Reddit mentions of NAD - D 3020 v2 Hybrid Digital Integrated Amplifier

Your case sounds designed for the NAD D3020V2. It's a two channel integrated amp, musical and warm sounding (the "NAD" sound) . Has optical input so you can connect your tv, a phono section so you can connect your turntable and a subwoofer output for if you decide to go 2.1 later.

As for speakers,

Comfortably in budget floorstanders, the Pioneers you already posted. $260

Arguably better bookshelves the Elac B6.2's on sale for $238, well under budget.

Over budget but very very pretty and nice sounding. The Wharfedale Dentons for $499

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That all said, the advice to spend most of your money on speakers makes plenty of sense if you're never going to upgrade anything. Personally, I've spent a bit more on nice amplification so that I know I have what I need and that it will be adequate for any speakers I end up picking up. Also that rule is more for people spending $1000 on an amp and $3000 on a set of speakers. It doesn't translate as well to budget systems since going from $50 to $300 is like...hot garbage to very very good.

I found the NAD D3020 to be practically perfect for my desktop system when I had passive speakers, though I didn't have a record player in that setup. The new version (V2) now includes a phono input, but it lost its USB input. It still has optical and coaxial digital inputs, so if your computer has those outputs (which it almost certainly must?), V2 is the way to go.

Or if your record player has a built-in preamp and you'd rather have something that bypasses your PC's audio hardware entirely via USB, V1 would fit the bill. I can tell you from experience that it's a pretty excellent little device, with great sound in a tiny package.

> Doesn’t give me an owie like another reviewer (who apparently has wet paper for skin) complained about.

Other reviewer'

> Frankly as far as SQ goes, I’m a bit disappointed. They’re solid mid-fi, and given the $1100 price tag for actives I should have tempered my expectations a bit

This is a tough one. I think if you need something small for a desk that is powered, there isn't anything better at that price range.

Let's just say, for example, you need a small desk setup and you have $1100, and you don't want a receiver or large integrated amp (fairly reasonable, since they can be large and you wouldn't want that on your desk), and you don't want large speakers. For something small, you're looking at possibly the NAD D3020 for $400. This gives you roughly $700 for speakers. There are so many great options for that much! However, most of them are pretty big. I would probably get Ascend Acoustic's Sierras, but those are like, twice the size of the LSX. Okay, maybe the Sierra Luna. However, you're way over budget now. Wharfedale Reva 2 maybe? Well, they're not small either. Wider by about 2 inches, which can be a problem for people with limited desk space. The only small speaker I can think of that's around $700 that might be able to compete with the LSX is the Quad S-1. But if you've got to put it close to a wall, you're going to get some pretty bloated bass that definitely won't sound great.

I think the LSX is a speaker for a very specific use case. If you want something small that fits on your desk with no extra amplifier needed, that has enough bass where you don't feel like you need a subwoofer and still sounds great, they really are fantastic. They're not going to be the most revealing speaker, they're not going to have crazy low end extension, and they're not going to be dynamic and fun. But, with all of the compromises they're making, I can't really expect them to have all of that.

> I don’t know how much better I can do given that I don’t want anything bigger or anything that requires an external amp.

Right there. That's what I mean. As far as I know, you can't do any better for this specific use case.

Anyways, I liked this review. I think we agree on a lot. They aren't some physics-defying magical speaker that sound fantastic no matter what. They're the best you can get with the compromises that they had to make.

Nad D 3020v2 fits all criteria. Emotiva Ta- 100 is normal sized, but fits all other criteria. PS Audio Sprout would be a great option, but is a bit over budget.

You could also get a small dac/amp and add a small phono preamp like the schiit mani. You could stack the Schiit on something small like the micca origain.

Hope this helps.

The first one that came to mind was the NAD D3020v2 but it's $100 over budget https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07992VZ6L/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?psc=1&smid=A2H3DYB5PUVNNI

Idk I use a DAC/amp combo on my computer set up I don't pick up any distortion or any issue and my amp/DAC was 100 dollars. I think it depends on your motherboard and how fairly new and expensive it is also. Idk I don't know if I could notice any difference on my audio even if I got a more expensive DAC. And the 2 things I told you are combine meaning it's just one thing or unit with an integrated DAC and amp together that's why they run at 400. But they are just one unit so it wouldn't create spaces issues.
https://www.amazon.com/NAD-Electronics-Digital-Integrated-Amplifier/dp/B07992VZ6L/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1527771825&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=nad+3020+v2&dpPl=1&dpID=414hQiQq2cL&ref=plSrch

I inherited some B&W 1800 speakers a few months ago and previously asked what I would need to actually make them play music. I was told that these speakers are passive and that they thereby need an active amplifier to make them work. I wanted to sound this off to make sure I've got this right.

