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NAD 1020 help

vrao81

vrao81

New Member
I just picked up a NAD 1020 preamp for $20 (yippie!). It's 22 years old, same as me, and works great! I have a question, the preamp has two sets of preouts, one labeled 'high level preout', and one labeled 'pre-out'. I use the high level pre out since I feel it sounds richer and warmer than when I hook up my adcom amp to the regular preouts. I was wondering what are the technical differences between these two preouts? Also, would I be able to biamp using these two preouts, or is there a way to split the signal from one preout to send to two different amps?
 
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Pre out. 1020

vrao81 said:
I just picked up a NAD 1020 preamp for $20 (yippie!). It's 22 years old, same as me, and works great! I have a question, the preamp has two sets of preouts, one labeled 'high level preout', and one labeled 'pre-out'. I use the high level pre out since I feel it sounds richer and warmer than when I hook up my adcom amp to the regular preouts. I was wondering what are the technical differences between these two preouts? Also, would I be able to biamp using these two preouts, or is there a way to split the signal from one preout to send to two different amps?
Click to expand...

In fact I have the same question. I got 2 integrated amps NAD , the c326bee and c375bee.
Now the first preamps the second.
Before when I did not have the 375 yet, the 1020 preamped the 326.
Now, that 1020 produced much higher volumes with the tiniest turns of the volume.
Now, this is no longer so. The volume is more spread at the turn of the volume and volume produced is lower.
So I thought , in order to keep the 1020 in use to use him as preamp for both.
But you need 4 speakers then, I guess, which I have. Each amp will get a preout feom the 1020, but do need speakers no ?
Thanks.
And using a rca switch to split the normal preout !?
I suppose however the high level out can do no harm, on the contrary.
The aim is still to combine both amps. In a 4 speaket scenario this should work no.
As I have a speakerswitch I can cut 2 speakers off, but without loosing power for the orher 2.
Appreciate advise.
 
vrao81 said:
I just picked up a NAD 1020 preamp for $20 (yippie!). It's 22 years old, same as me, and works great! I have a question, the preamp has two sets of preouts, one labeled 'high level preout', and one labeled 'pre-out'. I use the high level pre out since I feel it sounds richer and warmer than when I hook up my adcom amp to the regular preouts. I was wondering what are the technical differences between these two preouts? Also, would I be able to biamp using these two preouts, or is there a way to split the signal from one preout to send to two different amps?
Click to expand...

The high level output of the 1020 comes from the headphone amp. Have a look at the picture in the thread below :

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=606326

The headphone amp board is over on the lower left hand side, just behind the headphone jack (there's a surprise). It actually functions almost like a mini-power amp, since there's not enough voltage in a preamp to drive headphones on it's own. If you prefer the way it sounds through the high level outputs, then use them!

Yes, you can biamp using both outputs. You just need to make sure your power amps have level controls so you can match the two. Be aware though, if you listen with headphones, you might have to turn off your power amps, since I don't think the high level output mutes when you put the headphones in.

Lee.
 
From 1020 Manual

7. PRE OUT. These are the normal output jacks from the NAD 1020 preamplifier. Connect a stereo signal cable from these jacks to the main input jacks on your power amplifiers.
If you have an equalizer, a time-delay ambience reproduction unit, or other signal processor which needs to be installed in the signal path....The preamp has a low input impedance (600 ohms) and is capable of driving several amplifiers connected in parallel, or driving the long signal cables required to connect to power amplifiers which are located near the speakers, or long cables used to connect "powered" loudspeakers having built-in power amplifiers.
8. HI-LEVEL PRE OUT. At this special set of preamp output jacks the signal is 15 dB higher in level than at the regular PRE OUT jacks, and the output impedance is even lower: 150 ohms. You may use these jacks if your power amplifier requires an input level of more than 2 volts to drive it to full output. The High-Level preamp output jacks may also be used to drive professional studio equipment; using these jacks the 1020 is capable of driving load impedances as low as 600 ohms, and can deliver undistorted signals greater than 15 volts (+26 dBm) to high-impedance loads.
 
I recapped my brothers 1020 and it made a BIG difference.:yes:
I used panasonic FM & FC caps from digikey.
Normally you should use the low output connections to connect to the amp unless you have a strange situation.
 
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