NAD C 3050 Integrated Amplifier Review

[Merifon]

I use the excellent BluOS application on a daily basis and it is anything but buggy in my extensive experience. Can you provide a specific issue/s you have experienced in the past?

Sure, anyway it could be also mdc2 on C3050LE + dirac related only
From the purchase, dec 2023 I remember five FW updates, here the troubles quite but not necessarily in chronological order:
- unable to find wirelessy with Android to first configuration, iOS worked perfectly.
- After Android 14 update, Tidal connect got connection with Bluos only after too many tentatives and if not used for a while, lost it again. IOS worked well. On WiiM, Tidal Android 14 never miss a shot. Bluos said it was a Tidal problem, Tidal denied. Finally solved with a Bluos update
- A further Bluos update, stopped Dirac to work at all, correction took more than a week. Not good, since Dirac it's the best part.
- highly unstable MDC, with too many (three or four) Bluos menu jumps, the mdc2 card easily hunged up and a hard reset was the only way to make back working. It took more than a year to solve, with penultimate FW.
- clipping noises with Dirac and 88.2KHz files on random songs (not too many but anyway too much), a jump to an other sample rate song, then back, generally was resolving. Penultimate FW improved but sometimes happens again
- despite penultimate finally did some improvements, started another major trouble: toslink input only, stopped working with 44.1KHz, 88.2KHz and 176.4KHz, when Dirac is inserted, Bluos gives an incompatibility signal message and resets the card. All other samples rate work and coax input has no problem at all. Nad recognize the problem, saying it affects the c3050 only but the fix is still not available after more than two months.
- from beginning, a little but still annoying "thump" noise on subwoofer output, every sample rate change.

Don't know if I missed something, anyway the general versatility and functions are less than WiiM can give...

 

[Jimmyblues1959]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the NAD C 3050 integrated amplifier with included DAC and optional streaming module. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $1,599.
View attachment 442585
As you can tell, the C3050 has my all time favorite feature, dual VU meters! They are crisp and nicer looking than many others in modern gear. They have an indication for 8 ohm but when measuring at 5 watts, it showed the wrong value in that load. It was correct for 4 ohm but then wasn't accurate at other levels. So it is really more for fun than accurate power metering. There is a switch to make it show the input signal instead of output in the back. Wish this was in the front.

Nice to see the tone control. Not so nice is lack of tone defeat. I especially disliked the rotary volume control which has a so so feel and those LED that look out of place and don't tell you the actual level. An annoying thing is the BlueOS green LED constantly blinking. I assume it is showing network activity but why would I want to see that all the time?

The top and surrounds have a vinyl wrap which looks decent from far but has a real plasticky feel which is a major departure from the vintage look they are going after. The grill on top is fairly open allowing you to see the Hypex Ucd class D amplifiers which in operation, ran quite cool. Back panel shows a mix of vintage and modern features:
View attachment 442586
I got a kick out of those jumpers from pre-amp to power amp which was a cool feature back in 1980s. They would still be useful today to use a higher power amp. We have modern features such as HDMI ARC, S/PDIF and trigger support. There is Dirac functionality which I imagine is part of the BlueOS streaming option. Don't care for the bright colors of the speaker terminals but they are otherwise functional. I am happy that they did not put in a captive power cord to match what we used to have in early days of hi-fi.

NAD C 3050 Amplifier Measurements
Let's start by setting the gain to 25 dB and seeing how the analog input performs:
View attachment 442587
Not bad. That is the average noise+distortion of all amplifiers ever tested. Let's test it with Toslink digital:
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This is noticeably quieter, allowing to SINAD to raise to a respectable level:
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Here is the direct comparison of noise at 5 watts:
View attachment 442591
I do like to see better noise performance though. Fortunately at full power, we get there:
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Frequency response shows that analog input is digitized at lowest sampling rate:
View attachment 442593

I was hoping for a pure mode or something that would allow it to go in without double conversion. Then again, this allows analog input to be subject to Dirac correction.

As with noise, crosstalk is better with digital input:
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Multitone test shows rather constant level of intermodulation distortion:
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I would have liked better high frequency performance:
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Power is rated at 100 watts for both 4 and 8 ohms which the test unit produces and then some:
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Power is however variable with frequency, with 40 Hz dropping fair bit as you see above and below:

View attachment 442602

I could not run peak power test as the protection circuit would intervene. For the same reason, I could not test reactive loads either. Our stress power test showed variability:
View attachment 442603
I can't explain why power is lower in upper bass than lower. It may have something to do with recovery from clipping.

Frequency power sweeps show what I stated before regarding more or less constant distortion+noise:
View attachment 442604

Have we seen this with UCd amps before?

Power was stable upon turning on the unit other than a glitch:
View attachment 442605

That glitch may be what was interfering with power measurements.

I did not test the other subsystems.

Conclusions
While NAD could have done a bit more on design, what is there is rather unique with inclusion of VU meters and such. I say what is there is good enough as is objective performance of the amplifier. It runs cool and is reasonably priced. So somewhat interesting but not all that it could be.

I am going to recommend the NAD C3050 amplifier.
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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

As the owner of an old NAD 3130 integrated amplifier from the late 1980's, I have to say that I really like the utilitarian look of the C-3050, with its clean styling and retro UV meters!

 

[westsail42]

I have a C3050 with the BlueOS module.

I would say it is a nice all around amp. In my case I am using it to pull together some vintage components (phono, CD, tape, etc.). So I got my vintage components along side modern streaming features (I use Tidal,Roon and direct from the laptop).

