NAD C 3050 LE FIRST IMPRESSION // Limited Edition, only 1972 units!

[@jpaleas]

Finally companies are waking up and producing components that are as beautiful they were in the 70s !

[@Hifyed]

Agreed!

[@margix1172]

Finally a beautiful hi-fi object!!! The 70's MUST be imposed in everything...music...aesthetic....fashion...long hair....it's the FOREVER YOUNG DECADE!

[@Hifyed]

The 70s was a cool era! Glad they brought it back!

[@MH-rl9ep]

Super-pumped about this too. Hopefully it’s tuned to sound a bit vintage as well and not too sterile. Would love to hear this with sister company’s new-old Passif 50’s!

[@Hifyed]

We have the same feelings! When I mentioned it in the video I’m keep my fingers crossed that they would add a vintage signature even just a bit 😉

[@asplmn]

@@Hifyed agreed! I love the vintage styling. So much so that I've worked my way into acquiring some of the best gear from that era (& even by today's standards). While I don't really want anything else as I've hit endgame, I love seeing throwbacks like this unit get people excited about stereo. 😁

[@paradoxstudios6639]

Yeah I sure hope it can compete with my C340 I've had since 1999, it's been unbeatable, one thing I'm starting to hate about the new NAD gear is their steering away from most anything analog especially with RCA inputs, this unit virtually has none.

[@madcrabber1113]

If it sells well hopefully more units by many companies will produce similar units.

[@Hifyed]

For sure!

[@maryvillanueva2075]

Super cool first look! Thanks Hifyed!

[@Hifyed]

👌

[@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox]

Another informative and interesting post, well done guys 👍 Jim 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙂

[@Hifyed]

Thank you! 🙏🙏

[@philthomas8351]

Good review by you both. I like the retro looks. Also, want good sound. Thanks!

[@MidFiMan]

I've already pre-ordered. Can't wait.

[@Hifyed]

👌

[@hclandscapes]

This amp looks nice but In the uk this is being sold at the same price as the C399, it has 100wpc compared to the C399 180wpc and it’s using older UcD modules. The design looks nice and I like that it has bluOS fitted as standard but with significantly less power and older UcD modules I’m not sure if it’s better value over the C399?

[@Hifyed]

Thanks for sharing some info! I’m sure a lot of the costs will be cosmetic. Vintage chassis unfortunately come at a costs. I do have a feeling value wise the 399.

[@Noksukau11]

HJC, I think the fairer comparison is against the C389 with 130W UcD, which in the UK is a very similar price when the BluOS-D module is fitted (a £480 option). The same value questions arise though, as there is still a trade-off between specs and looks; the C389 has an extra sub-out, extra MDC2 port and an ESS DAC, vs Texas Instruments on the 3050. Reviews will tell how they stack up in sound quality, but by that time, it's too late to get a 3050 LE. NAD has said the regular, vinyl-wrapped 3050 will release early next year though (with BluOS-D optional), to sit between the C368 and C389 in their line-up. Speaking personally, that was enough for me to pre-order the 3050 LE. Rotel use a similar spec Texas Instruments DAC in their higher-end kit, so it won't be rubbish. Also, it's qualities may even better suit a vintage amp's character. A big appeal for me with these NAD amps is their HDMI connection for getting decent TV sound in a second system, and their bass management of the subwoofer, including Dirac (two things not offered by the Marantz 40n). If I am letting a subwoofer take the low-end duties, deliberately to limit cone excursion and damage on my KEF LS50s, then I don't need as many watts to drive the rest of the frequency range. For me, whilst I am sure I would appreciate the extra detail from the C399's nCore modules, its larger case depth won't fit my setup, larger power will not be needed, and larger expense (with the BluOS-D) will not be not warranted. That extra money can go on a BluOS Node to link to my main setup and enjoy multi-room sound from any source, be it streaming, CD, TV or LP. My biggest doubt about the 3050 LE is whether its real walnut veneer will match the oak sideboard it would sit on, whether the green LEDs spoil its looks, and whether the apparent greenish hue of the VU meters on videos reflects the real colour temperature perceived by eye, or just an artefact of limited spectrum LED lights and limited dynamic range of camera sensors. Whatever the outcome, I appreciate NAD giving us all these additional choices, and a modular setup and progression path (hoping MDC2 will run for more than 1 generation).

[@RockCity1111]

Looks really nice with vintage vibes. Is it class d or AB Amplification?

[@Hifyed]

Do like the vintage vibes! It is class D, it would have been sweet if the did an AB.

[@Holychickendestroyer]

They’re trying to catch up I guess. I’ve never liked the look of NAD but this one looks nice.

[@Hifyed]

👍👍

[@adurockt6391]

This Great Amp is almost sold out in Switzerland🇨🇭😩I had ordered one!!

[@Hifyed]

It will go fast! Hopefully you can get one.

[@adurockt6391]

Yes i have reserve one😁👍

[@ThousandThrills]

I was gonna say maybe this is a c389 in disguise...I still haven't seen them for sale but this one looks much better so why release the c389...thanks for this video! I wouldn't hate to see a less expensive T778 either...

