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Who restores vintage NAD 3020 series amps

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Posted on May 5, 2020 at 10:55:59
Ross
Audiophile

Posts: 1814
Joined: January 24, 2000
 I saw a few references to a specialist a long time ago, but when you want to find it again, you cann't.....

Anyone know who the specialist is for these amps ?

Thanks !

 

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RE: Who restores vintage NAD 3020 series amps, posted on May 7, 2020 at 20:50:38
trobbins
Audiophile

Posts: 189
Location: Melbourne
Joined: March 26, 2012
 I repaired and restored a failed unit recently. There are a few revisions of pcb and layout and circuitry. I did a recap, and added output stage transistor base and emitter resistors for enhanced protection and thermal stability, and some minor wiring adjustments. Sounds fine now, but I haven't yet done a formal check of noise and distortion plots.

Do you have a failed unit?

 

vintage NAD 3020 series amps, posted on May 8, 2020 at 12:39:31
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15388
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
 if one has to restore one of these, it makes sense to convert the spring clip speaker connectors to either terminal strip or 5 way binding posts to accommodate banana plugs.

i don't see that as easy or cheap but i never liked the spring clips on mine. sometimes i just used it as a preamp like the 1020 actually is. regardless, i liked the sound and capability of the amp.
...regards...tr

 

RE: Who restores vintage NAD 3020 series amps, posted on May 8, 2020 at 21:21:57
kff
Audiophile

Posts: 1033
Location: SE PA
Joined: October 19, 2006
 Leesonic on ak rebuilds NAD, speaks their language, too. I don't know if he is still actively doing that but he is a good one to get it done. He is in NJ

 

Once again we think alike!, posted on May 9, 2020 at 06:07:58
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6604
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since: July 4, 2007
 I bought a very clean 3020A at least 20 years ago, the seller even had the original carton. I got it to drive Signet speakers set up with my TV in a second BR. After a year or so I lost patience with the spring clip connectors. I found a smaller sized pair of 5-way posts at Rat Shack that fit the chases without any modification. I couldn't say it made a big improvement in sonics, but it seemed a bit clearer and did no harm. Also I was able to add small spade lugs to the speaker wire which made connection so much easier and secure.

Particularly watching music performances, such as on PBS, I was often amazed by the musically satisfying audio with that set up.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

RE: vintage NAD 3020 series amps, posted on May 22, 2020 at 09:33:46
Dr. Fuse
Audiophile

Posts: 48
Location: BC
Joined: May 12, 2020
 Mostly you just need to go over the solder joints, looking for cold ones. I guess a recap, too. Not difficult, really, at least in terms of not needing a specialist.

As has been mentioned, replacing the crappy speaking connections with good quality binding posts would be a nice upgrade, and this might be more precarious, as damage could be done to the entire horizontal connection panel.

 

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