Nad 3020 vs Nad 3020a

The thing with the 3020 was that it had a pretty large power supply for it's fairly lowly output power. Where so called 50W Japanese amps fell down driving difficult loads the NAD just didn't give a toss & simply supplied all the current the load needed :eyebrows:

Your 50W Jap amp with a compromised transformer & low capacitance couldn't tackle a reactive load, where as the NAD with it's 25 or 30W (8 ohm) was happy to even power severely reactive loads & deliver much more power than the Jap stuff could. They were even happy driving Linn Isobarics :)

Can I throw the NAD C series amps into the ring as well? I owned a C350 for a couple of years and it was a really gutsy amp. Mine didn't come with a phono stage but I ran a Thorens TD316/LINN LVX+/AT95 through a CA 540p into the NAD which was hooked up to a pair of Mission 773's and it all made a very agreeable noise. I paid 40 quid for my C350 off ebay ;)

I have a C350 and a C372 and they are both very good amps. I particularly like the drive of the C372.

The NADs are attacking :)

C350 for £40 is really good price, cheaper than 3020, but probably better sounding.

It is a great amp Roberto especially if you like Rock or Dance music, although it doesn't sound shabby playing delicate material either. NAD conservatively rate the C350 at 50wpc but in the real world we're probably talking closer to 70wpc. It will also not be embarrassed being fed with music from quality sources way beyond its pricepoint, as I discovered when I set mine up to demo it with my current CDP for the guy who bought it from me ;)

The 350 was just a tad "cloudy" when compared with its peers I found, but that's considerably better to listen to than a thin-toned disaster of old from the far east.. and the cost was extremely reasonable.

I used to sell the old 3020s, and while they were frequently returned (cold solder joints, etc.) loved them as they sounded VERY musical (I'd like to get one and spend just a few bucks getting it 'rugidized' for a budget system). If you are familiar with James Boyk of Performance Recordings, I believe he likes a budget system of original 3020 w/ NHT 1.1loudspeakers.
While we're on NAD, anyone have thoughts on the 216 THX amps? - I got two for free from a friend who's always upgrading.

Best,
Barry

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Originally Posted by jazzpiano

While we're on NAD, anyone have thoughts on the 216 THX amps? - I got two for free from a friend who's always upgrading.

Best,
Barry

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:lol: Ok so they aren't pretty but who gives a crap with 200W RMS per channel 8 ohms - you got the bargain of the century :D

They certainly sound rather good, very similar to the jazzed up looking versions which were the S series (I think :scratch:).

Back to the 3020I any good.

I like the idea of using the 3020 as a pre only, think this applies only to the originals ones and the 3020i. The Proton 520 has this facility, and seems to be very similar to the 3030i.

I like the Proton 520 a lot (have three of them), NAD 3130 is pretty good too.