[@Hifyed]

Makes sense! I think they really wanted to do a throwback cosmetically. Would love to see a cheaper alternative to the t778 myself.

[@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox]

​@@Hifyed I would love to see a cheaper one too 😉👍

[@KeithHeinrich]

This plus the PSB Passif. 👌

[@Hifyed]

That would be pretty sweet!

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Great job Guys wish it was class AB Just me but still good looking 'Vintage'look' thanks for the video .

[@Hifyed]

Thank you! I think nad going back to class AB would have been pretty cool.

[@kjltube]

It’s a real wood venire 😊

[@Hifyed]

👍👍

[@therealboofighter]

Kurt the fifth?

[@Hifyed]

Is it the red background 😉

[@dougg1075]

Love it.

[@Hifyed]

👌

[@crytow5071]

Will be even better in silver.

[@Hifyed]

Silver would be nice!

[@jimhibert]

No wonder it looks vintage. The barrier of affordably crossing the barrier of human audibility was broken at the same time as the original NAD was released. Amplifiers haven’t been where the magic is ever since 1970.

[@Hifyed]

I do still love my vintage gear! Your right something about amplifiers back in the day.

[@jhuc2869]

Don’t know why the fetishisation of useless moving coil VU meters. An LED bar graph with peak hold and plus db colour coding would be much more useful in deciding whether I’m about to smoke my speakers!

[@Hifyed]

If it’s done right I do like the visual aspect. Agree on the bar graph just like in the studios…I do think Marcos is a little to obsessed with them.

[@tomwebb7091]

£1800 and one set of line ins??? I cant even connect my phono pre and SACD player at the same time??? For the same money you could have a Musical Fidelity M2Si, Project Tube box S2, Project Pre Box Digital S2, Project Accu Box S2 to power them and money towards cables. What chance this is actually an £800 amp selling for £1800 just cause of the looks. Probably be paired up with load of those crappy sounding Wharfedale Lintons for a retro style over sound overkill!

[@Hifyed]

It will be interesting to see how it sounds at its price point. I worked in distribution/manufacturing for many years and they have to decide the balance between cosmetics and sound. Both factors determine the sale of the product. I myself go for sound quality first but I do understand that many consumers also buy with their eyes.

[@fabioalberti2120]

Bellissimo peccato sia in tiratura limitata 👍🇮🇹🎶

[@Hifyed]

👍👍

[@rodplanet5901]

Seems they are not prepared

[@Hifyed]

Hopefully the are.

[@cremersalex]

Doesn't do it for me. Looks like a Realistic receiver. Would buy Yamaha or Technics over this.

[@Hifyed]

I myself would add the luxman and accuphase to the the list. Build quality on all those units are stunning! I think appeal with the nad will be it’s price point.

[@KeithHeinrich]

Interesting observation. I moved up from a Yamaha streamer, the NAD offering is orders of magnitude better. What you have here is pretty much an M10 (more or less) in a vintage box. Dismissing it on looks alone is selling it way short. Yamaha doesn't have the same depth of features with its streaming environment, Technics don't appear to have anything as capable either. I am sure that reviews will confirm that the BlueOS works well and is best of breed, Dirac is amazing as usual and it has ample power. Sure the amp modules are not the high end Ncore modules but given Dirac can be used to tune the sound, I doubt it really matters. It's a lot of performance at the price.

[@cremersalex]

@@KeithHeinrich Yes, absolutely based on looks alone. That's more important to me than features. I'm sure they all sound great but the Yamaha 1200 and the Technics 700 look more desirable to me.

[@ralex3697]

That is the whole appeal

[@jasontimothywells9895]

I hope they will be able produce the high headroom capabilities like the older units .

[@Hifyed]

That would be nice! The problem is they will be using a dac/hybrid amp it most likely will be like the newer stuff. Hopefully we can listen to one soon!

[@miguel--rush]

From CHINA...game over..! For me.!

[@rolandlickert2904]

Narrow minded

[@miguel--rush]

@@rolandlickert2904 game over..!

[@orlandogonzalez822]

Tha scary part....the price!!!😵

[@Hifyed]

Let’s hope the non le version will be cheaper.

[@puciohenzap891]

Knowing it's NAD, you can throw it away after 5 to 10 years max. It's all utter garbage inside - cheapest chinese capacitors, custom programmed chips and no service documentation. Have had 10+ NADs and it's all throwaway hifi, with the exception of the S-series, everything else is built to fail after warranty.

[@Belcanto401]

Vintage look but not vintage price.

[@Hifyed]

It would pretty awesome if they can get down to that kind of price!

[@danbalkey2580]

Class D amp ugh Nad blew it

[@Hifyed]

I understand why they went that route, however, it would have sweet if they didd.

[@rolandlickert2904]

Narrow-minded I'm sure you never listen to various Power D amps with the right speaker and most probably you are one who follows certain Forums which in my opinion are useless. Being in Hi-Fi since 1970 had various systems and all the various music-producing systems from cassettes, and reels to reels, CD'S, and DAP even mini disks and so I own, had power A and A/B /+Tubes and now PowerD and never looked back so many advantages if one is OBJECTIVE!. Look forward not backward never listen to other people, made up my own mind during my 55 HiFI journey