NAD 3020A remains a champion!

[Machineghost]

Pardon if it seems I talk too much about it but...

This week I removed the Rotel RA-935 BX amplifier from my system and re-installed the NAD 3020A. Wow!! What a change.

The Rotel is not a good partner for the B&W 603 speakers. It is too clinical and makes the speakers sound harsh.

The NAD 3020A is nice and smooth with a slight rosy "color" to the music.

 

[ChairSpud]

Also being a big fan of the 3020 and variants, you can talk all you want and won't bore me. I agree the slight high end roll off of the 3020 should tame those metal tweeters nicely. For years I used a 3020 or 3120 with a pair of B&W 600i in my office.

FYI here's a tip from the old days, leave the Mute button pressed in and turn the volume up to hear another type of sound from your 3020. Years ago a NAD dealer told me it removes one level of amplification and the remaining one is cleaner sounding.

 

[Uncletoad]

My 3020 has been my go to amp for home audio for 25 years. I always thought it was just because I was used to it that I never felt compelled to get something else. Turns out it's because it doesn't suck.

 

[Machineghost]

FYI here's a tip from the old days, leave the Mute button pressed in and turn the volume up to hear another type of sound from your 3020. Years ago a NAD dealer told me it removes one level of amplification and the remaining one is cleaner sounding.

I have noticed that effect. The mute button does not by-pass an amplifying stage. It simply "clamps" the pre-amp's line output to the power amp with a couple of resistors. Damps some noise too... but now I ask you... "What noise?"

The amp is so damn quiet. Actually I can hear my Technics SP-10's PSU transformer humming. The 3020As tranny also hums a bit but not much.

It remains a fine amplifier. If it were dressed in a heavy metal jacket with gold jewelry and bling-bongs more audiophiles would have shown interest.

I like my woman without makeup... lol!! :tresbon: