Avbryt Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Hi, I recently purchased a pair of Heresy IIIs and I need some advice on amp/pre or integrated selection. At first paired with Nad 3020. Great sound!! But at high volume the amp was not doing the job. Tried HK 3490 as a preamp with the 3020, didnt help. Now Nad 3020 with Nad 2100 poweramp, and it sounds really bad. Any advice or other equipment suggestions is appreciated! I have two NAD 3020 and a NAD 2100 poweramp at home. Cheers! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willland Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 @Avbryt, Welcome to the forum. How much $$$ are you planning on spending? New, refurbished, or used? Where are you located? Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avbryt Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 8 hours ago, willland said: @Avbryt, Welcome to the forum. How much $$$ are you planning on spending? New, refurbished, or used? Where are you located? Bill Thanks for the reply Bill, I think used as it's cheaper and as you can tell I don't put much money in it so far. I guess about 300 $ or 500 $ if that would be a game changer! I changed the volume on the 2100 from full to about 9.00 and more volume on the 3020 and I think it sounded much better. I live close to Stockholm in Sweden. /Pierre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willland Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 If you have been generally happy with NAD, then maybe look for a used C356BEE. Or maybe even consider a Cambridge Audio 651A. I have been driving my Heresy 1s and Heresy 2s with NAD and Cambridge Audio for several years now and have not come up with any reason to change. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avbryt Posted October 17, 2020 Author Share Posted October 17, 2020 Thanks Bill, I will listen to Cambridge!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 NAD 3020 is a great amp. BUT, it is only 20w/ch although it does have pretty good headroom. Do you know what version you have? There were some changes made to the 3020 along the way (not all of them positive) "IF" you could expand your budget a bit, I really think you should consider auditioning NAD C390DD. You can pick these up for a song (compared to the original cost). I used one for about 6 years, now using NAD M32. They replaced my Luxman triodes, Wright 2A3 triodes & McIntosh solid state. I've never looked back and don't regret it one bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceptorman Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 On 10/10/2020 at 11:29 AM, Avbryt said: Hi, I recently purchased a pair of Heresy IIIs and I need some advice on amp/pre or integrated selection. At first paired with Nad 3020. Great sound!! But at high volume the amp was not doing the job. Tried HK 3490 as a preamp with the 3020, didnt help. Now Nad 3020 with Nad 2100 poweramp, and it sounds really bad. Any advice or other equipment suggestions is appreciated! I have two NAD 3020 and a NAD 2100 poweramp at home. Cheers! I'm not sure I understand, you mentioned you tried the Nad 3020 with the Nad 2100, aren't they both power amps? Was the HK still used as a pre? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OO1 Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 you have to find a SS amp of at least 50 watts and up --------now a 100 watt per channel amp is even better -----and 500$ should be more than needed -plenty on Ebay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avbryt Posted October 19, 2020 Author Share Posted October 19, 2020 10 hours ago, artto said: NAD 3020 is a great amp. BUT, it is only 20w/ch although it does have pretty good headroom. Do you know what version you have? There were some changes made to the 3020 along the way (not all of them positive) "IF" you could expand your budget a bit, I really think you should consider auditioning NAD C390DD. You can pick these up for a song (compared to the original cost). I used one for about 6 years, now using NAD M32. They replaced my Luxman triodes, Wright 2A3 triodes & McIntosh solid state. I've never looked back and don't regret it one bit. Hi, it is the first version! I will check the 390 out! I wonder if there is a mode so I can use the power from both 3020s that I have...? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 Welcome to the forum! Guessing you could use Y adapters from a single preamp preout, out to both amps... I would... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avbryt Posted October 19, 2020 Author Share Posted October 19, 2020 I will try bi-amping👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 39 minutes ago, Avbryt said: I will try bi-amping👍 There you go... Do you have the 3020 or the 3020A? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moray james Posted October 19, 2020 Share Posted October 19, 2020 Nad 3020 was a good little class B amplifier responded well to modifications performed well beyond its weight class. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avbryt Posted October 19, 2020 Author Share Posted October 19, 2020 1 hour ago, billybob said: There you go... Do you have the 3020 or the 3020A? Hi! I have 3020. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DALEDEEE Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 Schiit Vidar 100W $700 new. Might see a used one but a nice amp for the money. 5 yr warranty 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 18 hours ago, Avbryt said: Hi! I have 3020. How are things now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 On 10/19/2020 at 3:00 AM, Avbryt said: Hi, it is the first version! I will check the 390 out! I wonder if there is a mode so I can use the power from both 3020s that I have...? There is - sort of. But probably not what you're looking to do. "The innovative split of pre- and power-amplifier sections allows the use of the pre-amp stage to drive multiple power amplifiers in parallel, or use long signal cables to connect to remote power amplifiers or powered speakers.[14] This facility became hugely popular with audiophiles, who would seek to isolate this "remarkably fine-sounding preamp section", to use with one or more external power amplifiers" - Wikipedia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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