I recently acquired a NAD 317 integrated amp at a steal, $140 in fact. It's a fantastically powerful amp, it sounds smooth and controlled, punchy, clear but forgiving. Great! I thought. But what should I do with my NAD 3020i? Use it as a pre-amp?
I currently got it hooked up like this:
OPPO DV-980H -> Audioquest Silver Anniversary -> NAD 3020i's AUX input -> Lousy RCA from 3020i's Pre-Out -> NAD 317's Main In -> Another Lousy RCA from 317's Pre-Out -> NAD 3020i's Main In. (That's how the manual says to connect them. I've got the speaker cables connected to the 317, and yes there is sound, great sound)
However, is the 3020i a particularly good pre-amp? I like it's musicality which the 317 lacks, but I hate it's muddiness, it's dirty contacts and it's lack of a remote control. I can't use the 317's remote since both the volume and the tonal controls are bypassed. (is that a good thing?). At the moment I am unable to discern a diffrerence between the setups mostly because I can't do an A/B check, and I'm using really crap ICs.
The main questions are: What does a pre-amp do? And should I use the 3020i as a preamp and invest in ICs or sell it away? It's a classic, I know, but I'm a student, so I need the cash. lol.
If you guys can't (or can't be bothered) to help, can you refer me to some other forums that can help? Thanks!
I currently got it hooked up like this:
OPPO DV-980H -> Audioquest Silver Anniversary -> NAD 3020i's AUX input -> Lousy RCA from 3020i's Pre-Out -> NAD 317's Main In -> Another Lousy RCA from 317's Pre-Out -> NAD 3020i's Main In. (That's how the manual says to connect them. I've got the speaker cables connected to the 317, and yes there is sound, great sound)
However, is the 3020i a particularly good pre-amp? I like it's musicality which the 317 lacks, but I hate it's muddiness, it's dirty contacts and it's lack of a remote control. I can't use the 317's remote since both the volume and the tonal controls are bypassed. (is that a good thing?). At the moment I am unable to discern a diffrerence between the setups mostly because I can't do an A/B check, and I'm using really crap ICs.
The main questions are: What does a pre-amp do? And should I use the 3020i as a preamp and invest in ICs or sell it away? It's a classic, I know, but I'm a student, so I need the cash. lol.
If you guys can't (or can't be bothered) to help, can you refer me to some other forums that can help? Thanks!
