442668


In other words, this NAD doesn't seem outrageously priced in 2025 CE as assessed by this one, only slightly arbitrary metric.

I agree that this NAD is fairly priced relative to the inflation-adjusted value of its forebear. But when comparing it to the current Chinese-branded separates with even better performance, maybe not so much.