NAD 3130 amp kaput.

[crankedup]

Sad to say my old NAD 3130 has finally croaked. I am going to replace it with another used NAD WITH A LIKELY SPEND OF ONLY UP TO £100 Ebay likely source. Is there a better NAD from the 1980's that I should consider? It will only drive my Marantz 65DX CD player with Quad floor standers. I love the sound of NAD so will stick with them. Thanks for any comment/advise.

[craig1912]

Plenty of 3020's on eBay for under a £100.

[crankedup]

Thanks criag1912, I will have a Google on that model.

[Ray Singh]

Could it be worth repairing your original amp?
Where are you based? I could take a look.

[crankedup]

Thanks Ray, it did cross my mind regarding a repair but a replacement at £50 - £70 beckons I think. I will put the broken one in the loft for now.

[TheInternet]

As mentioned the NAD 3020s are well regarded, but if you did want to consider other brands the Marantz PM-66SE is a good bet and in your price range.

Any ideas what's happened to your current amplifier? Symptoms?

[Zod]

TheInternet said:

As mentioned the NAD 3020s are well regarded, but if you did want to consider other brands the Marantz PM-66SE is a good bet and in your price range.

Any ideas what's happened to your current amplifier? Symptoms?

Get the KI-Signature version if you can find one. I replaced my Rotel 820 with it when that finally died. I moved on a long tiem ago to Cyrus with monoblocs and gave my F-i-L the Marantz and it still sounds great.

[crankedup]

TheInternet said:

As mentioned the NAD 3020s are well regarded, but if you did want to consider other brands the Marantz PM-66SE is a good bet and in your price range.

Any ideas what's happened to your current amplifier? Symptoms?

Thanks for input, think I will stay with the NAD having enjoyed it since 1986 and sought advise in this forum last year about upgrading. The word about upgrade was that I would need to spend big money to improve on the NAD sound, which I really enjoy. Given that my C.D. player (Marantz) is of the same era they seem to work for me regard sound I like.

Switched on my amp and it played music for a few seconds as normal. Then noticed that one speaker was not working at all. Followed by 2nd speaker lost volume and what music could be heard was 90% overridden by horrible continuous rasping type noise. Checked leads and plugs but no change. Amp still lights up but then a slight whiff of acrid plastic burning so switched off quick before I burnt my house down.

[crankedup]

Zod said:

TheInternet said:

As mentioned the NAD 3020s are well regarded, but if you did want to consider other brands the Marantz PM-66SE is a good bet and in your price range.

Any ideas what's happened to your current amplifier? Symptoms?

Get the KI-Signature version if you can find one. I replaced my Rotel 820 with it when that finally died. I moved on a long tiem ago to Cyrus with monoblocs and gave my F-i-L the Marantz and it still sounds great.

Thanks for tip Zod, I will keep an eye for that. I suppose it may seem slightly odd looking to replace a nigh on 30 year old amp with another oldie, happy with the sound though and steering clear of Hi-Fi outlets for fear of a wallet busting exercise! Tempting though.

[crankedup]

woowahwoo said:

crankedup said:

Thanks Ray, it did cross my mind regarding a repair but a replacement at £50 - £70 beckons I think. I will put the broken one in the loft for now.

Last time I looked you wouldn't find a working NAD for that money. Serviced and repaired, yours should sound better than ever.

Looking to replace TBH but maybe whilst looking it would be an idea to have the old one looked at for repair. I suppose I could always re-sell a replacement if needs. Any idea where a good repair agent, I live in Suffolk.
Thanks.

[Zod]

woowahwoo said:

crankedup said:

Looking to replace TBH but maybe whilst looking it would be an idea to have the old one looked at for repair. I suppose I could always re-sell a replacement if needs. Any idea where a good repair agent, I live in Suffolk.
Thanks.

Been many years since I had something repaired. Could be worth trying your nearest Richer Sounds or high-fi dealer - ask if they will give you the number of the technician they use (I did that many years ago)? Otherwise, search some forums e.g. pinkfishmedia theartofsound

Getting a quote can't hurt. What's happened - lost a channel?

Open it up. It could just be a fuse. My Rotel did this a few years before it died. I opened it, found that a fuse had gone and that they had provided a little clip inside the case with a spare fuse!

[croyde]

I thought my NAD had finally expired last week. Bought it back in 1985.

Opened it up as the left channel had stopped working, to be confronted with 30 years of dust. A gentle hoovering and a spray with electrical contact cleaner and all was fine.

[crankedup]

Thanks guys for replies. I have found a repair / service called ARS www.amprepairservices.co.uk

I have emailed him and await reply, but if you look at the web site I think the repair and a good overhaul is the way forward for me, having read the advise and thought about it! I would be risking spending around £100 on a used example so better to spend a bit extra on my existing and know its been overhauled properly. At what is likely £145 all up for the work and the amp likely to serve another 30 years it will see me out!
As you will see on his web site he is on holiday at the moment but I will post back in here and let you know how things work out.

Once again thanks to all for advise and hints.

[crankedup]

croyde said:

I thought my NAD had finally expired last week. Bought it back in 1985.

Opened it up as the left channel had stopped working, to be confronted with 30 years of dust. A gentle hoovering and a spray with electrical contact cleaner and all was fine.

Had the cover off a couple of years ago for a clean-up, but thanks anyway.

[tog]

crankedup said:

Thanks guys for replies. I have found a repair / service called ARS www.amprepairservices.co.uk

Thanks for posting that - I have a Cyrus and an Audio Fidelity which are both broken in the ways described on the site!

[crankedup]

I'm chuffed that I have been able to make a positive contribution, if only a useful link.

[crankedup]

Little update : amp all repaired now and sounds fantastic, beautiful and clean switching/controls. Punchy and like brand new. Repair cost £135 all in with three months warranty. To say I am chuffed would be an understatement, I'm also pleased that I took good advise from in here. If your interested in the work carried out I will post it up,

[croyde]

Good news

Do let us know the repair details.

[crankedup]

Thanks for interest, I will try and keep it brief :

Two blown PA stage fuses.
Short circuit in PA stage traced to faulty output transistors. Both replaced.
All electrolytic capacitors replaced with higher quality audio grade components.
Volume/balance potentiometer removed/chemical cleaned and track lubed with Caig Deoxit D5.
All switches removed and treated as above.
Loudspeaker and input selector switches as above + gold electroplated and treated with Caig Deoxit.
Several dry solder joints remade when PCB inspected under magnification.
Full inspection ensuring original spec' is met or exceeded as in measurements with NAD spec'.
Full one day test.
Power tested into load.

The outcome from a practical user angle is :
No booomph when I switch amp on.
All switches select clean with zero audible noise.
The unit has of course been properly cleaned inside and outside. Looks almost box new.

For £135 I think it is a superb job completed and I would not hesitate to recommend this one man company.

www.amprepairservices.co.uk

No connection other than very happy customer.

Edited by crankedup on Monday 24th August 19:33

[croyde]

If you think that back in the mid 80s these were a week's wages that is an absolute bargain.