Sound & Vision (2019-04)

test report

FIVE YEARS AGO, when I examined

NAD’s $399 D 3020, the progenitor

of the D 3045 before us here, I liked

it—a lot. The D 3020 was among the

first of what I’ve come to call DAC-

lifiers: small-ish integrated amps with

onboard digital-to-analog facilities

intended for audio-streaming or

computer playback sources and

projecting at least some level of audio-

phile sophistication.

The D 3045 is very much like the

D 3020—although its hard-plastic

side/top-cover is a slight comedown

from the earlier model’s sexier, hard-

rubberized surface. Bigger and more

powerful—the new NAD is rated

as producing 60 was per channel

compared with the earlier model’s

30 was —it’s also more feature-

packed, adding bi-directional aptX

HD Bluetooth, an HDMI-ARC input,

a moving-magnet phono input, and

line-level preamp/subwoofer outs.

Where I described the earlier model

as being about the size of a Grape-

Nuts box, the D 3045 is more in the

Weetabix class, while retaining both

the vertical-friendly form-factor and

signature single-radiused corner of its

predecessor. Like the earlier design,

the D 3045 can be positioned vertically

or horizontally, and it also retains the

auto-position sensor that magically

rotates its small display in the proper

orientation however you choose to

deploy it. (Looks much beer vertical,

in my book.)

Volume and input-select knobs

along with a mini-jack headphone

output complete the front panel

facilities. Around back are speaker

outputs on solid multi-way posts, a

pair of analog stereo inputs—one

RCA-jack, the other a portable-friendly

Desktop Dynamo

By Daniel Kumin

NAD D 3045 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER/DAC

RATING

NAD D 3045

Integrated Amplifier/

DAC

PERFORMANCE

FEATURES

ERGONOMICS

VALUE

(^44) [ April May 2019 [soundandvision.com