In 2022, NAD Electronics celebrates its fiftieth anniversary. Traditionally, audio brands celebrate memorable dates in their history by releasing special anniversary models of equipment. NAD was no exception, which plans to present an anniversary model of the NAD C 3050 LE integrated amplifier, made in vintage design. The progenitor of the new product was the legendary model NAD C 3020 – the most popular budget integrated amplifier.
The anniversary model is housed in a case with wooden panels made of satin walnut, and is equipped with dial signal level indicators with soft LED backlighting. The appearance of the new product seems to have come to us from the golden era of audio – 1972, when NAD Electronics appeared.
The NAD C 3050 LE anniversary model combines stylish vintage design with cutting-edge functionality. On board the amplifier there is a high-resolution DAC based on TI PCM5242 chips, capable of working with digital streams with parameters up to 32 bit / 384 kHz. The device can receive a digital signal either through optical or coaxial digital inputs, or via HDMI with ARC support. There is Pre Out, two connectors for subwoofers, an RS-232 interface, IR input/output, trigger input/output and service USB. To connect the speakers there are 4 pairs of screw terminals.
For vinyl lovers, there is a phono stage for moving magnet (MM) drivers, and streaming fans will appreciate the presence of a Bluetooth adapter with aptX HD support, which can both receive a signal from a smartphone or tablet and stream music to wireless headphones or speakers. Also included in the NAD C 3050LE is the MDC2 BluOS-D streaming expansion module, which runs on the BluOS operating system and supports MQA. In addition to streaming functions, it features a system for adapting sound to specific acoustic conditions, Dirac Live.
The circuits feature HybridDigital nCore (Class D) digital amplification technology, which was previously only used in the flagship Masters Series products. As a result, a nominal power of 100 W per channel is guaranteed into a load of 8 or 4 ohms, and the peak power indicator can reach 200 W. The HybridDigital nCore design is known for its ability to provide high bandwidth, flat frequency response, fast transient response and anti-clipping. This technology works with high currents and allows you to maintain high stability even in conjunction with low-impedance speaker systems. At the same time, noise and distortion remain negligible under any conditions, including at high volume levels.
NAD C 3050 LE Specifications
Continuous Output Power: >100 W x 2 (Stereo, 8 and 4 Ohms)
THD: <0.02% (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Signal to Noise Ratio (A-weighted, 1 W @ 8 Ohms ): >95 dB
Damping factor: >150 (8 ohms, 20 Hz)
Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+/-0.03 dB)
Channel separation (1/10 kHz): >75/>70 dB
Analog Inputs: 2 x RCA Line, Phono MM
Digital Inputs: 1 x RCA SPDIF, 1 x TosLink, HDMI ARC
Controls: 12V Trigger, IR In and Out (3.5mm)
Certifications: Control4, Crestron, RTI, URC, AMX, Savant, Elan
Dimensions (W x H x D): 435 x 120 x 390 mm
Weight: (net/gross): 11.2/13.6 kg
