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My NAD 3020 D proves your Class D tropes are wrong

I have a desktop integrated, the NAD 3020D which I use with custom near field monitors. It is being fed by Roon via a Squeezebox Touch and coaxial digital.

It is 5 years old and it sounds great. None of the standard myths of bad Class D sound exist here. It may lack the tube like liquid midrange of my Luxman, or the warmth of my prior Parasound but no one in this forum could hear it and go "aha, Class D!!" by itself, except maybe by the absolute lack of noise even when 3’ away from the speakers.

I’m not going to argue that this is the greatest amp ever, or that it is even a standout desktop integrated. All I am saying is that the stories about how bad Class D is compared to linear amps have been outdated for ages.

Great to see new development with GaN based Class D amps, great to see Technics using DSP feed-forward designs to overcome minor limitations in impedance matching and Atmasphere’s work on reducing measurable distortion as well but OMG stop with the "Class D was awful until just now" threads as it ignores about 30 years of steady research and innovation.
erik_squires
altx
7 posts
 
Erik, if this is too much of a rabbit trail, please disregard. If you (or anyone else) are aware, how does the NAD SQ/design compare to Naim? I have an Uniti Atom on my desk, but considered the NAD.
jwl244
64 posts
 
@decooney I wish I could say I put a ton of time in. I may have listened here and there for less than 20 hours total in a few weeks. I did not switch speakers in or out. Here's the good news... ultimately when it came down to it (to the OP's) point I did not find the NAD to be that much different than the naim. In this listening area I sit close enough that I don't know more than 40 watts unless I really wanted the whole house to party. My naim was enough. I auditioned more so to see if I could hear any large different and possibly put the NAD in my other listening area where I do need more power. The benefits is that the chassis was so much smaller and lighter in weight. NAD makes an excellent class D amp and I really don't have much bad to say. I think the differences were so subtle. 
mrklas
441 posts
 
I have been a NAD fan for years. 

I considered the digital integrated and due to the focus on digital went with the C375BEE.  A feature based decision based on being able to connect analog sources.

I'm glad it fits your purpose because NAD continues to evolve 'ease of use features' in the product line while remaining a value per dollar performer.  I think the Master Series is feature packed, approachable and powerful system.  
erik_squires OP
16,119 posts
 
Erik, if this is too much of a rabbit trail, please disregard. If you (or anyone else) are aware, how does the NAD SQ/design compare to Naim? I have an Uniti Atom on my desk, but considered the NAD.


Youd have to be more specific, and I haven’t heard that much NAD and almost no Naim at all.

NAD has been experimenting with Class D in their products. As far as I know, the hybrid Class D in the 3020D is in maybe 1 or 2 other products. The top end that NAD amps that I am aware of are pure Hypex modules without the hybrid components.
allenf1963
338 posts
 
Can someone direct me to a good source to get a better understanding of the differences in Class A, A/B, & D amplifiers?  I thank you in advance.
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