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NAD D 3020 Hybrid Digital Amplifier $400.76 Delivered @ GraysOnline eBay

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NAD D 3020 Hybrid Digital Amplifier $400.76 Delivered @ GraysOnline eBay
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[Deactivated] on 19/04/2017 - 20:19 ebay.com.au (824 clicks)
Last edited 20/04/2017 - 00:29 by 1 other user
C20SHOP

This little amplifier has some amazing reviews online.
Whathifi rated this the best amplifier up to about AUD$1000 in 2013.
https://www.whathifi.com/nad/d-3020/review

The features are quite comprehensive for this little amplifier. It has an internal DAC, an aptX-capable Bluetooth connection, USB, coaxial and twin optical inputs. It also has 2 analogue inputs among other things. It also has a subwoofer output. I think it would make an awesome minimalist setup.

I have not read a single review that doesn't rave about this little 30W amp and cannot see it available for anything lower than around $600.

Original C20SHOP deal

Hope it's useful to some of you.

Electrical & Electronics Amplifier Hi-Fi NAD

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closed Comments

  • pharcyde on 19/04/2017 - 20:26
    +3

    Inb4 '$400 for a little box? My apple ear phones work just fine'

    But seriously, this is a great unit. Used it at my friends house and work be a terrific pick if you're new to the market.

    • Dave Id on 20/04/2017 - 14:24
      -3

      1980 says Hello :)

  • gimli on 19/04/2017 - 20:52
    +1

    is this still worth it if you only use it as a headphone amp

    • tor on 19/04/2017 - 21:24

      There'a a DAC only version D1050, which includes a headphone amp. But probably not as easily available as this one, and also less resale value.

  • djmm on 19/04/2017 - 21:12

    Damn sad to see that hifi demand/market has been dwindling to this discount state.

    • gimli on 19/04/2017 - 21:17
      +6

      why is it sad. You do realise this is ozbargain?

  • Sage on 19/04/2017 - 21:33
    +1

    I got two NADs.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2017 - 21:36
      +1

      Go !

    • supnigs super skids on 20/04/2017 - 02:46
      +1

      BS I've seen your wide black box..

  • C0mbat on 19/04/2017 - 22:02
    +8

    I've spent many years as an "audiophile" spending thousands of dollars on separate systems and cabling. When the class d digital amplifiers started to appear 10 years ago for around $50 (which is what this amplifier is no doubt based on) I realised that I'd probably wasted most of my money on amplifiers and dacs. For example, dacs are so good now that it's really difficult to tell any difference at all in double blind testing. Amps and DACs really don't make much difference and the industry had duped me. And I had been really duped on cabling which I had also spent thousands.

    The one thing I do still buy in to is good quality speakers but now a days the law of diminishing returns is greater than ever. Speakers for a few hundred dollars aren't much different from those worth thousands.

    Audio technology hasn't change enough in terms of sound for the top end manufacturers to stay ahead. The only real change has been convenience. I.e. Size, connectivity, portability.

    The high market has died for a very good reason and I for one am delighted as I don't waste money any more. I have reasonable active speakers and top end earphones but don't change them every year.

    • gimli on 19/04/2017 - 22:19

      what about headphones?
      do you think its worth getting amp for headphones

      • Diji1 on 19/04/2017 - 22:24

        If the headphones require it.

      • Mr Mrrtn on 19/04/2017 - 22:36

        Some headphones have higher impedance, meaning they need more power to work optimally (e.g. Underpowered headphones often lack in Bass)

        Some people swear by high impedance headphones, quoting better soundstage, etc. Associating high impedance with better quality. (This may be true)

        There are some really nice low impedance headphones out there that will give you an enjoyable listening experience. In lieu of saving $$$ you could start with a pair of low Ohm cans and see how you go.

        IEM's generally have really low power requirements

      • krisspy on 20/04/2017 - 00:44

        To get the volume you want, yes. My beyer T1 sounds the same on a yamaha receiver, hpa-2 (dedicated headphone amp) and a fiio e18 portable amp/dac. Changing amps isnt the answer, using EQ or actually getting headphones/speakers with your sound preference is.

    • Diji1 on 19/04/2017 - 22:24
      +1

      The high end market hasn't died at all and there are more deluded people out there than ever hearing differences that don't exist etc. They're currently buying 24/192 recordings even though the human ear is incapable of discerning between it and CD quality and other silly things.

    • Mr Mrrtn on 19/04/2017 - 22:27

      This

    • astrotrain on 19/04/2017 - 23:49
      +1

      Can i ask what sort of setup you are running with these days? I just recently bought a turntable after years of collecting records purely for their artwork is this something i could use or is this purely for digital setups? The audiophile industry confuses me to no end

    • congo on 20/04/2017 - 00:22

      Thanks. So you suggest investing in a decent (not over the top) speakers, headphones and amp/dac?
      Which speaker, hp, amp/dac do you recommend?

