One of NAD’s most successful amplifiers is the legendary NAD 3020 which took the HiFi world by storm in the 1970s. After a few more decades, a worthy successor came and took up the mantle, it is none other than the NAD D 3020. Just like its predecessor, NAD D 3020 has won the hearts of many and even a few prestigious accolades. You will need speakers that are equally amazing to pair with this award-winning amplifier.
If you are a proud owner of NAD D 3020 and are planning to get a new pair of speakers to match with this awesome amp, or maybe planning to get this amp together with speakers. Look no further, for I am here to recommend to you which speakers you should go for as well as sharing with you the sonic characteristics of NAD D 3020. Understanding the crucial amplifier specifications is important, as this will allow us to pair the right speakers so that both the amplifier and speakers’ full potential can be unleashed.
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Sound Characteristics and Specifications of NAD D 3020
NAD D 3020 is incredibly compact and lightweight, allowing you to fit anywhere in your listening room, in the shelves, on your desktops, and more. You can even just bring it out where ever you go but you will still need a power outlet to play it. Somewhat ahead of its time like the portable Bluetooth speakers, anyway I digressed. The power output is rated 30 watts per channel (8 Ohms) but with the IHF Dynamic Power, it can go up 65 watts at a short term duration to handle the dynamic peak. The frequency response of D 3020 is from 20Hz – 20kHz (0dB to -0.3dB) which is a pretty standard frequency range.
More Details at Amazon – NAD D 3020 Hybrid Digital Integrated Amp
With the power output and frequency response, is quite obvious that it could only drive 8 ohms bookshelf speakers but NAD D 3020 actually has the ability to drive 4 ohms speakers as well. With the IHF Dynamic Power, this amplifier could output 2 x 105 Watts (4 Ohms) peak power. Even so, we should still opt for speakers that are closely matched with the amp’s frequency response and starting rated power of 2 x 30 watts.
We really shouldn’t judge the performance based on the compact size of this digital amplifier, NAD D 3020 knows how to pull its weight. It projects a wide soundstage filled with rich details and is expressive to boot. The smoothness of the music presentation makes listening to our favorite tunes easily enjoyable. Surprisingly the Class D amplifier doesn’t give us a ‘thin’ sound reproduction but actually a lively and warm sound delivery, that is exciting and punchy.
NAD D 3020 handles the music peaks and dynamics with finesse, the composure it has over the sound reproduction is really impressive. At this price point, this integrated amplifier has already beat quite a few higher-priced competitions, really well worth your money. This little amplifier really has the power, is able to deliver bass at a scale and weight that exceeded my expectations. It will be great if there’s slightly more clarity in the midrange and highs though. Still, the sound quality is clean and distortion-free even at high volumes. The vocals do sound natural, and crisp.
It is a hybrid digital amplifier and so it has an integrated DAC, not to mention Bluetooth connectivity for music streaming. Also comes with a remote control which makes NAD D 3020 a complete package. Is a pity the DAC is not upgradable as of now, it is considered quite outdated. Another bummer is that the subwoofer output uses a 1/8″ mini-plug. All in all, this integrated digital amplifier has most of the features for modern music listening, and more importantly rich, expressive and warmish sound quality. Now we understood its sounds characteristics, it is time to introduce the matching speakers.
NAD D 3020 Specifications
- Power Outputs: 2 x 30 Watts at 8Ω
- IHF Dynamic Power: 2 x 65 Watts at 8Ω, 2 x 105 Watts at 4Ω, 2 x 150 Watts at 2Ω
- DAC: up to 24bits/192khz
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz (0dB to -0.3dB)
- Inputs: Asynchronous USB, RCA, 1/8″ Mini-Plug, Digital Coax, TOSLink, and Bluetooth
- Outputs: 1/8″ mini-plug
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 58mm x 186mm x 219mm (2.3″ x 7.3″ x 8.6″)
- Weight: 2.1kg (4.6lbs)
Recommended Speakers to pair with NAD D 3020
Axiom M3 speakers are an amazing pairing partner for NAD D 3020, their balanced and rich midrange sound is a great asset for the amplifier. With this combination, the overall sound is so fun to listen to and fill with so much energy. Axiom M3 doesn’t add additional warmth but instead made the sound reproduction more neutral hence more clarity, without losing liveliness and dynamic expression. The bass control is tight and accurate, weighty, and not boomy. M3 is quite an all-rounder and has a unique energetic sound, you might want to audition them together with the NAD D 3020 to hear them out first. Is definitely worth your time and considerations.
