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  1. Home
  2. Amplifiers
  3. NAD C 3050 vs LEAK Stereo 230
NAD C 3050 vs LEAK Stereo 230
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NAD C 3050

Integrated Amplifier | 100 watts RMS into 8-ohms

NAD C 3050
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LEAK Stereo 230

Integrated Amplifier | 75 watts RMS into 8-ohms

LEAK Stereo 230
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NAD C 3050 NAD C 3050
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LEAK Stereo 230 LEAK Stereo 230
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NAD C 3050
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LEAK Stereo 230
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NAD C 3050 vs LEAK Stereo 230 Integrated Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing C 3050 and Stereo 230, two Integrated Amplifiers from NAD and LEAK. Let's have a brief look at the main features of NAD C 3050 and LEAK Stereo 230 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key SpecsNAD C 3050LEAK Stereo 230
BrandNAD
Canada · founded 1972
LEAK
United Kingdom · founded 1934
Power100 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 100 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms75 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 115 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
Amplifier classClass DClass A/B
Built-in DACYesYes
Phono inputYesYes
Headphone output1/41/4
BluetoothYesYes
Weight9.98kg / 22lbs12.73kg / 28lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)5-1/16" x 17-11/16" x 14-5/16"
128.6 x 449.3 x 363.5 mm
5-3/4" x 12-15/16" x 17-3/8"
147.0mm x 329.0mm x 442.0mm

The rest of this page covers where each one wins, how they compare in size, their inputs and outputs, the full specifications and a verdict.


Reasons to choose NAD C 3050 over LEAK Stereo 230
Watts into 8-ohms 100 watts vs 75 watts Delivers higher power into 8-ohms speakers
Bluetooth Version v5.0 vs v4.0 Higher transfer rate and range
Height 128mm vs 147mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Reasons to choose LEAK Stereo 230 over NAD C 3050
MSRP Price(*) 1,695USD vs 1,899USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Handheld Remote Yes vs No Control the amplifier by the included RC
Watts into 4-ohms 115 watts vs 100 watts Delivers higher power into 4-ohms speakers
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) 0.003% vs 0.03% Less Harmonic Distortion
Signal to Noise Ratio 109 dB vs 95 dB Higher ratings results in cleaner sound
Max Sample Rate 768kHz vs 384kHz Play higher resolution media
Base Surface Area 1454.2cm2/ 225.4inch2 vs 1633.2cm2/ 253.1inch2 takes less space in your room

Size, drawn to scale

FRONTNAD C 3050 front: 449 x 129 mm (17.7 x 5.1 in)LEAK Stereo 230 front: 329 x 147 mm (13 x 5.8 in)NAD C 3050449 × 129 mmLEAK Stereo 230329 × 147 mmTOP / FOOTPRINTNAD C 3050 footprint: 449 x 364 mm (17.7 x 14.3 in)LEAK Stereo 230 footprint: 329 x 442 mm (13 x 17.4 in)NAD C 3050449 × 364 mmLEAK Stereo 230329 × 442 mm
Both amplifiers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.

One scale for both, aligned at the back panels the way they would sit against a wall, so the deeper one visibly stands further out.

NAD C 3050 needs about 12% more shelf area. LEAK Stereo 230 is 79mm deeper - the measurement that decides whether a rack door closes. LEAK Stereo 230 is 18mm taller.

Inputs and Outputs

The input and output selections that are offered is an important factor when comparing two amplifiers. Here you can find how the I/O selections of the NAD C 3050 and LEAK Stereo 230 differs from each other.

NAD C 3050 Inputs
  • Phono Input
  • 1 Optical Digital Input
  • 1 Coaxial Digital Input
  • USB Input:
LEAK Stereo 230 Inputs
  • Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
  • Phono Input
  • 1 Optical Digital Input
  • 1 Coaxial Digital Input
  • USB Input:
    • USB-B (Connects to your Windows or Mac PC)
    • USB-A (Update only)
  • HDMI ARC
Outputs
  • Preamp Outputs
  • Pre-out/Main-in Loop
  • 1/4 Headphone Output
Outputs
  • Stereo RCA Preamp Outputs
  • 1/4 Headphone Output
LEAK Stereo 230 Back View
LEAK Stereo 230 Back View (Click the image for the larger version)