      Thanks

    • krisspy on 20/04/2017 - 00:42
      +1

      Second this. If your amp isnt distorting or clipping, then it's fine. Speakers dont 'magically' get better with different amps, unless you're coloring it on purpose eg. tube amps then you're better off spending on a speaker which you like the sound of.

      • lesterfreamon on 20/04/2017 - 00:48

        Perhaps you haven't spent the time trying different amplifiers with your speakers? Every amplifier will have an effect on the speaker. It's all about finding the right synergy with any stereo system.

        Have you ever tried listening to music through an AVR then compared that to a dedicated stereo integrated amplifier? Big difference in musical reproduction.

        • krisspy on 20/04/2017 - 00:56

          Observer bias, i've compared my a3000 with a pair of emotiva monoblocks and a multitude of dacs. Other than volume there was no difference. These were on a pair of BW 683s, so it's not high end by any means. Synergy just reminds me of the babble they propagate on forums like headfi. If the amp is coloring the sound, it aint doing it's job properly.

        • lesterfreamon on 20/04/2017 - 00:58

          @krisspy:

          Clearly you have made up your mind on the subject…

        • krisspy on 20/04/2017 - 01:06

          @lesterfreamon: Most AVR's nowadays have a passthrough mode to eliminate any coloring in the sound, that and discrete channel amps make it no different to a stereo amp. Speakers dont need gobs of power. The rating they have is just a suggestion of what it may need when you're running it on reference or above volumes and it blasts through a crescendo or something. Wolfson vs cirrus vs burr brown dacs … i doubt anyone will tell the difference in a blind test.

          What differences in reproduction did you notice from avr vs stereo amps?

        • Diji1 on 20/04/2017 - 01:39

          @krisspy: >Synergy just reminds me of the babble they propagate on forums like headfi

          Well, not in the part where they actually discuss audio quality properly. Reminds me of audiofool babble though, that's for sure.

          Of course if you're trying to judge your own equipment against itself you've already lost because you fail to understand how we percieve sound and the role of confirmation bias and that it applies to you like anyone else.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2017 - 12:20

          @krisspy: Amplifiers have different topologies. I cannot possibly see how they will all sound the same other than volume levels. In guitar amps, Marshall copied Fender exactly (other than what appears to be an oversight) in their first amps. They are basically 2 of the 4 types of guitar sounds nowadays. VERY different. Even if they were made the same, different transformers make a huge difference. I simply cannot agree with you based upon my audio experiences.

    • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2017 - 06:36
      +2

      I'd say you're mostly right, except the high end hasn't died, it's just gotten more affordable.

      Used to be you needed to spend $1200 to get a decent surround amp. You can now get a very decent amp for $400. Same for speakers. Used to be anything less than $1000 was bad. Now even the $500 speakers are decent. Same for headphones. I'm stunned at how good even $300 headphones sound.

      There will always be the idiots spending $4000 on gold plated oxygen free power cables, and I just think those people are idiots, but the high end is now very affordable. A full home theatre setup for $2500 is achievable and the quality will be excelllent.

      Class D amplifiers are yet another way to get high end sound at a budget price. I'm just annoyed the class D amplifiers are only stereo for now. I'm hanging out for a surround class D amplifier with hdmi inputs.

      • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2017 - 12:14

        Good point about the class D surround amps. Never seen one. They would be tiny! I would be all over them.

  • lesterfreamon on 19/04/2017 - 23:03
    +2

    Any potential buyers should be aware of the quality issues with all NAD products. They have a very high failure rate and this particular series was brought in by Qualifi who are no longer the distributor.

    Many retailers will not carry the NAD range any more.

    Their Master Series range is fortunately subject to much more stringent quality control.

    • beatsntoons on 20/04/2017 - 15:38

      Poor qualtiy with NAD products? What the?

  • BadGiraffe on 19/04/2017 - 23:53

    Even after the reading the comments, I still have no idea what the hell this thing is.

    • krisspy on 20/04/2017 - 01:13
      +1

      It powers speakers. Plus it has a dac built in (like a sound card on computers). Makes things go pew pew louder and clearer

      • BadGiraffe on 20/04/2017 - 09:20

        But if your speakers are terrible and crackly, would this still improve the audio quality, or are better speakers in order?

    • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2017 - 06:27
      +2

      Amplifier. Hook up two speakers and an audio source - CD player, iPod - and crank the volume.

      This is a class D amplifier which is a revolutionary design in amplifiers. They're very small, very power efficient, but the sound quality rivals amplifiers 10x heavier and much more expensive.

      This particular amplifier has gotten rave reviews from all the usual stereophile magazines. It sounds good, the speaker response is "flat" at all frequencies, and it comfortably pushes 50W per speaker even though the spec sheet only claims 30W. It also has a high quality bunt-in DAC so you can feed it digital sources like USB from a laptop or Bluetooth from a phone.

      This won't do surround or home theatre. But for a stereo in your bedroom, lounge, or office, it's a bargain.