More Details at Amazon – Axiom M3 Bookshelf Speaker – Boston Cherry
PSB speakers usually work very well with NAD amplifiers, and the PSB Speakers Alpha P5 is no exception. It is an entry-level and compact speaker which delivers a soundstage that is accurate and quite large for its size. The detailed sound delivery in the mids and highs is refined and clean, with very little coloration in the midrange. Both the D 3020 and Alpha P5 compliments each other but the bass output of the speakers only has a slight improvement. One of the main reasons for this pairing is because both are compact and can be easily placed/positioned in a small room.
More Details at Amazon – PSB Alpha P5
Another amazing entry-level all-rounder, Dali Zensor 1 is a pair of bookshelf speakers that is almost a perfect match for NAD D 3020. Like the digital amplifier, Dali Zensor 1 is energetic and lively, with a spacious soundstage. The energy and liveliness of both amp and speakers, create an exciting music listening experience, not to mention its fun to listen to. The fluidity and the flow of Zensor 1 match well with NAD D 3020, delivering a smooth natural sound quality. You should really check them out and have a listen because with Dali Zensor 1 pairing with NAD D 3020, the sound delivery is truly enjoyable.
More Details at Amazon – DALI Zensor 1
Audioengine’s active speakers are always the ones that catch people’s attention but their new HDP6 passive speakers are equally exceptional. The warm-sounding quality of Audioengine HDP6 matches well with the NAD D 3020, providing you with detailed and dramatic sound reproduction with smoothness. These speakers handle the bass signals well, with control and weight to them. Sounds great with a turntable too. The Audioengine P4 passive speakers are a good pairing partner with D 3020 as well. Both these speakers are 4Ohms nominal impedance, I will advise playing at moderate volume though.
More Details at Amazon – Audioengine HDP6 Passive Speakers
Elac Debut B6.2 is another popular choice among audiophiles, the transparency and details it can reveal are astounding. Elac Debut B6.2 is quite neutral but still has that energy and rhythm. They do neutralize the warmness in the sound quality quite significantly and gives you more clarity in the music. If you want a more faithful representation and less warm-sounding quality from your music sources, Elac Debut B6.2 is an amazing speaker option for your NAD amp.
More Details at Amazon – ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers
There are quite a few other budget speakers that you can try out with your NAD D 3020 amp, Q Acoustics 3020i is one of them. Their sound characteristics are close to what D 3020 has, rich and warm sounding quality. Other brands you should look out for will be Tannoy and KEF. Some owners of NAD D 3020 did mention it could drive floorstanding speakers but you should audition them first before really deciding to go for them. This compact amplifier is really powerful for its size, NAD’s Class D module is certainly impressive.
More Details at Amazon – Q Acoustics 3020i
NAD D 3020 V2
As I mentioned earlier that Audioengine HDP6 speakers can be great for turntable/vinyl playback. If you are interested, then you should go for NAD D 3020 V2 instead, it is an upgraded version with Phono input. This new version has all the merits of the original NAD D 3020, and then some. The dedicated subwoofer output and pre-out are great additions. With the subwoofer output, you can now add an active sub to supplement the bass, making this digital amplifier an absolute all-rounder for all genres of music. You can use it for movies and gaming as well since the active subwoofer will be using its own amp for the low bass reproduction and the D 3020 V2 will just need to focus all its power on the rest. If I were you, I will go for NAD D 3020 V2.
More Details at Amazon – NAD D 3020 v2 Hybrid Digital Integrated Amplifier
To sum it up
There’s no denying how talented NAD D 3020 is and with version 2, you can do even more. The recommended speakers are worthy of your time and effort to audition them. You can also use them as a reference as you look for other speaker brands/models as pairing partners with your D 3020. I will suggest that you look for a decent active sealed subwoofer, as it will greatly improve the bass performance and open up the bookshelf speakers. If you purely just want more bass output then probably ported subwoofer will be a better choice. For a powerful and yet quite musical ported subwoofer, I will recommend the brand SVS, one of the highly-rated ported subs will be their PB-1000. Enjoy your speakers hunting and don’t forget to audition them before buying, cheers!
