About the NAD D 1050
Classic NAD performance in a modern package
Classic NAD performance in a modern package
The D 1050 digital-to-analog converter combines over 40 years of NAD engineering excellence with a sleek new industrial design. This desktop-friendly DAC lets your computer and your hi-fi system or headphones make beautiful music together. The D 1050 accepts digital audio files from your PC via USB, bypassing your computer's built-in sound card for a far more exciting listening experience. You'll hear layers of musical detail previously obscured by the noisy environment inside your PC — the warm, natural decay of a guitar chord, or reverberations echoing in a concert hall. On your best recordings, each instrument and vocal will stand out clearly and distinctly in its own separate space, allowing you to follow each one note-for-note.
The D 1050 can also breathe new life into your disc player or music streamer. Simply connect it to your player's optical or coaxial digital output to experience added depth, clarity, and focus on your favorite tracks.
"Damn, this NAD is fun to listen to!"
"I like being surprised and the NAD D 1050 surprised me insofar as how much pure listening enjoyment it offers. With a host of digital inputs including an asynchronous 24/192-capable USB port, a very nice sounding headphone amp, and single-ended and balanced outputs, the D 1050 wraps up a lot of functions into a visually and tactilely appealing package that also happens to be damn fun to listen to."
— From Michael Lavorgna's review in Audiostream, August 7, 2013
Read the full review
The compact D 1050 can rest vertically or horizontally, so it can fit just about anywhere.
24-bit/192kHz asynchronous USB input
The D 1050's USB input improves your computer's sound and is capable of playing high-resolution music files for sound quality that even trumps CDs. (Free USB driver download required for Windows® PC playback.) The USB connection employs asynchronous re-clocking technology. This advanced design precisely controls the timing of your computer's USB output for vanishingly low levels of jitter — errors in the timing of the data stream that can make music sound harsh and edgy, and smear subtle details.
The devil's in the details
NAD packed a lot of premium parts inside the D 1050, then meticulously tuned them for optimum audio performance. NAD chose multi-layer circuit boards and micro-miniaturized surface mount components soldered with lead-free high silver content solder to ensure ultra-short, impedance-controlled signal paths. Analog outputs include single-ended RCA and balanced XLR connections for flexible hookup with a wide variety of audio gear. And NAD included a premium quality headphone amplifier with an independent volume control to provide powerful sound for private listening.
You won't find a lot of unnecessary buttons cluttering the streamlined D 1050. There's an extra-large knob for headphone volume and a soft-touch button for selecting your music source. The display shows source and the incoming sample rate of your music. The DAC's compact enclosure can stand vertically on your desktop or a bookshelf to save space, or be placed horizontally in a component rack or cabinet.
Product highlights:
- supports sample rates up to 24-bit/192kHz for listening to high-resolution digital music sources
- asynchronous USB technology for reduced timing jitter and better sound on USB input
- front-panel sampling rate indicator verifies incoming source rate
- high-performance headphone amplifier with minijack (3.5mm) front-panel output and volume control
- specially designed low-noise headphone circuitry accommodates a wide range of 'phones up to 600 ohms
- two optical and two RCA coaxial digital audio inputs
- USB (Type B) input for connection to a computer
- fixed-level RCA and balanced XLR audio outputs
- supported sample rates for USB and coaxial inputs: 32/44.1/48/88.2/96/172.4/192kHz
- supported sample rates for optical inputs: 32/44.1/48/88.2/96kHz
- operating system requirements: Windows® XP (Service Pack 2 or higher), Windows 7, and Mac® OS X® 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and later
- NAD USB 2.0 driver required for playback on Windows computers (free USB driver download available from NAD's website)
- Mac OS X 10.6 or later supports plug-and-play operation, so no dedicated driver is required
- frequency response: 20Hz to 96kHz (±0.5 dB)
- THD: less than 0.001%
- signal-to-noise ratio: greater than 115 dB
- external power supply included
- 4 self-adhesive rubber feet included
- 2-5/16"W x 7-5/16"H x 9-5/16"D (vertical orientation)
- weight: 2.2 lbs. (without power supply)
- If connecting to a TV, please make sure you can select "PCM" output in your TV's audio menu. This DAC cannot decode multi-channel Dolby® Digital signals.
- warranty: 1 year
- MFR # D1050
What's in the box:
- External USB DAC
- AC power adapter (w/ attached 5' DC cord)
- 4 AC plug insert (US/AU/UK/EU)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Quick Setup Guide
Scratch & Dent items may be missing non-essential accessories. In some cases the manufacturer's accessories have been replaced with generic equivalents.