      • BadGiraffe on 20/04/2017 - 09:35

        Thanks. Same question for you though, as above. If you had crap speakers, would this make them sound better, or would you have get new speakers anyway?

        Isn't it like a guitar? You may have a $5000 amp or whatever, but if you have a crappy pickups, wouldn't it sound terrible anyway?

        • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2017 - 12:08

          A better amp will help reveal the problem or deficiencies in your signal chain. Some amps might work better with some speakers, but if you are starting off with something totally crappy, then a better amp will be a better amp. If your amp is underpowered, it will sound like your speakers are distorting. A better amp will help confirm whether this is the case. You can get some great bookshelf speakers that would work with this amplifier really well.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2017 - 15:13

          If you had crap speakers, would this make them sound better,

          No.

          or would you have get new speakers anyway?

          Yes. The sound will never sound better than the weakest component. IMO the speakers need to be about half the budget. Decent bookshelf speakers (B&W, Klipsch, Paradigm) should cost about $700 a pair and would be a good match for this amp.

        • BadGiraffe on 20/04/2017 - 23:47

          @nhand42: Thanks. I think I kind of get it. For someone who isn't an audiophile though, all this talk doesn't really make much sense. Still kind of lost. I guess it's like trying to explain colour to someone born blind.

          It sounds good, the speaker response is "flat" at all frequencies

          Audiophiles: Mm-hmmm. Yup. Totally.
          Me: Wut?

        • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2017 - 06:26
          +1

          A cheap amplifier will sound normal for middle frequencies like the human voice, but quieter for low and high frequencies like bass guitar or piano. It's difficult to design an amplifier for speakers with the same loudness at all frequencies.

          Amplifiers that are equally loud at all frequencies have a "flat" response, and this is a sign of a quality design.

        • BadGiraffe on 21/04/2017 - 09:35

          @nhand42: I think I'm going to have to YouTube this stuff. Thanks for the info.

      • astrotrain on 20/04/2017 - 11:00

        @nhand42 will this work with a turntable or is a preamp a totally different thing? this audio stuff is confusing shouldve just stuck to my discman

        • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2017 - 12:09
          +1

          Definitely needs a separate preamp for a turntable. Unless your turntable already has a preamp built into it. Which is increasingly common nowadays.

        • astrotrain on 20/04/2017 - 13:05

          @Risto:
          Nah i bought an SL1200 cos i wanted to be extra hip hop without really considering the additional equipment i would need to get the sound running properly. OK so preamp to something like this to speakers/stereo and i should be in business?

        • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2017 - 13:13
          +1

          @astrotrain: yep, but you might also need some spray cans to tag yo shiiiit.

        • astrotrain on 20/04/2017 - 14:05

          @Risto:
          thanks, i've got my wu tang clan sticker and a tribe called quest slipmat so im hoping that will be sufficient.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2017 - 15:21

          Preamplifier turns weak signals (like from a turntable) into line level signals. A power amplifier takes line level signals and powers speakers.

          NAD D 3020 doesn't have a preamp. It needs a line level signal. Although many turntables can output a line level signal.

          But if you need a preamp, better off buying an amplifier with built-in preamp aka "integrated amplifier".

        • shaybisc on 20/04/2017 - 17:55

          @Risto:

          It's an integrated amp with built in preamp.

          Oh, I get it- no phono preamp in these things. Makes sense.

  • Windows7forever on 20/04/2017 - 04:16

    Why not just buy a second hand HT receiver for about $50 on ebay? That's what I'm using to power my speakers and it works fine.

    • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2017 - 12:12

      I really want the amp to send my phone's aptX bluetooth music to. Also the USB DAC will be useful for me to audition some of my own music recordings to see how they translate to other speakers. I'm excited about the many options this amp presents that are simply not available with older amps. Some older amps are MUCH better than this, but it becomes a totally different pursuit in my mind.

      • Windows7forever on 20/04/2017 - 17:25

        Fair enough. I hope it serves you well.

  • AJFox on 20/04/2017 - 07:29

    Ordered this from Grays a few weeks ago, only got it 2 days ago - very nice unit. Warning to anyone who buys from Grays - check out the negative ebay reviews before buying anything from them.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2017 - 10:52

      Mine was marked as shipped today.

  • pingponged on 20/04/2017 - 12:20

    keep tossing up between this and a Marantz NR1506 off Amazon. At the moment it would be for a 2.1 setup so it's perfect but there is always a remote chance I'd like to run 3.1 sometime in the future, plus Audyssey…First world problems.

    As to Grays, I've order heaps of stuff from their ebay deals previously, always been generally good for me

  • pupdog on 23/04/2017 - 08:23

    Awesome deal. Thanks, OP. This'll ultimately be going into my study once I get some passive speakers for my desk but first I'm gonna test it in my lounge:) I also noticed that Gray's has a Pioneer N50 for sale for around $400 after discount. This was a highly rated music streamer at the time of its release four years ago and may also be worth considering.

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