I have noted that question comes up time and again, what's the difference between the 3020A and 3020B or how does the original 3020 series 20 differ from the 3020A etc. In an attempt to clarify the differences between the various Nad 3020 incarnations, it can most simply be put as follows. The Nad 3020 series 20, Nad 3020A and Nad 3020B all look the same stylistically whilst the Nad 3020e and Nad 3020i differ from the first three stylistically but look the same as each other. More specifically the changes and the order in which they came about, is as follows.
? Nad 3020 Series 20 launched 1978. Featured yellowish decals, inputs and spring-loaded speaker terminals on rear ?shelf?. Sold half a million units in its first three years. Has pre-out and main-in loop. MM phono only but can be used with high output MC cartridges. Rated 20 wpc.
? Nad 3020A launched circa 1981 and rectified some minor faults of the original such as the crosstalk between the left and right channels. Featured white decals, inputs and spring-loaded speaker terminals on rear ?shelf? and introduced switchable MM / MC phono input. Has pre-out and main-in loop. Rated 20 wpc.
? Nad 3020B. Manufactured from 1984 ? 1987. Changed from spring-loaded speaker terminals to proper speaker terminals capable of accepting banana plugs. All inputs still on rear ?shelf?. Has switchable MM and MC phono input. Has pre-out and main-in loop. The Nad 3120 was manufactured concurrently with the 3020B and was essentially the same amplifier with the tone controls removed. Both the 3020B and 3120 are conservatively rated at 25 wpc.
? Nad 3020e. Front styling changes for the first time to smaller selector buttons. Does away with the rear ?shelf? and all connections are directly on the back as is standard today. For some strange reason, Nad reverts to the inferior spring-loaded speaker terminals and removes the pre-out / main-in loop. MM phono only.
? Nad 3020i launched in 1991 and is the last in the 3020 range. Same front style as the 3020e and puts back the pre-out / main-in loop. Also reverts to proper speaker binding posts that can accept banana plugs. All inputs directly on the back. MM phono only. Rated 20 wpc.
? Nad 3020 Series 20 launched 1978. Featured yellowish decals, inputs and spring-loaded speaker terminals on rear ?shelf?. Sold half a million units in its first three years. Has pre-out and main-in loop. MM phono only but can be used with high output MC cartridges. Rated 20 wpc.
? Nad 3020A launched circa 1981 and rectified some minor faults of the original such as the crosstalk between the left and right channels. Featured white decals, inputs and spring-loaded speaker terminals on rear ?shelf? and introduced switchable MM / MC phono input. Has pre-out and main-in loop. Rated 20 wpc.
? Nad 3020B. Manufactured from 1984 ? 1987. Changed from spring-loaded speaker terminals to proper speaker terminals capable of accepting banana plugs. All inputs still on rear ?shelf?. Has switchable MM and MC phono input. Has pre-out and main-in loop. The Nad 3120 was manufactured concurrently with the 3020B and was essentially the same amplifier with the tone controls removed. Both the 3020B and 3120 are conservatively rated at 25 wpc.
? Nad 3020e. Front styling changes for the first time to smaller selector buttons. Does away with the rear ?shelf? and all connections are directly on the back as is standard today. For some strange reason, Nad reverts to the inferior spring-loaded speaker terminals and removes the pre-out / main-in loop. MM phono only.
? Nad 3020i launched in 1991 and is the last in the 3020 range. Same front style as the 3020e and puts back the pre-out / main-in loop. Also reverts to proper speaker binding posts that can accept banana plugs. All inputs directly on the back. MM phono only. Rated 20 wpc.
