NAD C 3050 Integrated Amplifier

A Fiftieth-Birthday Amplifier, Styled Like a 1972 NAD

NAD built the C 3050 to mark 50 years in business. The cabinet takes its cue from the 1970s NAD 3030. A walnut sleeve wraps it. Two illuminated VU meters sit on the front, under NAD's original cursive logo.

This listing sells the C 3050 two ways. You can take the standard amplifier, or the version with NAD's MDC2 BluOS-D module already fitted. The amplifier itself is identical either way.

What NAD Put Under the Walnut Sleeve

Power comes from NAD's HybridDigital UcD platform. The C 3050 makes 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms, and the same 100 watts into 4 ohms. IHF dynamic power reaches 180 watts. Peak output current tops 20 amps. Distortion stays under 0.03%.

Start Standard, Add the Streaming Later

The MDC2 expansion slot sits on the rear panel. Adding the optional MDC2 BluOS-D module brings BluOS high-resolution streaming and Dirac Live Room Correction. Buy standard now and fit the module later, or start with it installed.

What Reviewers Are Saying

The C 3050 is a What Hi-Fi? Awards 2025 winner, scoring 5 out of 5 for both sound and build.

• What Hi-Fi? Awards, 2025 — Ketan Bharadia praised its "clear, spacious and expressive presentation." August 18, 2025.
• Hi-Fi Pig, 2023 — Alan McIntosh called the sound "smooth, not overly present or shouty." October 12, 2023.

Who Is This Integrated Amplifier Best For?

Quick check before you buy:

• You want one box to run the system — phono, HDMI eARC, optical, coaxial, a headphone amp and 100 watts a side, all built in.
• Check your speakers first — the rating is 100 watts into 8 ohms and 100 into 4, so both common loads are covered.
• You want room to grow — the MDC2 slot lets you add streaming and Dirac Live later without replacing the amplifier.
• You want the streaming to arrive over your network — BluOS handles hi-res PCM to 24-bit and 192kHz, and links the C 3050 to other BluOS rooms across the house.
• Your library includes DSD — an outboard converter takes it, fed from the C 3050's digital output, so nothing in the collection is off limits. See our digital-to-analog converters.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

The C 3050 measures 17¼ x 5 x 14″ (450 x 127 x 355mm) and weighs 22 lbs (10kg). Leave room behind it for cables.

Speakers connect to the A or B terminals. A turntable with a moving-magnet cartridge plugs straight into the phono input. A TV connects over HDMI eARC. Optical, coaxial and line-level inputs cover the rest. A moving-coil cartridge needs an outboard phono preamp, sold separately.

The Five Things You'll Use Most

• HybridDigital UcD amplification — 100 watts per channel into 8 or 4 ohms, so speaker impedance is not a guess.
• Ultra-low-noise MM phono stage — RIAA equalization and infrasonic filtering are built in, so a turntable connects directly.
• HDMI eARC input — your TV feeds the amplifier over a single cable.
• MDC2 expansion slot — BluOS streaming and Dirac Live can be added at any time.
• Dedicated headphone amplifier — a separate circuit rated under 0.005% THD.

Specifications

• Continuous power: 100W per channel into 8 ohms; 100W per channel into 4 ohms (20Hz–20kHz, both channels driven).
• IHF dynamic power: 180W into 8 ohms.
• Clipping power: >115W (1kHz, 0.1% THD).
• Peak output current: >20A (1 ohm, 1ms).
• THD: <0.03% (250mW to 100W, 8 and 4 ohms).
• Signal-to-noise ratio: >95dB (A-weighted, 500mV input, ref. 1W into 8 ohms).
• Headphone amplifier: THD <0.005% at 1V out; signal-to-noise >96dB into 32 ohms.
• DAC: 32-bit/384kHz differential.
• Analog inputs: MM phono, line level, main-in.
• Digital inputs: HDMI eARC, optical, coaxial.
• USB: 1 x Type-A, for a USB memory stick (FAT32 or NTFS).
• Wireless: bidirectional Bluetooth aptX HD.
• Outputs: speaker A/B, subwoofer, preamp out, headphone.
• Streaming, with MDC2 BluOS-D fitted: BluOS to 24-bit/192kHz — MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, WMA-L, ALAC, OPUS, FLAC, MQA, WAV, AIFF.
• Room correction, with MDC2 BluOS-D fitted: Dirac Live Limited Bandwidth license and calibration microphone, correction to 500Hz.
• Standby power: 0.5W.
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 450 x 127 x 355mm (17¼ x 5 x 14″).
• Weight: 10kg (22 lbs).
• Finish: walnut-finished cabinet, dark gray front panel.
• Warranty: 2 years parts and labor.
• Sold By: Each.

Pairs Well With

When you're ready:

• NAD MDC2 BluOS-D Card — adds BluOS streaming and Dirac Live to a standard C 3050.
• Subwoofers — the dedicated subwoofer output is already there.
• Speaker cables — for the A and B terminals.
• Interconnects: A clean run to the source — see our Interconnect Cables.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the NAD C 3050 come with BluOS streaming?

This listing sells both. The standard C 3050 has no streaming. The BluOS version ships with the MDC2 BluOS-D module fitted.

Can I add streaming to the C 3050 later?

Yes. The rear-panel MDC2 slot accepts the BluOS-D module at any time. The upgrade does not mean a new amplifier.

Do I need a phono preamp for my turntable?

Not for a moving-magnet cartridge. The MM phono stage is built in. A moving-coil cartridge needs an outboard stage.

Can I connect my TV to the NAD C 3050?

Yes, over the HDMI eARC input. That is the connection for a two-channel TV setup.

What file resolutions does BluOS play?

PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz — FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC and MQA. DSD is not supported.

How much of the range does Dirac Live correct?

The Limited Bandwidth licence in the MDC2 BluOS-D module corrects up to 500Hz. A calibration microphone is included.

See It in Action

NAD Electronics traces the C 3050 back to the company's 1972 roots:

Erin's Audio Corner puts the C 3050 on the test bench:

Hear it in your own room — you have 60 days to be sure.

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Learn More

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