NAD 3020 vs. Adcom 535II

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

In article <BcGdnUuwwO_u7mXcRVn-vQ@comcast.com>,
"Jonny Durango" <jonnybush_from_officedurango1@comcast.net> wrote:

> Here are the contenders, the winner will gain the priviledge of driving my
> LS3/5A's.
>
> Adcom 535II w/ Advent 300 Preamp (power amp weighing in at 60WPC)
>
> vs.
>
> NAD 3020 w/ which has the same preamp as the Advent 300 built-in (power amp
> weighs in at only 20WPC)
>
> LS3/5A's max load is about 50WPC. So, who win? Thanks a ton!
>
> --
>
> Jonny Durango
>
> "Patrick was a saint. I ain't."
>
> http://www.jdurango.com

I have a 3020, which was OK for it's time, but when I listen to it now,
it really doesn't hold up. From everything that I hear, the Adcom would
be the way to go.


Edwin

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

does this nad have the 4 ohm switch on the back panel?
I found that to be useful.

I have found that most speakers will work better with higher power
rating
then using a low powered amp turned up and clipping.
those transients are more of a problem to frying speakers.
there have been the dynaco amps on ebay

dale

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Jonny Durango" <jonnybush_from_officedurango1@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:BcGdnUuwwO_u7mXcRVn-vQ@comcast.com...
> Here are the contenders, the winner will gain the priviledge of driving my
> LS3/5A's.
>
> Adcom 535II w/ Advent 300 Preamp (power amp weighing in at 60WPC)
>
> vs.
>
> NAD 3020 w/ which has the same preamp as the Advent 300 built-in (power
amp
> weighs in at only 20WPC)
>
> LS3/5A's max load is about 50WPC. So, who win? Thanks a ton!

I was under the impression that the 3020 has a preamp based on a 5532 or
5534 IC, whereas the Advent's preamp was discrete. Am I wrong?

If you buy the Advent preamp, be prepared to buy a can of Caig's CaiLube or
a similar contact cleaner to uncrackle the pots.

The Adcom will probably (I say probably - LS3/5a's are a weird load) sound
better; the 3020 will be safer for the speakers.

Peace,
Paul

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

> I was under the impression that the 3020 has a preamp based on a 5532 or
> 5534 IC, whereas the Advent's preamp was discrete. Am I wrong?

Nope, the 3020 has the infamous phono section design by tom holman of THX
fame....same phono preamp that is in the Advent 300 as well as the NAD 1020
(same basic unit as the 3020 but w/o a power amp section)

> If you buy the Advent preamp, be prepared to buy a can of Caig's CaiLube
or
> a similar contact cleaner to uncrackle the pots.

heh, it's funny you mention that....the one i'm looking at has a bad speaker
selector switch, so you've gotta wiggle it around to get both channels
working....probably needs a whole new switch though.

> The Adcom will probably (I say probably - LS3/5a's are a weird load) sound
> better; the 3020 will be safer for the speakers.

good call...i'll stick w/ the adcom. Thanks a ton for the advice!!

--

Jonny Durango

"Patrick was a saint. I ain't."

http://www.jdurango.com



"Paul Stamler" <pstamlerhell@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:KF0Kd.29823$8u5.6085@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> "Jonny Durango" <jonnybush_from_officedurango1@comcast.net> wrote in
message
> news:BcGdnUuwwO_u7mXcRVn-vQ@comcast.com...
> > Here are the contenders, the winner will gain the priviledge of driving
my
> > LS3/5A's.
> >
> > Adcom 535II w/ Advent 300 Preamp (power amp weighing in at 60WPC)
> >
> > vs.
> >
> > NAD 3020 w/ which has the same preamp as the Advent 300 built-in (power
> amp
> > weighs in at only 20WPC)
> >
> > LS3/5A's max load is about 50WPC. So, who win? Thanks a ton!
>
> I was under the impression that the 3020 has a preamp based on a 5532 or
> 5534 IC, whereas the Advent's preamp was discrete. Am I wrong?
>
> If you buy the Advent preamp, be prepared to buy a can of Caig's CaiLube
or
> a similar contact cleaner to uncrackle the pots.
>
> The Adcom will probably (I say probably - LS3/5a's are a weird load) sound
> better; the 3020 will be safer for the speakers.
>
> Peace,
> Paul
>
>

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

I used to have a 3020 and I bypassed the tone controls and it sounded a hell
of a lot better. Very good indeed in fact.