As for the VU meters. Yeah they are a gimmick, and not very accurate or calibrated (what comes out of the speakers actually lags the meters quite a bit).

However the Dirac Live is worth the money. I cannot see any of my future systems without some sort of DSP/room correction.

The onboard DAC is not too bad, but my 25yo Acurus ACD11's onboard DAC sounds better.

I am considering adding a power amp and using the C3050 as only a preamp as it seems a bit weak with my current speakers/room size.

 

[westsail42]

I use the excellent BluOS application on a daily basis and it is anything but buggy in my extensive experience. Can you provide a specific issue/s you have experienced in the past?

Having had a C3050+BlueOS for about a year now I can say there have been numerous firmware updates to fix some nits. Always make a regular check for firmware updates (as is with most digital devices these days )

 

[Merifon]

Having had a C3050+BlueOS for about a year now I can say there have been numerous firmware updates to fix some nits. Always make a regular check for firmware updates (as is with most digital devices these days )

I'm regularly checking for updates and generally install them after a week or so, to avoid troubles with possible new bugs...
Specific question: do you have an "incompatible signal message" (like the added screenshot) since 4.8.17 update anytime a 44.1KHz, 88.2KHz or 176.4KHz signal is sent to toslink input only and Dirac is engaged? With Dirac off, anything plays flawless. Signals of 48KHz, 96KHz and 192khz don't have ever problems. All others inputs always work properly too.
Dirac and Nad support told me they aware of. It should be specific C3050LE problem (not clear if C3050 also) and a Bluos quirk but I'm still waiting for the fix.

 

[westsail42]

I'm regularly checking for updates and generally install them after a week or so, to avoid troubles with possible new bugs...
Specific question: do you have an "incompatible signal message" (like the added screenshot) since 4.8.17 update anytime a 44.1KHz, 88.2KHz or 176.4KHz signal is sent to toslink input only and Dirac is engaged? With Dirac off, anything plays flawless. Signals of 48KHz, 96KHz and 192khz don't have ever problems. All others inputs always work properly too.
Dirac and Nad support told me they aware of. It should be specific C3050LE problem (not clear if C3050 also) and a Bluos quirk but I'm still waiting for the fix.

Have never had any issues with any play mode when Dirac is on. I regularly listen on toslink sources (coax and optical) without issue. I rarely use the BlueOS app.

As for LE vs non-LE version my understanding the only difference is the limited edition "LE" had real wood as part of it's case?

 

[Merifon]

Have never had any issues with any play mode when Dirac is on. I regularly listen on toslink sources (coax and optical) without issue. I rarely use the BlueOS app.

As for LE vs non-LE version my understanding the only difference is the limited edition "LE" had real wood as part of it's case?

Thanks for the answer.
Apart the wooden case, the only differences I could think among LE and standard version, could be different time of construction and therefore some differences in printed circuits involved. Since the slowness by NAD in manage problems, even they confirmed the the problem is present, I think I'll substitute my WiiM mini, with a new WiiM Pro to use it's Dlna capabilities (missing on Bluos) on coax input.

 

[Mean & Green]

When I first saw the C3050 LE being announced I was quite enthusiastic. I liked the VU meters and it looked like an amplifier typical of NAD's roots. I was considering getting one as a replacement for my C326 BEE, until I read NAD's own specifications. It's a downgrade and considering it costs about 5 times what my C326 BEE did it's not acceptable performance IMO.

Also since it's release and reading up from various sources how it's VU meters are essentially useless and inaccurate, the Sub out stays active when headphones are connected, the horrible volume dial with LEDs that just seem to always show almost full scale level rather than any displaying anything meaningful, a distinct lack of analogue inputs IMO, the lack of a tone defeat and various other quibbles I think this amplifier is a poor offering.

Sure it can be streamer (not interested I have a dedicated network player for that) it can do DIRAC with the correct MDC module fitted (sure that could be useful) - but overall it's a miss. It's a shame as I own two old NAD amps and love them, I would have liked to have potentially moved up to a newer product, but none of them seem to be better technically than the old C ‘BEE’ series kit.

Also being a member of a NAD enthusiasts group on FB all I ever see are software issues with their current products. Issues with basic functionality on equipment costing four figure price tags isn't good enough.

 

[westsail42]

I appreciate/enjoy reviewing specs, but I don't go chasing them. I moved from a late 80s vintage C3130 to the C3050. Night and day difference/improvement in audio performance as you might imagine. Amplifier class designs be damned.

But hey, for an upgrade compatible with some legacy/vintage components with limited (full width) rack space in a smallish listening room, the C3050 fits the bill nicely. I do not have the space, or the desire to string together odd-sized components.

I agree with analog inputs. Just one is not enough. Better yet would be a tape play/in, rec/out.

 

[Xyrium]

I absolutely love what they did here. They took one of their class D integrated's and made it vintage. I think we've all been clamoring for this.

Unfortunately, though it is good performance, it's not great, at that price range. Still, hats off to NAD for being creative while providing performance that equals or exceeds the performance of high end, but vintage, gear.

 

[Mike Madigan]

I use a NAD 3155 setup as a preamp to my hafler DH-200 amp in my garage system. I Have other NAD integrated amps set up the same to run a Carver and Mitsubishi power amps at my cabin. A lot of older integrated amps just had jumpers on the back to use them either as a pre or integrated amps.