NAD 7020 Receivers
NAD 7020 Receivers
USER REVIEWS
[Jan 29, 2003]
Will Simmering
Casual Listener
Strength:
Clear, rich sound whether used to play tapes, LPs, CDs, MP3s or just to listen to the radio.
Weakness:
Age can cause the unit's components to occasionally be troublesome. My system sometimes produces a less than clean sound out of the right channel when using the AUX setting possibley due to poor contacts. As well, the light on the tuner dial burned out soon after beeing replaced. While not as sexy as new, digital turbo-charged home theater systems, the NAD 7020 still manages to produce much the same sound quality as it did when it was an audio-phile component in the late 70's early 80's. My system is hooked up to a NAD 6050C Cassette deck and an old set of Polk Audio model 5's, which, most of the time, produce clear, clean sound that comfortably ranges from back-ground music to filling a room, and at a rated distortion of only 0.02%. And this despite an average power output of 20watts per channel average, 40 watts max at 8 ohms. Old promo material boasts that "for the student or first-time stereo shopper, the 'no frills' design and moderate price make the NAD 7020 an ideal choice; for the music-music lover seeking uncompromised performance, few receivers at any price will sound as good in everyday use." Despite its age and occasional crankyness, the NAD 7020 sounds just as good as many, more modern systems. |
[Jun 05, 2002]
neusch
Casual Listener
Strength:
warm sound strudy technology
Weakness:
no remote control Great product. Outperforms any receiver I have ssen for this price and running after 10 years without the slightest wear. It doesn ot have any gadgets to play with but it plays you wonderful warm music with sufficient power when you need. I had not problem at parties were friends did not want to believe this thing has some simple 20 watts |
[Apr 24, 2001]
Carl C
Audio Enthusiast
I remember the 7020. But I purchased the newer (at the time) 7130. The Amp was still based upon the 3020 design, but pumped up a few watts. I'm afraid that I do not remember how many watts or how much headroom it was rated. If my memory is correct, 35wpc with 2.5 db o headroom. |
[Sep 06, 2000]
Kelly Minnick
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Low distortion, Big bang for the $$
Weakness:
None (price considered) I bought this new back in 1980. At the time it was being reviewed, they were comparing it to the Macintosh reciever of the time. It speced out at .015 THD and was putting 108 WPC into 2 Ohm loads. I think the thing is heavier than my 7240. I was going to sell it, but when used ones are going for $50 -$75, there's no way. I'm looking to upgrade my 7240 with a T750. I'm a sold customer when it comes to NAD. Similar Products Used: NAD7240PE, Kenwood, Fisher |
[Dec 08, 2001]
Will
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Great sound at a bargain price. Clean power. Sturdy.
Weakness:
Tuner drifts. Few inputs. No remote option. I recently picked up a used NAD 7020 to replace my Yamaha RX-385, which seems to be dying in one channel. I didn't really think a receiver could make any difference in what I heard (driving Paradigm Atoms + SB-90 passive sub). I was wrong. I heard new detail in some of my favorite CDs, like Rob Wasserman's Trios. My NAD has a severely beat up exerior, all scratched up with a couple chips, but it performs excellently, which suggests it must be very sturdy. Value is a no-brainer considering the prices it can be found at, 5-stars. 5-stars as a basic stereo reciever too as long as you don't need modern bells and whistles. The included bass, treble, and loudness adjustments are actually useful for low level listening, unlike other receivers I've heard that sound horribly bloated when boosted. Similar Products Used: Yamaha RX-385 |
[May 11, 1999]
Pär
an Audio Enthusiast
Does anyone out there care for value for money? With focus on Value? Well, don't forget to look out for old NAD 3020 or 7020! |
[Nov 29, 2000]
Robert Yaeger
Audiophile
Strength:
Great musical reproduction. great head room
Weakness:
lousy tuner My first system out of school back in 1980 was a NAD 7020 and a pair of Mission 770's with a phillips turntable. What s system. The day I bought them I had the system setup and was listening to some classical piano music. My mom and sister came home and wanted to know who the hell was playing the piano (er, which of course we did'nt have). It sounded that good. Similar Products Used: no comparision to any other inexpensive receiver I've owned |
[Jan 30, 2001]
Stephen Cannings
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Great sound with Linn Kan speakers
Weakness:
No longer made, tuner drift I had the 7020 paired with Linn Kan speakers and Rega Planer 3, some 19 years ago. Since living abroad I have kept the speakers in storage. Last week I brought them back to Hong Kong, went out and purchased a NAD L40 - thinking it would absolutly be far superior to the 7020. Got home, wired it up and was immediately dissapointed. No great seperation or three-dimensionality that the 7020's gave. I used that combination at parties, large rooms and backyards and people were always blown away by the sound coming out of the small Kans. I thought it was speaker prowess but matching circuitry is important as I now discover. Similar Products Used: NAD L40 - inferior IMHO, Rega Planer 3 turntable |
[May 15, 2000]
C Bakri
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
preamplifier section; low price of used product; can drive difficult loads;
Weakness:
age of the product; In its time was considered the finest receiver for its price; some enthusiasts thought it sounded subjectively better than the NAD 3020 amp. from which it was derived. Similar Products Used: NAD 7225; Rega Brio(for preamp comparison) |