Nad D3020 follows a giant of an ancestor. But can it manage to fill the deep grooves?

About. 35 years ago Bjorn Erik Edvardsen constructed NAD 3020. It went against the grain, and was quickly a milestone in the hi-fi world. Nad 3020 was apparently a pingle, with its 20 watts. However, tests with speakers accounted for very demanding loads showed that it coped excellent, and served both good sound and power that proved to be adequate for most tasks. A simple and unpretentious cabinet, coupled with the flexibility pre-out/main-in link provided, and a sympathetic low price made this a success as hi-fi enthusiasts remember even 35 years after the debut.

This amp has been such a legend that enthusiastic collectors may have up to several copies alone. Our own Stig Arne here in Audiophile.no actually has a collection of 6-7 samples left in his inscrutable hi-fi archives, and he can hear the difference between different samples, which also has slightly different specifications due to different ages. He has in good faith promised to make a recess article about 3020, and we can hardly wait!

But back to the 3020 of our time - or D3020 as it is called. The amplifier was introduced last fall. No doubt what "D" represents in this amplifier.

When I brought the test sample from Hi-fi Klubben in C.Sundtsgate in Bergen, it was not the usual concerns over what my chiropractor would say that dominated the sortie. I took the little box under my arm, a box that had about the same size as the box to the Parrot Zik headphones I bought to my wife for Christmas. A pretty diametrical contrast to the experience when I picked the same spot the monster Denon AVC-A1XVA at 44kg, some years ago.

The weight of the NAD D3020 is 1.38 kg and it reveals essentially that, in addition to operating in class D also has switch-mode power supply. These are components of a structure that allows for low weight, and which have such high efficiency of operating temperature rarely poses a problem even in very compact constructions. D3020 is really compact, and has even smaller dimensions than I imagined before the first meeting. A width of 58mm and a total depth of 219mm, the way to the tip of the protruding volume control on the front and the speaker terminals on the back. Combined with the fact that it has a design that is ideal for vertical orientation makes this a discovery for those who are looking for an amp that hardly will appear in the landscape. No problem letting it slide imperceptibly into the bookcase between a leash with paperbacks. Or to give it space on the nightstand along with tumbler, alarm clock a few books and an iPhone.

NAD D3020 was not alone when it was released last fall. They're a little mini family, and NAD call them The New Digital Generation. Besides D3020, this consists of big brother D7050 and D1050 USB DAC. They all have the same distinctive appearance, but big brother has been scaled dimensions.

D3020 has a sleek finish, with gloss black frame around two rubber side surfaces. This finish also reflected in the minimalist remote control, and I appreciate the rubberized surfaces that contact. Only catch with this finish is that it is easy to feel the need for cleaning, mostly displayed both high gloss and rubberized surfaces.

Although it is an extremely compact enclosure, the back way minimalism that characterizes skills list. In addition to being an integrated amplifier makes it both DAC and bluetooth.

Connections

On the back panel we find an optical and coax digital input. In addition there is a very important USB port, which enables DAC are thus functions as a USB DAC. This is asynchronous and supports opplkøsninger up to 24 bit / 96kHz. The fact that the USB DAC is asynchronous, implies that it is this that controls the clock. Jitter is thus limited to the internal clock to find the creating yourself. USB input still has a somewhat limited use. It is not possible to use it to control its own streaming from a USB HD. However, you can with very good results let it decode everything that comes from your PC or MAC. This requires minimum Windows XP - SP2, or OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 if you have a MAC.

For analog connections, we find only a set of analog RCA inputs, plus a hybrid mini jack, which can also function as a digital input from MAC. There is no pre-out, but in return a very welcome subwoofer output as a mini-jack. The latter is a very wise choice, since there may be many who use the ultra compact D3020 with very small speakers, something I did in parts of the test period.

The speaker terminals are simple, and keeps a decent quality without being in any way excels. The course takes banana plugs, but you must of course through the quite usual procedure of picking out some EU plugs. The quality feel of the back plate with terminals are fairly consistent medium, and corresponds to what one would expect from a product in this price range. The only down side is the small mini-phone terminals, but it is easy to forgive given the minimalist framework here.

