Quick Opinion Needed: NAD 3020A vs. Adcom GFA-535

lawdogg

Wondering if either are up to the task of driving my 3.1TL's, and if so, if they'd do it any better than my Pioneer VSX-523 (modern "80W"/channel).

If not, wondering which is the better idea for my game room setup using a Technics SA-AX530 (90's 80W/channel) for the inputs. It'd be driving Snell E/III's or Paradigm 9se's usually.

Both are priced around $100-$150, the 535 was just refreshed. I just spent the last hour googling and came up with a cult-like following for the 3020 as well as generally positive opinions about the 535. They also both show up here: http://www.tonepublications.com/old-school/ten-best-buys-in-vintage-audio/

Your opinions? Either worth it? Which is better?

Thanks!
Ryan

Timothy Smith

I have owned both, but not at the same time. The 3020 is an integrated amp and the 535 is a power amp. I am pretty sure the 3020A has preamp/power amp jumpers so it can be used as a power amp. The 3020 is a nice sounding & inexpensive but only 20wpc, but the 535 at 60wpc has some real "grunt". I have used it with power-hungry Dahlquist DQ-10's and Maggie MMG's and it surprised the heck out of me when paired with a decent preamp. My suggestion: If cheap enough, buy both and use the 3020A as a preamp into the 535 amp. Sell off the 535 if it doesn't make a big difference to your ear vs. the amp section already in the 3020A.

lawdogg

Thanks a ton for your post. I just grabbed the 3020 because it was closer, and am about to hook it up and see what all the fuss is about.

I read somewhere that headroom is what you look for in an amp, and that the 3020 has 3db of headroom: "The 3020 may have been rated at a mere 20 watts per channel, but it had 3 dB of headroom. Hence, it could deliver 40 watts into 8 ohm loads, 58 watts in 4 ohms, and 72 watts into 2 ohms for brief periods of time."

Then, the 535 supposedly also has good headroom (see http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=3667774&postcount=16) so maybe I will go grab it too if I'm not satisfied with the 3020.

At this point I don't think I'll drive the Polks with it though.

alkermes

Just as an FYI, the GFA-535 is rated at 100 watts at 4 ohms, so it digs deep. It's always nice to have extra power.

I like the idea of using the 3020 as a preamp in this setup, also.

leftwinger57

Having not heard the NAD or the Adcom either for that matter I do own both of their products. If the NAD is anything close to my 1020a pre/amp then it's a winner, whether it has enough juice to push your speakers as a stand alone amp is another story altogether. Just for informational purposes I c/pd an E-Bay for parts only 3020a.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NAD-3020A-150W-Stereo-Amplifier-/391093762662?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b0f013a66