NAD C 3050 – Integrated Amplifier

NAD C 3050 – HybridDigital DAC Integrated Amplifier

Created to celebrate 50 years of NAD innovation, the C 3050 Stereophonic Integrated Amplifier blends vintage hi-fi charm with modern engineering. Inspired by the original NAD 3030 Stereophonic Amplifier, its walnut-finished vinyl-clad cabinet, dual illuminated VU meters, push-button input selectors, dark grey front panel, and original New Acoustic Dimension logo in its 1970s cursive typeface pay tribute to a classic design while housing thoroughly modern circuitry. NAD's HybridDigital UcD amplifier platform delivers 100 Watts per channel of continuous power, while a high-performance Texas Instruments PCM5242 differential DAC ensures clarity and precise sound-staging from all digital sources. Recognised with multiple Product of the Year awards, the C 3050 brings heritage styling and confident performance together in a uniquely engaging amplifier. An MDC2 expansion slot makes it easy to add BluOS high-resolution streaming and Dirac Live room correction via the optional MDC2 BluOS-D module.

• Class D HybridDigital UcD amplifier topology
• 100 W per channel, continuous (8Ω and 4Ω); 135 W per channel instantaneous
• THD <0.03% (250 mW to 100 W, 8Ω and 4Ω, 20 Hz – 20 kHz)
• Texas Instruments PCM5242 32-bit/384 kHz differential DAC
• One-way aptX HD Bluetooth (receive)
• Dedicated headphone amplifier, 1/4" (6.3 mm) output
• Moving Magnet (MM) phono stage with infrasonic filtering
• Pre-out / Main-in connections
• One MDC2 expansion slot (optional MDC2 BluOS-D module adds BluOS streaming and Dirac Live room correction)
• Vintage-inspired design: walnut-finished vinyl-clad cabinet, dual illuminated VU meters, 1970s NAD cursive branding
• Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
• Made in China
• 2 Year Warranty

Highlights & Key Technologies

Vintage-Inspired Design
The C 3050's industrial design was inspired by the NAD 3030 Stereophonic Amplifier, a 1970s classic, created to celebrate NAD's 50-year history of innovation and value. Retro design elements include dual illuminated VU meters, push-button input selectors, a walnut-finished vinyl-clad cabinet, and a dark grey front panel bearing the original New Acoustic Dimension logo in its 1970s cursive typeface. The dual VU meters are calibrated in Watts and dB corresponding to an 8-ohm load, and can be configured via the rear panel selector to monitor either input signal or speaker output level.

HybridDigital UcD Amplification
The C 3050 employs NAD's proven HybridDigital UcD amplifier technology to deliver 100 Watts per channel of continuous power and 135 Watts per channel of instantaneous peak power for effortless reproduction of musical transients. Noise and distortion are virtually unmeasurable through the entire audio band, resulting in neutral, distortion-free sound through any loudspeaker load — even at high listening levels — with wonderful detail, immersive three-dimensionality, and thrilling dynamics.

Texas Instruments PCM5242 DAC
The C 3050's digital section is built around the Texas Instruments PCM5242 32-bit/384 kHz high-resolution differential DAC, a design known for its excellent dynamic performance and immunity to clock jitter. This enables the C 3050 to deliver stunning clarity and pinpoint sound-staging from all digital sources.

MDC2 Expansion Platform
The C 3050 features one MDC2 expansion slot — NAD's second-generation Modular Design Construction architecture — which enables two-way communications between the host component and any installed module. The optional MDC2 BluOS-D module adds BluOS high-resolution streaming, whole-home audio integration with up to 64 zones, and Dirac Live Room Correction (Limited Bandwidth, 20 Hz – 500 Hz), with the option to upgrade to full-bandwidth Dirac Live. Thanks to MDC2's two-way architecture, room correction and streaming functions apply to all sources connected to the C 3050.

Analogue Inputs & MM Phono Stage
A single pair of RCA line-level inputs features low-noise buffer amplifiers. The dedicated MM phono stage delivers ultra-precise RIAA equalization, extremely low noise, and high overload margins. An infrasonic filtering circuit suppresses the infrasonic noise present on all LPs without compromising bass response. Pre-out and main-in connections are provided: in normal use these are bridged by the supplied links, but they can be separated to insert an external processor or to use the C 3050 as a preamplifier only driving a separate power amplifier.

Digital Inputs & HDMI eARC
The C 3050 provides one optical and one coaxial digital input. The HDMI eARC port allows audio from a connected TV to be played through the C 3050, including control of amplifier power via HDMI CEC. eARC is the default mode and falls back to ARC if no eARC connection is established. Only audio output from a connected TV is supported by the HDMI eARC port; there is no video output.

