Happy to report that the replacement NAD D 3045 is working just fine now. The not turning off issue only happened the very first time I turned it on...no repeat after unplugging and plugging back in. Further, as before, I LOVE the sound. It is a bit weird in that I have gone through SO many integrated amps over the past few years and to a one, they almost all sounded too bright to me. The treble literally starts hurting my ears and gets the tinnitus a raging. The 3045 does NOT do that. It has a nicely plump, full, and rounded/pleasing sound to it that my ears really take to. So, when a song has a ringing bell or thunder clap, it doesn't sound shrill or piercing, it just sounds balanced. I actually feel like I hear MORE of the mix because I'm not overwhelmed w bright top end. I said before and will say again, I really do think that the NAD D 3045 is by far the best sounding integrated amplifier I have ever heard. Further, as I've seen page after page of dudes complaining about needing to tame a bright sounding system...it seems to me that this amp is one that many should try. I would add to that, that I tried a NAD 368, which is a similar type of amp made by NAD w more watts. It did NOT sound the same as the 3045. Not sure what the difference was...maybe the increase in watts just gets the tweeter a tweeting more...don't know. I did know after listening to it for a short period of time that it would not work for me. I have been trying (and trying) to get OFF of the revolving door of amps and speakers. I feel like I have reached my stop. Of course, as an aspiring audiophile, I never will say truly NEVER. But, until an integrated comes along to unseed the 3045, I am content and happy with my system. I may add or take away, but I think the 3045 is going to be sticking around for the long haul. Peace!
I had the neighbor over who is an HVAC guy and he said what I was experiencing is normal for the houses in our neighborhood. It's an older house (built in 1972) and when the A/C turns on, it draws a lot of power. If we have a bunch of appliances running, it generates a half-second overload which can cause highly sensitive electronics to dim for half a second. Can happen when the vacuum is turned on or even a hair dryer. He said it was normal. So far I have not had the new one long enough to be able to tell if this is at all affecting it like the first one. However, on first turn on, believe it or not, after noting the terrific sound quality that I love, I could not get it to turn off!!!! I know it comes w a preset to turn itself off after 15 minutes of non-activity, and I noted that even an hour after playing music, it was still on. So, I went over and turned it off w the remote, and don't you know it kept turning right back on!!!! Hilarious! I did this a couple of times and started laughing but it kept turning back on. So, I unplugged it and plugged it back in and it appears to be fine now! I think it's less my home and more the sensitivity of the NAD D 3045 on/off switch. It sounds great though, so as long as this doesn't repeat, I'm cool w it. Couldn't believe it though... ;-P
