Is there a receiver with DIRAC available for less than $1300? Availability of DIRAC in anything under $1K is rare. NC252MP modules or something in this NAD would have been nice of course, but Amir's rec considering the whole package is fair.
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NAD C 3050 Integrated Amplifier Review
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
The Denon X3800H was just a few days back on sale for less than $1K. It comes with Audyssey but you can purchase the Dirac Live license for Denon for $250.
$799 Onkyo TX-RZ30
Onkyo TX-RZ30 9.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver | electronicsexpo.com
Elevate your entertainment with the Onkyo TX-RZ30 9.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver, offering immersive audio, 8K video, and seamless streaming.
www.electronicsexpo.com
+ $300 for the DIRAC license. Great price, but I'd gladly pay the extra for the NAD looks if I were in the market.$799 Onkyo TX-RZ30
Onkyo TX-RZ30 9.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver | electronicsexpo.com
Elevate your entertainment with the Onkyo TX-RZ30 9.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver, offering immersive audio, 8K video, and seamless streaming.
No comes with Dirac
OP
- Thread Starter
- #107
AVR will take up ton more space, doesn't have direct input buttons, and runs much hotter. They are also uglier to boot. I hate using AVRs for anything other than home theater.
Jimster480
Major Contributor
I suppose that is fair, but this is also quite a bit more expensive. So you could buy a larger cabinet with the difference in price
Of course AVRs should be used for HT but Dirac or similar alternatives are worth a lot for realistic sound and AVRs have that. Personally for audio something like this hits a sweet spot for accuracy, size and power with good measurements. There are others good ones as well.
SoundStage! Hi-Fi | SoundStageHiFi.com - miniDSP SHD Power Integrated Amplifier-DAC
OP
- Thread Starter
- #110
I do EQ in the source so don't need AVR for stereo. Multichannel becomes a pain as the permutations sharply increase but for stereo, it is manageable.
I wish the market produces nice, slim multi-channel products. Right now the few that exist don't have good performance.
So true and that is why companies like WiiM are doing so well.
JSmith
Master Contributor
C 3050 - NAD Electronics
In the C 3050 Stereophonic Amplifier, NAD’s 50-year history of innovation meets the future of hi-fi. With its dual VU meters, push-button input selectors, walnut-finished vinyl-clad cabinet, and 1970s cursive-style branding, the C 3050 recalls the components that helped a generation of...
nadelectronics.com
JSmith
fricc
Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2019
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- 48
Isn't this weird? Aren't you able to choose sampling frequency and bit depth?
They get ya coming and going, don't they?
OP
- Thread Starter
- #115
I am not sure. The only UI is over the web and I didn't see it in my quick look. Very few companies allow this selection.
Thanks for the review Amir. Love seeing products from mainstream manufacturers like NAD featured here. I bought the NAD 3050LE (with the real wood) when it came out. I love the way it looks and it sounds fine to my ears (and now verified with your objective measurements).
At the time, I wrote a review of the amplifier based on real-life usage, which can be found at https://fcracer.com/nad-c3050-le-review/
I too feel the volume knob is subpar and should have been made of metal to go along with the vintage vibes. I also found the VU meter on my unit to be incorrectly calibrated. I provided NAD with information from my testing, but they haven’t made any improvements in the firmware over the past two years, so I’m not hopeful it will ever get fixed.
Results of my testing on the VU meters with my retail purchased 3050 LE:
| Input Signal | VU Meter Actual Reading |
|---|---|
| 0 db | +3 db |
| -3 db | +1.5 db |
| -6 db | 0 db |
| -9 db | -1.5 db |
Regarding the lights, I also felt the same. I would suggest setting the LED brightness to “Off” so that you’re not blinded by the rather intense Volume setting LEDs. I should note another potential bug here. For the LED setting, I found some behaviour that didn’t seem intentional when adjusted via the BluOS app:
Normal: All LED are bright = Correct function
Dim: Only the power LED dims, all other LED remains bright = Incorrect function
Off: All LED are off = Correct function
Another strange bug is the balance control. When moved to either side, there’s still significant volume that comes from the lowered speaker. The balance control is more like an adjustment to centre the speakers than a real traditional balance control.
Overall, I’ve been very happy with the 3050 LE over the two years I’ve owned it. Since it’s a bedroom setup, I don’t get close to maxing out the 100w/ch and the Dirac Live room correction works extremely well to sort out the room modes. I would buy the LE version again.
Since I bought it primarily for how it looks in my bedroom, I’ll share some images I took of the setup. I think it looks rather cool with the Wharfedale Denton speakers and IKEA MALM dresser.
The original LE version comes with real wood. However, when launched, they were sold out worldwide. I preordered mine the day of announcement. I’m not sure how durable the wood will be, but in my super dry air city, it’s held up well over the two years I’ve had it.
dougi
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Lab tests by Soundstage and Stereophile, suggested to the authors that line input sample rate was the much more common 48KHz. Maybe the C3050LE differs or something changed with FW updates?
The frequency it's not selectable by settings menus.
The frequency it's not selectable by settings menus.
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dougi
Addicted to Fun and Learning
I saw that too. Freq response plots though looked like 44.1, but said aliasing products suggested 48. The adc filter could be for 44, but sample rate 48 perhaps??
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