Outputs, Headphone Amplifier & Bluetooth
The C 3050 provides two sets of speaker terminals (Speakers A and B, selectable via the front panel knob as A, B, A+B, or Off), a subwoofer output, and a preamplifier output. The dedicated headphone amplifier features a low output impedance of 2.2 ohms and will work with conventional headphones of any impedance; inserting a headphone jack automatically switches off outputs at Speakers A and B, Pre Out, and Subwoofer. One-way aptX HD Bluetooth (receive) allows streaming from a mobile device to the C 3050; Bluetooth is disabled when the optional MDC2 BluOS-D module is installed, which provides two-way aptX HD Bluetooth via the module.

Control & Integration
The C 3050 includes a 12V trigger output and IR input for use with IR repeater and multi-room systems. The included SR 10 remote control handles key C 3050 functions and can be programmed to control up to four devices. Bass and treble tone controls and a balance control are provided on the front panel.

Details & Specifications

All specifications measured according to IHF 202 CEA 490-AR-2008 standard. THD measured using AP AUX 0025 passive filter and AES 17 active filter.

PREAMPLIFIER – LINE INPUT, PRE-OUT
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.005% at 2 V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >95 dB (IHF; A-weighted, ref. 500 mV out, unity gain)
Channel separation: >100 dB (1 kHz); >90 dB (10 kHz)
Input impedance (R and C): 28 kΩ + 360 pF
Maximum input signal: >4.5 Vrms (ref. 0.1% THD)
Output impedance: 440 Ω
Input sensitivity: 270 mV (ref. 500 mV out, Volume maximum)
Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Maximum voltage output – IHF load: >2 V (ref. 0.1% THD)

PHONO – PHONO INPUT, PRE-OUT
Cartridge compatibility: Moving Magnet (MM) only
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.03% at 2 V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >79 dB (200 Ω source; A-weighted, ref. 500 mV out)
Input impedance (R and C): 46 kΩ / 100 pF
Input sensitivity: 5.5 mV (ref. 500 mV out, Volume maximum)
Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Maximum input signal at 1 kHz: >80 mVrms (ref. 0.1% THD)

HEADPHONE – LINE INPUT, HEADPHONE OUT
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.005% at 1 V out
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >96 dB (32 Ω loads; A-weighted, ref. 2 V out, unity gain)
Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Channel separation: >60 dB (1 kHz)
Output impedance: 2.2 Ω
Output connector: 1/4" (6.3 mm) stereo jack

AMPLIFIER – MAIN IN, SPEAKER OUT
Continuous output power into 8Ω and 4Ω: 100 W (ref. 20 Hz–20 kHz at rated THD, both channels driven)
Instantaneous power: 135 W per channel
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.03% (250 mW to 100 W, 8Ω and 4Ω)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >95 dB (A-weighted, 500 mV input, ref. 1 W out in 8Ω)
Clipping power: >115 W (at 1 kHz, 0.1% THD)
IHF dynamic power: 8Ω: 180 W | 4Ω: 250 W | 2Ω: 300 W
Peak output current: >20 A (in 1Ω, 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 in 8Ω): Analogue: 540 mV | Digital: –6 dBFS

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
DAC: Texas Instruments PCM5242, 32-bit/384 kHz differential
Bluetooth codec: aptX HD 5.0 (one-way receive; disabled when MDC2 BluOS-D installed)
Standby power consumption: 0.5 W (after 15 minutes of no user interface interaction and no active source input)

INPUTS
Optical digital: 1 (TOSLINK)
Coaxial digital: 1 (RCA)
HDMI: 1 (eARC/ARC)
Analogue line: 1 (RCA pair)
Phono: 1 (MM, RCA pair with ground terminal)
Main In: 1 (RCA pair; linked to Pre Out by supplied jumpers in normal use)
Bluetooth: Yes (one-way receive, aptX HD; disabled when MDC2 BluOS-D installed)

OUTPUTS
Speaker terminals: 2 sets (A and B; selectable A / B / A+B / Off via front panel)
Subwoofer: 1 (RCA; full range)
Preamplifier (Pre Out): 1 (RCA pair; linked to Main In by supplied jumpers in normal use)
Headphone: 1 (1/4" / 6.3 mm stereo jack)

CONTROL & CONNECTIVITY
IR In: Yes
12V Trigger Out: Yes
MDC2 expansion slots: 1

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Gross dimensions (W × H × D): 447 × 127 × 335 mm / 17 5/8 × 5 × 13 3/16 inches (per data sheet); 450 × 128 × 345 mm / 17 1/4 × 5 1/8 × 13 5/8 inches (per manual)*
Net weight: 10 kg (22 lbs)
Shipping weight: 12.6 kg (27.8 lbs)
*Gross dimensions include feet, volume knob, installed antenna at right angle, and extended rear panel terminals.

COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE & WARRANTY
Country of Manufacture: China
Warranty: 2 Years