It’s not often that we at What Hi-Fi? come upon a product that looks like a decidedly old-school piece of kit, and then performs much more like a pair of modern hi-fi champions.
That, though, is what we have here, in the form of NAD’s hugely impressive C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module) streaming amplifier. This just-add-speakers setup is one of a batch of new products that are forcing us to revisit our long-standing opinion that separate products always provide better results than all in-one-systems.
The system
Streaming amplifier: NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module)
The headline feature, and the main differentiator between the C 3050 and excellent stereo amplifier rivals such as the Arcam A15 or the Rega Elex Mk4, is the option to add that streaming module. The MDC2 BluOS-D is based on a platform developed by NAD’s sister company, Bluesound, and adds £350 / $500 / AU$900 to the standalone unit. We think it’s worth the extra cost.
We have no issue with the C 3050 streaming amp’s build and finish. It feels like a quality product with solid casework and sturdy controls. The fit and finish are good too, giving the NAD a proper premium aura. The streaming side is taken care of by the well-established BluOS app. This is one of the better pieces of streaming control software on the market and is stable, easy to use and intuitive on the whole.
When putting the unit through its paces in our review, we listened to a variety of digital files, from The Unthanks (the Mount The Air album) and Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances Op.45 through to Nick Cave’s Wild God set, and the NAD didn’t skip a beat.
“It has the…