I have no info as to how I did this - it was about 20 years ago, I didn't
have a circuit diagram so it was a bodge, and the level ended up a lot
lower, but there was enough on the volume control to compensate. Maybe
someone else can help on this.



Gareth.




>
> I have a 3020, which was OK for it's time, but when I listen to it now,
> it really doesn't hold up. From everything that I hear, the Adcom would
> be the way to go.
>
>
> Edwin

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Jonny Durango wrote:
>> I was under the impression that the 3020 has a preamp based on a 5532 or
>> 5534 IC, whereas the Advent's preamp was discrete. Am I wrong?
>
>
> Nope, the 3020 has the infamous phono section design by tom holman of THX
> fame....same phono preamp that is in the Advent 300 as well as the NAD 1020
> (same basic unit as the 3020 but w/o a power amp section)

The NAD 1155 is another option to consider. Somewhat better mechanicals than the 1020/3020 and a few years' less wear. Separate switching of record & listen outs. It's been awhile since I sold mine but I *think* it might have had a tone bypass switch.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

The NAD most definitely did NOT have a Holman-designed phono stage. I know the 3020 very well,
and know the Advent & Apt Holman products even better. There is no correllation.
And there's no way a 3020 can compete in any way with a 535II, unless a peculiar speaker likes
the 3020's anomalous frequency response & it's feeble power output. And, yes, you will blow up
a speaker a lot faster with too little power than with too much.

--
Stephen Sank, Owner & Ribbon Mic Restorer
Talking Dog Transducer Company
http://stephensank.com
5517 Carmelita Drive N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico [87111]
505-332-0336
Auth. Nakamichi & McIntosh servicer
Payments preferred through Paypal.com
"Jonny Durango" <jonnybush_from_officedurango1@comcast.net> wrote in message
news MedneMpZLI4q2TcRVn-og@comcast.com...
> > I was under the impression that the 3020 has a preamp based on a 5532 or
> > 5534 IC, whereas the Advent's preamp was discrete. Am I wrong?
>
> Nope, the 3020 has the infamous phono section design by tom holman of THX
> fame....same phono preamp that is in the Advent 300 as well as the NAD 1020
> (same basic unit as the 3020 but w/o a power amp section)
>
> > If you buy the Advent preamp, be prepared to buy a can of Caig's CaiLube
> or
> > a similar contact cleaner to uncrackle the pots.
>
> heh, it's funny you mention that....the one i'm looking at has a bad speaker
> selector switch, so you've gotta wiggle it around to get both channels
> working....probably needs a whole new switch though.
>
> > The Adcom will probably (I say probably - LS3/5a's are a weird load) sound
> > better; the 3020 will be safer for the speakers.
>
> good call...i'll stick w/ the adcom. Thanks a ton for the advice!!
>
> --
>
> Jonny Durango
>
> "Patrick was a saint. I ain't."
>
> http://www.jdurango.com
>
>
>
> "Paul Stamler" <pstamlerhell@pobox.com> wrote in message
> news:KF0Kd.29823$8u5.6085@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > "Jonny Durango" <jonnybush_from_officedurango1@comcast.net> wrote in
> message
> > news:BcGdnUuwwO_u7mXcRVn-vQ@comcast.com...
> > > Here are the contenders, the winner will gain the priviledge of driving
> my
> > > LS3/5A's.
> > >
> > > Adcom 535II w/ Advent 300 Preamp (power amp weighing in at 60WPC)
> > >
> > > vs.
> > >
> > > NAD 3020 w/ which has the same preamp as the Advent 300 built-in (power
> > amp
> > > weighs in at only 20WPC)
> > >
> > > LS3/5A's max load is about 50WPC. So, who win? Thanks a ton!
> >
> > I was under the impression that the 3020 has a preamp based on a 5532 or
> > 5534 IC, whereas the Advent's preamp was discrete. Am I wrong?
> >
> > If you buy the Advent preamp, be prepared to buy a can of Caig's CaiLube
> or
> > a similar contact cleaner to uncrackle the pots.
> >
> > The Adcom will probably (I say probably - LS3/5a's are a weird load) sound
> > better; the 3020 will be safer for the speakers.
> >
> > Peace,
> > Paul
> >
> >
>
>