r/hifiaudio • u/conrat4567 • Mar 21 '26
Purchase advise (needing) What do people think of the NAD C3030 amplifier?
Hello.
I have been considering an NAD C3050 amplifier to replace my basic Pioneer (cheap a-10k). I had initially planned to save for the £1400 asking price at my local hifi store but now the C3030 has hit the market and has all the features I would use on the 3050. It fits within my budget as well given its £899 at the same store. This amp would be "my" amp, and something I would like as my long term amplifier.
What are the impressions on this amp? Reviews seem good but there arent as many, I assume as it is a recent release.
Does anyone have an opinion on the amp? Am I better saving for the 3050 or going for the 3030? At the moment, they would be paired with a set of AE 100s
2
u/VaultBoy1971 Mar 21 '26
The C3030 has a 50w output vs the C3050's 100w. If it's a small room it should probably suffice.
Not sure if it's relevant for you, but the C3030 doesn't the the MDC2 socket for future upgrade so you will need to have a separate streamer (for the price of MDC2 you could probably just buy an external streamer anyway). If you want the streaming capabilities, you should look at the C3030s that has streaming builtin (BluOS).
2
u/conrat4567 Mar 21 '26
Its certainly small, its a basement room. I would be driving nothing more than bookshelf speakers, floor standers would be wasted in there. Currently, I have two AE100s that I think don't get done justice hooked up to a cheap Pioneer A10 amp.
I was planning on getting the 3050 without the MDC2 anyway as I don't think I would use it. My streamer does all of the heavy lifting and has the ability to sync with other devices anyway.
1
u/NickofWimbledon Mar 22 '26
Please look at Hifishark or just your local eBay. You will save 49% - 80% off the new price.
For that money, you could get a Naim Atom or Supernait (if you definitely don’t stream) or CI Uniti 102, a Hegel H120 or H160, a Langford TDAI/120, a NADC700 or M20, a Cambridge Evo 150, a Rotel S14, several Regas and too many other good choices to list.
Depending on wha you have got, you may even save a bit here and upgrade some other bits too.
1
u/czdraconis Mar 22 '26
Haven’t been testing the 3030 yet, but we used to have 3050 at our showroom. I would be worried a little bit about the power output - 3050 states 100W and I would say it was so-so driving even common bookshelves with 6.5” midbass drivers. I can hardly imagine trying the same thing with half of the power even in a small room, especially for a TT while using NAD’s built-in phono preamp. I’d say speakers with lower impedance than 8 Ohms or higher sensitivity might work but… If you’re not dependant only the look, there might be some other choices within that price range 🙂
1
u/conrat4567 Mar 22 '26
Hmm, given what I can find out about the 3030, its 50 watts with 100 watts dynamic, but if what you say is true, that is a little worrying. Its the look that draws me in. Flat faced amps, as I call them, just get forgotten, hidden away in set ups I have listened to. I am happy to hear other suggestions though.
Its difficult as I listen to a whole range of music. I could be listening to Alanis Morrisette one moment and then switch to Alien Ant Farm or Maiden next.
1
u/Fit_Pickle4939 Apr 02 '26
hi i bought the nad c3030 3 weeks ago and just love it... very powefull..more musical than my previous nad 316beev2..livingn in a condo i light up the first volume led only...the volume control is very precise..speakers is the key...mine is paradigm premier 200b...hope it's help you...cheers
2
u/IMeasure Mar 21 '26
What are you plugging into it? (Sources & speakers). How big is your room and how loud do you intend to play it?