The impedance of the 1800s is 8Ω, and the wattage recommended is between 30W and 200W. The most important part of this is getting an amp that can handle 8Ω, because the wattage is a product of the frequency of the tone being played. What matters is keeping the ranges of the two parts (passive speaker and amplifier) in line.

Consequently, the NAD D3020 would be compatible with my speakers because it has a continuous output of 40W (which is between 30-200W) at 8Ω. Do I have this right? I'm probably looking to be a bit cheaper than the NAD D3020 (either that or I'll be saving up for a while), but I want to make sure that I've got the right idea as to what I'm looking at while I shop.

Thank you for any advice or clarification you can offer. If you have any product recommendations (I can afford to drop $200 now but would love to drop ~$150: if I save up for a few months I'd be able to spend ~$400 max) I'd love to hear those too.

There are options for small amps, no worries. If you like the speakers it would be pointless to swap those out just because the amp is a bit unwieldy.

For instance: https://nadelectronics.com/product/d-3020-hybrid-digital-amplifier/ - https://www.amazon.com/NAD-Hybrid-Digital-Integrated-Amplifier/dp/B07992VZ6L

Or a https://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-DTA-PRO-Bluetooth-Amplifier/dp/B07MQVWW43

Etc.

The first Monoprice ones are self powered, basically an all in one solution. You'd just have to plug them into power behind the scenes when installing.

For everything else you'll be running speaker cable from the speaker to your amp, whatever you end up picking. Cheap bluetooth devices don't tend to survive all that long so I'd put whatever's at the amp end somewhere easy to troubleshoot and/or replace. Given the kitchen environment I'd avoid anything with a lot of cooling holes/vents just in case of spills or sprays. Keystones would make for a nice and neat install on the amp side. Amps are fairly straightforward. The Powernode I linked early is an outstanding value, if a bit large. NAD's D3020 is more counter friendly. If you want to go cheaper there's any number of Chinese brands like SMSL but I can't vouch for their quality.

Cheaper speakers are dicey, I'd just look for a reassuring number of reviews saying that they don't sound like trash. As a bit of an audio snob I'd rather be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to carving holes in the ceiling to the specific size of that speaker.

The comments were a good read. Here are some of my thoughts.

1. The Q5 is a decent amplifier for more efficient speakers or nearfield listening. If you are looking to really crank up the speakers that is not the amp for you. However, if you want something small that's going to be hard. I'm really liking this NAD D3020 $400 for you. It has decent power, a remote, optical and analog inputs, sub out and even a phono input if you're into vinyl. While not a power monster it should do much better than the SMSL.
   
   
2. For the subs you can either get two lesser/entry level or one decent sub. Since you're not looking to upgrade I would go with the latter and get a nicer sub. Here are some choices: RSL speedwoofer 10s$400, BIC PL200 $300 or a Emotiva Basx subwoofer sub 10 $300.

I remember the NAD brand. I will look to see it. Will edit this after I do. I also edited the original with what I learned and would appreciate a second look.

Edit: looks like the lowest NAD is $500. https://www.amazon.com/NAD-Hybrid-Digital-Integrated-Amplifier/dp/B07992VZ6L/

Note how nice I am to trim the urls of tracking. Grin.

i want you to know I do appreciate the NAD. I used to have one. The top was a preamp and the bottom a power amp. There were 2 U-shaped gizmos to connect the 2 halves.

"Specs" for the $500 NAD follow.

NAD's D 3020 v2 hybrid digital integrated amplifier

• without adding noise or distortion
  
• IR remote control
  
• asynchronous 24-bit/96k DAC,
  
• aptX Bluetooth Streaming
  
• THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.01 % (at 1W, 4 and 8 ohms)
  
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >98 dB (A-weighted, 500 mV input, ref. 2.828 V out in 4 ohms)-
  
• Continuous output power into 4 and 8 ohms: 40 W (ref. 20 Hz-20 kHz at 0.1% THD, both channels driven)
  
  QUESTION
  Does only one of the 7 do bluetooth or is there another way of saying bluetooth. If I search on Amazon for Brand amp bluetooth I get models with no mention of Bluetooth.