See the difference between "Open Box" and "Scratch & Dent" Outlet items
Customer reviews for NAD D 1050
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More details on the NAD D 1050
Features & specs
Design | ||
---|---|---|
Type | --- | |
Built-in Rechargable Battery | --- | |
Built-in Headphone Amplifier | ||
Output Power | --- | |
Output Impedance (Unbalanced) | --- | |
Output Impedance (Balanced) | --- | |
Audio Specs | ||
Bit Depth (USB) | --- | |
Max Sampling Rate (USB) | --- | |
Bit Depth (S/PDIF) | --- | |
Max Sampling Rate S/PDIF | --- | |
S/N Ratio (Unbalanced, in dB) | --- | |
S/N Ratio (Balanced, in dB) | --- | |
THD (Unbalanced) | --- | |
THD (Balanced) | --- | |
Supported File Types | ||
PCM | --- | |
DSD | --- | |
DXD | --- | |
MQA | --- | |
Inputs | ||
Total Inputs | 5 | |
USB | Type B | |
Optical Digital | 2 | |
Coaxial Digital | 2 | |
3.5mm Digital | None | |
Stereo RCA Analog | None | |
Stereo 3.5mm Analog | None | |
Stereo XLR Analog | --- | |
Headphone Outputs | ||
3.5mm Unbalanced | --- | |
1/4-inch Unbalanced | --- | |
4.4mm Balanced | --- | |
XLR4 Balanced | --- | |
Other Headphone Outs | --- | |
Line Level & Digital Outs | ||
RCA Line Out | 1 | |
3.5mm Line Out | None | |
XLR Line Out | --- | |
Subwoofer Out | None | |
Optical Digital Out | None | |
Coaxial Digital Out | None | |
Wireless Connectivity | ||
Bluetooth | --- | |
Wi-Fi | --- | |
Apple-compatible | --- | |
Android-compatible | --- | |
General Info | ||
Width (inches) | 2-5/16 | |
Height (inches) | 7-5/16 | |
Depth (inches) | 9-5/16 | |
Weight | 2.2 lbs. | |
Parts Warranty | 2 Years | |
Labor Warranty | 2 Years |
Product Research
Features
External DAC: The NAD 1050 is a high performance external DAC which lets you stream your high-resolution music files on your computer (via USB) to your home audio system (via RCA or XLR) with exceptional sound quality. It also provides optical and coaxial digital inputs for connection of other digital audio devices (like your Blu-ray or CD player). In addition an integrated headphone amplifier lets you listen to your digital music files privately with great sound.
Delta-Sigma 24-Bit/192kHz Architecture: The NAD 1050 employs a Delta-Sigma 24-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog converter (DAC), active oversampling filters, and separate precisions clocks. This configuration effectively reduces jitter (digital timing errors) to prevent unwanted noise and distortion, while maintaining a linear phase response and natural sound. All your digital music is bit perfect with nothing upscaled or downscaled.
Note: The NAD 1050 supports the following sampling rates; 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 172.4kHz, and 192kHz.
Ultra-Short Signal Paths: The D 1050's analog and digital circuits use ultra short impedance-controlled signal paths made possible by multi-layer circuit boards and micro-miniaturized surface mount components which are soldered with lead-free high silver content solder. These details contribute to reduced noise and excellent sound quality.
Asynchronous USB (Type-B) Input: The NAD D 1050 features an "asynchronous" USB (type-B) input to insure the lowest possible jitter (timing errors) from your connected Windows or Mac computer. The D 1050's USB input supports up to 24-bit/192kHz high-resolution music files on your computer. The D 1050 is compatible with Mac OS X Snow Leopard (version 10.6) or later version; no additional USB driver required. Its also compatible with Windows (XP service pack 2 or higher and 7); additional USB driver download required from NAD website.
Optical/Coaxial Digital Inputs: The NAD D 1050 is fitted with two digital coaxial (RCA) inputs and two optical (toslink) digital inputs for connection of your digital audio sources; like Blu-ray/DVD players, CD/SACD players, satellite/cable boxes, or network audio receivers. The D 1050 only supports a PCM digital audio signal (not Dolby Digital/DTS).
Balanced & Unbalanced Analog Outputs: The NAD D 1050 is fitted with both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) analog audio outputs to connect to your integrated amplifier or AV receiver. Output impedance is extremely low, minimizing the effect of connecting cables and keeping noise vanishingly low.
Discrete Headphone Amp: The D 1050 also includes a premium discrete headphone amplifier output with a high-quality volume control for connection of a set of headphones. A specially designed low noise headphone circuitry accommodates a wide range of headphones, even 600-ohm studio models. When headphones are connected, the DAC's unbalanced and balanced audio outputs are muted.
External Power Supply: The NAD D 1050 includes an external power supply to provide isolation from ultra-precise audio circuits for better audio performance and less distortion.
- Input: 100-240V~50/60Hz, 0.75A
- Output: 5.0V - 400mA/20W
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Customer Q&A
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This Dac works really fine. I connect a digital music tuner to it, blu-ray player, apple TV and they all sound better instantly. The headphone amp sounds so good and powerful that I think can drive any headphones. NAD always make great stuff. Thanks to Crutchfield also for their great service.
M.D. from new York City, NY