What to upgrade first: DAC or NAD 3020 amp (1970s design!)

[admin_exported]

I'm looking to upgrade my office HiFi setup and I could really appreciate some advice if possible!

I have a vintage NAD 3020 amp (designed in the 1970s) which I bought 2nd hand many years ago driving a pair of Mission 701 speakers. It produces a lovely, warm sound which I've grown to enjoy but the amp is starting to die (specifically the volume control and several of the input selection switches are becoming "scratchy").

The vast, vast majority of the time I listen to FLAC music sourced from my laptop. I'm currently just using my laptop's DAC.

My question is: given a budget of about £200, what should I prioritise: a new amp (like a NAD C315BEE) or an external DAC? I could live with the scratchy volume control on my NAD for a little while (I might even try to fix it if someone could suggest a suitable replacement variable resistor - I've tried using standard variable resistors but they fail pretty quickly?)

 

[the record spot]

Hmmm, depending on where you are in the UK, Gumtree and/or Ebay could be your friend. You could hunt around for an amp with an onboard DAC, buy them separately or get the amp changed and save up a little more for a new DAC in the New Year.

Have a look to get some good ideas under the "Newly Listed" Buy-It-Now selection currently on Ebay. Plenty of decent amps there many of which will be in decent shape. Quite a few under £100, that would leave you a decent sum to get something like - if you were able to add on a little - Teac's UD-H01, which Richer Sounds have reduced from £300 to £150. It's a very flexible little unit, with coax, optical and USB inputs, along with a Headphone amp too. I pair mine currently with my Harman HK6850 amp with the DAC handling the TV input and coax feed from the Denon DVD3930. A very pleasing sound. Plenty of detail. Other options are available, if you could clap hands on an M-Audio transit (check out pro-audio sites) which would give you a decent option, but likely still come in around the £70 mark. This is a USB option only I think (no mains power), very portable and might offer coax and optical but do check. In any case, availability might be an issue. You get the idea though.

You can do it for the money but it might take some digging around.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks loads for the reply! I might well go for the Teac UD-H01 along with a reasonably modern amp from eBay; thanks again!

 

[whiskywheels]

I'd keep the NAD, clean or replace the scratchy bits, and get a Musical Fidelity V-DAC II ; this will be a big improvement on you laptop's soundcard!

 

[Anonymous]

I'd keep the NAD, clean or replace the scratchy bits, and get a Musical Fidelity V-DAC II ; this will be a big improvement on you laptop's soundcard!

That's certainly a tempting option! As a general rule, I don't like to throw anything away if it can be fixed first.

I recently came across the "Teac A-H01". This is an integrated amp with a lovely DAC (with optical, coax and USB inputs) and 2 analog inputs and sells new for about £250. I think I might well go for this Teac A-H01.

 

[Anonymous]

@ jack

NAD3020; that takes me back! I would keep it, if only for it's vintage value.

Can you give any more info on the variable resistor (potentiometer) that you are trying to replace? Resistance, mounting hole size, physical dimensions, wattage etc? I may be able to offer advice on a replacement.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Hi Jack,

and welcome to the forum!

This summer i've bought a NAD 3020i from UK ebay just 35£, and i may add that the NAD is working wontherfully, i've got lot of lucky!

My oppinion is, if you like the sound of the NAD, buy your self one on ebay, and all the money left invest on a second hand DAC, for exemple a Cambridge Audio DACMagic.