NAD D 3020 work around for Airplay streaming

koko83

New member
Jan 30, 2014
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Hi Folks,

new guy here, about to setup his first decent 2 channel stereo. My options are limited as far as space, and aesthetics (Mrs. Koko has weighed in strongly on this point) so I have narrowed my search to NAD D 3020. Form factor is a portion, and overall capability is the rest.

This search started as a way to improve on my television/movie watching experience, and I was ready to pull the trigger on a Paradigm Millenia CT setup, however after waiting a bit, I realized I would be limited as far as potential expansion. I would only ever have 2 sources... my telelvision, and the analog.

So enter this NAD product, so favourably reviewed. I have an awful lot of music stored in high quality ALAC or AIFF on my desktop iMac, which I currently enjoy streaming via airplay to my Samsung DAE750 (no snickering please). It's a beautiful little arrangement. I would like to have the same enjoyment with my new D 3020, and so I'm thinking I could pickup an airport express, and connect it via digital input to the 3020, and Bob's your uncle.... am I missing anything? Using the digital in should mean I get the benefit of the on board DAC, and the only potential limitation to sound quality would be the robustness of my network.

Any insight is appreciated. :beer:
 

mmg

New member
Dec 24, 2013
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So what is your question exactly? Looks like you got it figured out already :). You're right that connecting an Airport Express digitally is a good solution: Airplay supports lossless formats, so your ALAC / AIFF files will be streamed in the highest quality and your NAD can convert the lossless stream to an analog signal...
 

koko83

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Jan 30, 2014
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If I've got it figured out, I've impressed myself. Really just starting to get into hifi in general, and needed to ensure I'm not overlooking anything before spending my $. Thanks MMG!
 

mmg

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Dec 24, 2013
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It's a great setup, certainly if you don't have much space. However (as always) listen to the system to make sure you like the sound before spending those hard-earned $.

Which speakers are you planning on getting with this amp? It's not the most powerful amp, so I'd avoid anyyhing power-hungry.
 

koko83

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Jan 30, 2014
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Hey MMG. I've been auditioning with a few different setups. I'm very impressed with what this little thing can do. Was at a local dealer yesterday, who had a bryston digital player run through a bryston dac to the NAD, to a set of Paradigm Studio 20's. I had him disconnect the DAC, and run directly through the NAD. VERY impressed. I wasn't certain there was enough oomph from the 3020, but it drove these speakers beautifully.

Then listened to a pair of Focal Aria 906. The same Aaron Neville track had more perceptable bass (like I could hear the guys fingers on the strings) and slightly toned down brights (horns/his voice).

So I'm between these for the time being. May audition a few more at another retailer with different options. I've heard with Studio 10's, and some lower end Focals (705/6) and so far I'm leaning towards a bit more from my speakers.

I do have a question though, and I can't seem to locate an answer on the forums... If I add a bit of kit to my iTunes (Channel D, for instance) can I convince Airplay to stream 24/96khz to airport express? Or will the AE always downgrade before output...? Any other way to get high rez files wirelessly to the NAD D 3020?
 

mmg

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Dec 24, 2013
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Those look like good speakers for that amp. Maybe also audition the KEF LS50?

For your other question: no, the Airport Express will only output 16/44.1, no matter what engine you use. AFAIK there aren't any airplay devices that output at a higher bit depth or frequency. Even if they did exist, the question would remain if you'd be able to hear the difference...
 

koko83

New member
Jan 30, 2014
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Hearing so much about these LS50... must find somewhere that has both NAD and KEF lineup to audition the combo. Interesting looking speakers too...
 

koko83

New member
Jan 30, 2014
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Pulled the trigger on this device today. Set it up with an old pair of polk bookshelves I had kicking around to test potential position of whatever speakers I land on (layout of my space neccesitates actually placing speakers in a bookshelf).

I had a listen with the focal aria 906. I took some of my own music on USB for the sake of audition.

This amp and speaker setup sounded AMAZING when playing a cd in the shop, and indeed, with most of the music I brought with me.

The one exception was a high rez (24/96) .aiff of Black Crowes Remedy (my rock and roll test track of choice). The driver was REALLY jumping to keep up with this song. The seemingly knowledgable dude I spoke with seemed to think this was a combination of file type, and the fact that he was streaming across a NAD bluetooth dongle from the stores PC, using VLC as a music player. He fiddled with the volume on VLC some, and it seemed to calm a little, but still way to much movement from the driver... Very odd. Any ideas? I loved everything else these speakers did... including "compton" by Kendrick Lamar.
 

baandwills21

New member
Feb 27, 2014
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Hi koko (and anyone esle reading),

Thanks for your post.

I am a real newbie to all this (first tv purchase in about 7 years and first ever audio purchase for a TV setup.

