NAD 6050C Cassette Deck

Little is documented about the NAD 6050C in the usual service manuals or product catalogs. Almost everything known about this deck comes from one thorough review in Audio (January 1982, p.60). The magazine covered it as a straightforward, well-engineered cassette deck with strong performance at an attractive price.

The 6050C had Dolby B and C noise reduction. Audio measured frequency response of 40 Hz to 15 kHz with standard tape, and out to 17 kHz with metal tape. Harmonic distortion was rated at one percent at 0 dB. Signal-to-noise ratios were 56 dBA without noise reduction, 65 dBA with Dolby B, and 70 dBA with Dolby C. The magazine found those figures competitive for the deck's intended market.

The reviewers were particularly impressed with the flatness of the frequency response. They called it "among the best ever seen for any recorder at any price" (Audio, January 1982, p.62). Play speed accuracy was good, running just 0.2% fast, and the playback level indication was very close to ideal. The sample tested worked reliably throughout the review period. The reviewer did note occasional tape loops inside the cassette, which seem more likely tied to the specific tape shells used than to the deck itself.

The 6050C measured 16½ inches wide by 4½ inches high by 9½ inches deep. That is a standard mid-sized component that would have fit comfortably into a period system stack. Input sensitivity was 0.6 mV for microphone and 90 mV for line. Line output was 580 mV, and headphone output was 60 mV into 8 ohms.

The instruction manual, which Audio saw in draft form, was praised for its clarity. It included tutorial sections to help users understand noise reduction and tape selection.

Beyond the Audio review, very little record survives. There are no advertising campaigns and no known service literature. For collectors, the 6050C appears to be a competent, honest cassette deck from NAD's early-1980s lineup.

Known specifications (from Audio review):