NAD C 3050 vs LEAK Stereo 230 full specifications

Every spec we hold for both, side by side
SpecificationNAD C 3050LEAK Stereo 230
Overview
BrandNADLEAK
TypeIntegrated Amplifier with built-in DACIntegrated Amplifier with built-in DAC
Channels22
Amplifier classClass DClass A/B
Output devicesSolid StateSolid State
ReleasedMay 20232023
List price$1,899$1,695
SeriesClassicStereo
Power and performance
Power into 8 ohms100 W RMS75 W RMS
Power into 4 ohms100 W RMS115 W RMS
Power, as rated100 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 100 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms75 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms and 115 watts x 2 channels into 4 ohms
Minimum impedance4 ohms4 ohms
Signal-to-noise ratio95 dB109 dB
THD0.03%0.003%
Frequency bandwidth20 Hz-20 kHz20 Hz-20 kHz
Digital and DAC
Built-in DACYesYes
DAC chip–ES9038Q2M 32-bit
Max bit depth32-bit32-bit
Max sample rate384 kHz768 kHz
DSD–DSD512
Network and streaming
Ethernet–No
BluetoothYesYes
Bluetooth version5.04.0
Bluetooth codecs–AptX,AAC,SBC
AirPlay 2NoNo
ChromecastNoNo
RoonNoNo
BluOSNoNo
HEOSNoNo
DTS Play-FiNoNo
Inputs
Analogue inputs–2
RCA inputs2–
XLR inputsNo–
Phono inputYesYes
Phono type–MM
Optical digital11
Coaxial digital11
USB inputYesYes
USB type–USB-B (Connects to your Windows or Mac PC),USB-A (Update only)
HDMI input1Yes
HDMI ARC / eARC–ARC
Outputs
Preamp outputsYesStereo RCA
Pre-out / main-in loopYesNo
Subwoofer outputSingle–
Headphone output1/41/4
Features and control
Room correctionNo–
CD playerNoNo
Handheld remote–Yes
Physical
Dimensions (H x W x D)128.6 x 449.3 x 363.5 mm147.0mm x 329.0mm x 442.0mm
Dimensions, inches5-1/16 x 17-11/16 x 14-5/16 inch5-3/4inch x 12-15/16inch x 17-3/8inch
Weight9.98 kg (22.00 lbs)12.73 kg (28.00 lbs)
Finishes–Walnut / Silver
Removable power cordIEC 3-prongIEC 3-prong
Parts warranty2 Years3 Years
Labour warranty2 Years3 Years

A dash means the manufacturer does not publish that figure, or it does not apply. 55 specifications compared.

Verdict

No single best amplifier here. What decides it is what you have to drive, what you need to plug in, and how much of the system you want in one box.

AreaBetterWhy
PowerANAD C 3050 has more power - 100W against 75W into 8 ohms. That is about 1.2dB, which is a small step in loudness but real headroom on peaks.
Grip on hard loadsBLEAK Stereo 230 holds up better into a 4-ohm load: its output increases strongly to 115W, where the other barely increases. That matters with demanding speakers far more than the 8-ohm figure does.
Noise floorBLEAK Stereo 230 is the quieter design on paper - 109dB against 95dB. Audible mainly with sensitive speakers in a quiet room.
Built-in DACBBoth decode on board. LEAK Stereo 230 goes higher - 768kHz against 384kHz. Very few recordings exist above 192kHz, so treat this as headroom, not as sound quality.
Room to growAOnly NAD C 3050 offers a pre-out/main-in loop - which decides whether you can add a subwoofer or a power amplifier later without replacing the box.
Amplifier classdependsNAD C 3050 is Class D and LEAK Stereo 230 is Class A/B. Class D runs cool and draws almost nothing at idle; Class A/B runs warm and is the long-established mainstream choice. Modern examples of both measure well - judge by the rest of the page.
PriceBLEAK Stereo 230 costs less - $1,695 against $1,899 at list.

A NAD C 3050  B LEAK Stereo 230
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both amplifiers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.

Which should you choose?

LEAK Stereo 230 has the edge on paper, though not by much. The rows marked "depends" are more likely to decide this than the score is. If your speakers are a difficult load - 4 ohms nominal, big woofers, or a sensitivity in the low 80s - LEAK Stereo 230 is the safer partner, because how an amplifier behaves when the impedance drops matters more than its 8-ohm rating.

What a spec sheet cannot show: how either sounds with your speakers, how the controls feel day to day, and what the app is like to live with - which is where most all-in-one amplifiers are actually won or lost. Power figures are the manufacturers' own and are not measured to a common standard, so treat small differences as noise. If you can hear both, that will tell you more than any row above.

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