I am thinking of buying the NAD D 3020 as well for my TV (hopefully a nice samsung). I was going to go with a soundbar, but I found that even the nicer ones (re sonos), did not sound as good as a bad amp and two speakers (though I am not sure why). Maybe I am mistaken or it is just me, but a simple receiver seemed better.

Then I came across the NAD D 3020, which seems to fulfill my needs (2 or 2.1 sound), plus bluetooth for my iPhone. But alas iPhones do not support bluetooth apxt. So I starting searching for a workaround and came across this post.

One question I had was why did you choose the airport express instead of the AppleTV, maybe you are not connecting this to a TV? AppleTV has audio output as well.

Any thoughts if this would work well with the Triton Seven Tower or Trinton Three Tower (which has some base at least)? http://www.goldenear.com/products/triton-series#/?gktab=1

Also, how do you control volume? I assume from the input device....

Thanks!
 

npoguy

New member
Apr 22, 2011
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Curious about your reference to bluetooth on the D3020--bluetooth does work well from an Ipad, phone, mbp, they just do not support apxt. Have you tried it to see if you notice a difference in quality? I also use mine with an Apple TV and don't notice much of a difference between the two sources.
 

0ads0

New member
Nov 18, 2015
4
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0
Hi there

Just wondering how you connected the airport express to the NAD d3020? What kind of cable did you use?

Thanks very much.

koko83 said:
Hi Folks,

new guy here, about to setup his first decent 2 channel stereo. My options are limited as far as space, and aesthetics (Mrs. Koko has weighed in strongly on this point) so I have narrowed my search to NAD D 3020. Form factor is a portion, and overall capability is the rest.

This search started as a way to improve on my television/movie watching experience, and I was ready to pull the trigger on a Paradigm Millenia CT setup, however after waiting a bit, I realized I would be limited as far as potential expansion. I would only ever have 2 sources... my telelvision, and the analog.

So enter this NAD product, so favourably reviewed. I have an awful lot of music stored in high quality ALAC or AIFF on my desktop iMac, which I currently enjoy streaming via airplay to my Samsung DAE750 (no snickering please). It's a beautiful little arrangement. I would like to have the same enjoyment with my new D 3020, and so I'm thinking I could pickup an airport express, and connect it via digital input to the 3020, and Bob's your uncle.... am I missing anything? Using the digital in should mean I get the benefit of the on board DAC, and the only potential limitation to sound quality would be the robustness of my network.

Any insight is appreciated. :beer:
 

chebby

Well-known member
Jun 2, 2008
1,253
26
19,220
0ads0 said:
Hi there

Just wondering how you connected the airport express to the NAD d3020? What kind of cable did you use?

Thanks very much.

Use a 3.5mm mini optical to Toslink cable. (3.5mm mini-optical at the AirPort Express end and Toslink to the 'Optical 1' input on the NAD.)

There is also an 'AUX2/Optical 2' input which doubles up as either a 3.5mm (analogue) mini-jack input, or a 3.5mm mini-optical input. So you could use a 3.5mm mini-optical to 3.5mm mini-optical cable (especially if the Toslink optical input is busy with some other source (like a television).
 

0ads0

New member
Nov 18, 2015
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Thanks ever so much. My knowledge doesn't go much further than analogue to analogue I'm afraid, so I really apprecaite your help. I'm guessing the mini-optical to toslink will be superior to the mini-optical to mini-optical?

Is this the sort of thing I should be buying: www.futureshop.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=5468#.VkyfT9_hByo

Thanks again for your advice.

chebby said:
0ads0 said:
Hi there

Just wondering how you connected the airport express to the NAD d3020? What kind of cable did you use?

Thanks very much.

Use a 3.5mm mini optical to Toslink cable. (3.5mm mini-optical at the AirPort Express end and Toslink to the 'Optical 1' input on the NAD.)

There is also an 'AUX2/Optical 2' input which doubles up as either a 3.5mm (analogue) mini-jack input, or a 3.5mm mini-optical input. So you could use a 3.5mm mini-optical to 3.5mm mini-optical cable (especially if the Toslink optical input is busy with some other source (like a television).
 

chebby

Well-known member
Jun 2, 2008
1,253
26
19,220
Any optical to optical connection will be the same quality whether 3.5mm mini or full-size Toslink.

The AQ Forest cable will be fine if a little expensive. I use the same cable but in a 0.75m length with my new AirPort Express (for AirPlay).

It was the only cable of that exact connectivity (without having to use adaptors), in the exact length I wanted, at a reasonable price (£25) from someone i'd heard of.
 

0ads0

New member
Nov 18, 2015
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You're right, it is a bit pricey for the AQ cable. I've had a look elsewhere and found the "TECHLINK iWires 3.5mm Optical to TOSLINK Optical Cable" for only £7.60. It's only 40cm but will probably do the job, I hope.

Do you have any experience with multiroom Airplay - I don't think Mac OS can do it out of the box - but Airfoil for Mac looks like it could be a good solution.
 

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