The icing on the cake when it comes to "connections" are bluetoth. NAD has equipped the D3020 with CSR aptX - a bluetooth protocol to provide near lossless. There is some conflicting information out there and regarding how lossless this protocol is. I note that CSR itself are using concepts like "CD-like performance", which makes it tempting to assume that there is a protocol that is not 100% lossless. However, it is not easy to hear the difference in practical listening.

I felt that aptX is a bit demanding regarding motion of sound sources. If your iPhone or Laptop was in motion during playback, it could easily occur light nagging. In fact, I experienced that aptX was most vulnerable just after the start, but I'm struggling to find a plausible explanation.

Are we moving to the front, it is again minimalism that dominates. A steering wheel volume control, together with a diffuse panel behind the glossy black front is everything. This panel displays the volume level in dB in a way that is unusual, not so precise, but creative. In addition, you can see which input is selected. The selection takes place by pressing a sufficient number of times on a touch button on top.

The remote is very compact and has just what you need - on / off, volume and source + / -.

The sound

Initially it was put in as a replacement in my bedroom system called "intimate scene", which currently had a temporary position inside the hall. Specifically, this means that the D3020 entered as substitutes for Denon DRA-F102 DAB, and was joined by DCD-F102 as one of the audio sources. In this setup, got the very first task is to draw an aging set of Tannoy M2, but after a short while, a test set of JohnBlue JB3  arrived, and these were put into action with D3020.

Clean immediately D3020 made a very solid impression. M2 is no worthy company for a D3020, and they are strictly speaking still in my possession because they are so wonderfully easy to fall asleep to - perfect for a bedroom system. Still, D3020 did a very honorable job. Compared  to the DRA-F102 it manages to create some more air than the Denon manages. Perhaps this i due to a 50% increase in power from 20 to 30 watts, but it may equally well be because NAD has an improved structure that provides better transparency. In particular, when it was playing high resolution files via the USB port that it really went from the compact Denon amplifier. Reiersrud / Kleive / Dissing`s latest "Som Den Gyldne Sol" was presented with a lovely resolution, even if it was completely different speakers than M2 to redeem it all.

When John Blue JB3 took over, it was a very different show. This is the antithesis of Tannoy M2 in about every conceivable parameter, not the least sound balance. This is very unusual one-way speaker designs, with its 3-inch full-range elements. These speakers' major strength lies in the micro dynamics and detailing ability, and here follows D3020 task better than DRA-F102. With these speakers were also sub output comes in handy for JB3 need assistance subwoofers to come into its own.

In addition to JB3 got D3020 end with a round of both Xavian Mia II and Linn Katan - mountstanding speakers respectively at ca. 5k and 9k NOK. Perhaps the most successful of these was the match with Xavian. These are some real gems tripod speakers, playing tremendous dynamic even with rather cheap electronics, but that still grows rampant when it is joined by more lavish designs. This was duly demonstrated when they afterwards was driven by a set of mono blocks Timekeeper from Burson.

But also with the D3020 thrived Xavian Mia II surprisingly well. Mia II has another property that they are very revealing top. The smallest debris from electronics and / or recordings are noted by MIA. D3020 is slightly cautious at the top, and this like Xavian.

With Linn Katan thangs are a bit different. Since these are a bit cautious in the top themself, you get double effect in combination with the NAD. Not quite ideal combination.

Conclusion.

The D3020 has NAD done it again. They have created an amplifier that stands as evident from the crowd that there is bound to be a success.

But it is quite another winning concept this time than 35 years ago - a different concept in another time. It is not an exceptional sound quality for the price, like it was with the analog ancestor. The sound quality is good and is roughly equivalent to what you would expect at this price point. The effect is perhaps a little below par, but it is on paper. In reality it deliveres.

What makes NAD D3020 a unique, winning concept is that this quality is sitting in an elegant miniature cabinet that you can easily place between a pair of Harry Hole books, or on the nightstand. And in addition, you get a rousing good asynchronous USB DAC, and a very convenient aptX-bluetooth as pure bonus. Then there is no worry jumping after Bjorn Erik Edvardsen, even if they have gradually switched to V-style, or rather D-style!

Of course it is possible to wish for more. Wi-fi would have been nice to have, not to mention more power and maybe even higher quality? The NAD has also donenthat - the answer is called NAD D7050, and the price is about double.

NAD D3020 Price: NOK 3.798, -

Distrbutor in Norway: Hi-fi Klubben