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NAD 3020A Integrated Amp

So I have a series of questions re: a NAD 3020A I just bought on Ebay. I'm just getting started on trying to build a good system so please excuse my lack of knowledge.

1. NAD 3020A Amp hooked to JBL 4312A Control Monitors and new REGA RP-1 Turntable. NAD is replacing a early 90's Sansui RZ-1000. I would have thought there would have been an appreciable difference in sound quality but I'm not sure that there is. Can't tell if it better, worse or just different.

2. NAD delivers a electrical snap sound to the speaker which Sansui did not. Is this cause for concern? Should I have this unit tested / looked over?

3. As this is an older amp it has limited inputs. Is it ok to run IPOD or DVD into the AUX input? Also no CD input, any ideas?
Nate
iamnate
nmmusicman
276 posts
 
I've owned both the 3020A and the 3225PE units and if your 3020A has the stock preamp/amp jumper links in place, get rid of those things and use a .5m or 1m pair of your favorite IC's. Heck, even the IC's that come stock with most budget/midline components are better than those notoriously bad sounding jumpers.

Give it a try, you have nothing to gain but much improved sound and it will most likely hold you over until you can buy that bigger amp :-)

~
ptmconsulting
1,000 posts
 
I owned a 3155 that I bought a lifetime ago when new. About 3-4 years ago I went in an inventoried all the caps, then placed an order with Digikey for Panasonic FC's and replaced them all. It was fairly simple to do and the results were that I have essentially a brand new piece of equipment for about $150.

It also made a nice improvement in the sound.
pryso
1,928 posts
 
Iamnate, specifically to your question about using an outboard amp.

Basic question, how sensitive are your JBL speakers? Does the NAD under power them or are you wondering about a better quality amp section?

I've only used mine as a full integrated (and Nmmusicman's suggestion is likely a good one) but years ago there was an audio topic program on a LA FM station called "In Fidelity". The guy who hosted that used the preamp section of a 3020 with a Dyna St 70 to drive his Quad 57 speakers. Considering how revealing the Quads are it must have had good sonic qualities. Note here I'm not suggesting the St 70 for your situation. That would be a different question.
quadophile's avatar
quadophile
418 posts
 
Nmmusicman's suggestion about replacing the jumpers with the IC is surely a great tweak for the Nad, yes it does improve the sound. I remember I used a Cable Talk Monitor 2 interconnect and there was a huge improvement. The cable which has low impedance as well as low capacitance will do the trick, I used Cable talk for this very reason.
iamnate OP
7 posts
 
I did replace the stock jumpers a few weeks ago w/ some regular old interconnects that I had laying around and I do think there was improvement. As my ear is not so finely attuned I always wonder if its a placebo though!.

I'm mainly interested in adding a power amp and using the 3020A as a preamp because it does somehow feel like its straining a bit to power the speakers. I know nothing about the whole impedance/ wattage thing w/ regard to matching amp to speakers, but something tells me these speakers need more heft.

HiFiHvn: I'll chk out the McIntosh. I've got a friend whose got an old McIntosh setup he got from his Dad that I'm eager to check out.

Thanks all f/ the suggestions...
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