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MikeH said:
Unlike the limited edition C 3050 LE, the C 3050 will have the BluOS MDC 2.0 module as an add-on option, and will come wrapped in a wood grain look vinyl, rather than actual walnut.

this is what it says on the listing now and what was in their email newsletter this AM.
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Maybe that’s what their rep was trying to say but didn’t do a very good job of it.
 
I’m seriously considering selling my rotel integrated amp and buying this new NAD but kinda seems like there’s a lack of analog inputs? If you’re not using the phono stage there’s only really one line level Analog input right? I’ve got an external DAC and external phono so not entirely sure how I’d hook those up to this…or am I just a dumb dumb

NADC3050LErear_4a425412-61e8-4677-bc7a-88c9fc465c33.jpg
 
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MikeH said:
I’m seriously considering selling my rotel integrated amp and buying this new NAD but kinda seems like there’s a lack of analog inputs? If you’re not using the phono stage there’s only really one line level Analog input right? I’ve got an external DAC and external phono so not entirely sure how I’d hook those up to this…or am I just a dumb dumb

NADC3050LErear_4a425412-61e8-4677-bc7a-88c9fc465c33.jpg
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Is the main in not a standard line in with a different title?
 
MikeH said:
I’m seriously considering selling my rotel integrated amp and buying this new NAD but kinda seems like there’s a lack of analog inputs? If you’re not using the phono stage there’s only really one line level Analog input right? I’ve got an external DAC and external phono so not entirely sure how I’d hook those up to this…or am I just a dumb dumb

NADC3050LErear_4a425412-61e8-4677-bc7a-88c9fc465c33.jpg
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Honestly it’d likely be a waste of money to buy an amp that had a built in DAC when you own a standalone. I think id spend the same money on an amp that hadn't had money spent on a DAC in it and so was a better analogue performer which is what you actually need more.
 
David A. said:
I’ve ditched my Sonos aspirations. It just doesn’t seem practical.

So, for the sake of audio quality integrity with the desire to maintain a small footprint, here’s what I’ve decided on (RIP My Wallet).

U-Turn Orbit Custom with Grado Gold 3 cart > PS 100 > Warfendale Denton 80’s.

Eventually I’ll upgrade to a Rega P3 ? I don’t think there’s a need to update the tt currently.

I was feeling really dirty earlier when spewing out a Music Box Classics > Klipsh Fives setup. But apperently there are no powered speakers that exist that have decent phonon stages?
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If you’re looking at the Sprout, you might also look at the Rega Brio. I love mine. The MSRP has gone a little bonkers but you can usually find demo/open boxes around that $800 mark. It’s got a respectable onboard phono preamp as well and the footprint is about the size of a sneaker box but half as high.
 
MikeH said:
I’m seriously considering selling my rotel integrated amp and buying this new NAD but kinda seems like there’s a lack of analog inputs? If you’re not using the phono stage there’s only really one line level Analog input right? I’ve got an external DAC and external phono so not entirely sure how I’d hook those up to this…or am I just a dumb dumb

NADC3050LErear_4a425412-61e8-4677-bc7a-88c9fc465c33.jpg
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This thing really peaked my interest when it was announced, I did like my NAD amp a lot and I would be curious to hear this thing, but the more I ponder it, the more I lose interest. To your point, coming from an analog thought process, this only gives me a bit more power, and, honestly, the looks. It is a nice looking piece, but I have no qualms with my M2, it really does give me all I need and nothing I don't.

That said, I'm sure it's a great piece of kit for the right person.
 
Mather said:
Give me real wood grain or give me death.

I think you guys would really start to envy the real thing if you were to get this vinyl wrapped one. There is no way this isn't going to look cheap and weather poorly over time.
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That’s why I think I would have preferred just the black painted metal on all the other NAD products. The vinyl will make it look like Fischer Price.
 
Mather said:
Give me real wood grain or give me death.

I think you guys would really start to envy the real thing if you were to get this vinyl wrapped one. There is no way this isn't going to look cheap and weather poorly over time.
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I gotta agree, I think they should have just gone with the black casing, but they knew the "wood" look was a selling point, so they cut that corner to keep the cost down on the standard version.
 
I'm just a little surprised that they didn't keep the real wood. If you're going to do it, do it right. It can't be THAT expensive to add a super thin veneer of wood to the cabinet. I mean I saw the limited one in person and it's was gorgeous but the wood was like one micron thick. The materials couldn't have cost much.
 
Mather said:
I'm just a little surprised that they didn't keep the real wood. If you're going to do it, do it right. It can't be THAT expensive to add a super thin veneer of wood to the cabinet. I mean I saw the limited one in person and it's was gorgeous but the wood was like one micron thick. The materials couldn't have cost much.
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Regardless of if it's a couple pennies or dollars, it cost less and they/we know that most consumers will live with "it looks just like" and move on, so multiplying whatever cost cut there was across however many units produced world wide, was money in their pockets.
 
AnthonyI said:
Regardless of if it's a couple pennies or dollars, it cost less and they/we know that most consumers will live with "it looks just like" and move on, so multiplying whatever cost cut there was across however many units produced world wide, was money in their pockets.
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I think it’s retailing a fair bit cheaper than the limited too from my recollection so it’s not all penny pinching for profit.

As a consumer I’d rather pay the extra to get the proper thing.
 
Mather said:
I'm just a little surprised that they didn't keep the real wood. If you're going to do it, do it right. It can't be THAT expensive to add a super thin veneer of wood to the cabinet. I mean I saw the limited one in person and it's was gorgeous but the wood was like one micron thick. The materials couldn't have cost much.
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With real wood veneer it’s not the materials it’s the labour. Doing it right and grain matching is pretty skilled and laborious.
 
Mather said:
I'm just a little surprised that they didn't keep the real wood. If you're going to do it, do it right. It can't be THAT expensive to add a super thin veneer of wood to the cabinet. I mean I saw the limited one in person and it's was gorgeous but the wood was like one micron thick. The materials couldn't have cost much.
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They wanted something limited for the anniversary and to drum up interest but also keep the insides the same as the non limited it seems. More surprised that they didn’t do the black but the wood vinyl does look nice at least in the photos. It probably won’t look great long-term in person.
 
MikeH said:
They wanted something limited for the anniversary and to drum up interest but also keep the insides the same as the non limited it seems. More surprised that they didn’t do the black but the wood vinyl does look nice at least in the photos. It probably won’t look great long-term in person.
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Yeah I get the reasoning for doing it in the first place but vinyl is cheap, and it looks cheap and I'm just surprised they decided to go that route instead of either sticking with wood, or just going black. I've always liked the NAD esthetics and it's disappointing (to me) that they went the cheap route on this. I'm low key mad at them now.
 
Mather said:
Yeah I get the reasoning for doing it in the first place but vinyl is cheap, and it looks cheap and I'm just surprised they decided to go that route instead of either sticking with wood, or just going black. I've always liked the NAD esthetics and it's disappointing (to me) that they went the cheap route on this. I'm low key mad at them now.
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I think they wanted to bring it to market at a lower price than the limited so cut one of the MDCs out, but allowing you to buy it separate and add it back, and dropping the real wood veneer. It should have been black metal though as the saving. Randomly the old marantz’s had a vinyl veneer top too, unseen under the wood box, which just seems extra weird to me…
 
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