NAD D 3045 Hybrid Digital Amplifier Preview

See the complete review for the NAD D 3045 Hybrid Digital Amplifier.

When is a desktop amp more than just a desktop amp? When it’s the NAD D 3045 Hybrid Digital Amplifier.

It may be small and light but close your eyes and you’ll think you’re listening to a large and heavy box that costs thousands of dollars.

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Five years ago, I reviewed the spiritual successor to NAD’s legendary 3020 integrated amplifier, the D 3020. That tiny box stood atop my rack of heavy and expensive components and blew my mind when it easily drove a pair of Axiom LFR1100 full-range tower speakers to amazingly-high distortion-free volume levels. The D 3045 is just like that amp only more so. It delivers 60 watts-per-channel continuously into 8Ω.

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With a full array of inputs that include analog, moving-magnet phono, optical, coax, HDMI/ARC, and USB, there is nothing you can’t connect to it. And the USB port is asynchronous which means it reclocks incoming streams to eliminate jitter. It supports DSD and MQA up to 24-bit/192kHz through its digital inputs and 24-bit/384kHz through the USB input. Wireless users can enjoy two-way aptX HD Bluetooth. That way, you can stream from a phone or tablet and out to a pair of wireless headphones.

Barely larger than a hardcover book, the D 3045 can be placed anywhere you like. Even when driving significant speaker loads, it barely heats beyond room temperature. It’s equally at home on a desktop, or as a featured part of a large media room. If you’re shopping for a reasonably-priced two-channel integrated amp, the D 3045 destroys its competition with an attractive $699 price tag. I’ll be putting it through its paces in the coming weeks. Watch this space for my full review.

See the complete review for the NAD D 3045 Hybrid Digital Amplifier.

Chris Eberle

Chris' passion for audio began when he took up playing the bassoon at age 12. During his third year at the New England Conservatory of Music, he won a position with the West Point Band where he served for 26 years as principal bassoonist. He retired from the Army in 2013 and is now writing full time and performing as a freelance musician in Central Florida. As an avid movie lover, Chris was unable to turn away the 50-inch Samsung DLP TV that arrived at his door one day, thus launching him irrevocably into an obsession with home theater. Dissatisfied with the image quality of his new acquisition, Chris trained with the Imaging Science Foundation in 2006 and became a professional display calibrator. His ultimate theater desires were realized when he completed construction of a dedicated cinema/listening room in his home. Chris is extremely fortunate that his need for quality audio and video is shared and supported by his wife of over 25 years. In his spare time he enjoys riding his recumbent trike at least 100 miles per week, trying out new restaurants, going to theme parks and spending as much time as possible watching movies and listening to music. Chris enjoys bringing his observations and discoveries about every kind of home theater product to as many curious and well-informed readers as possible. He is proud to be a part of the Team and hopes to help everyone enjoy their AV experiences to the fullest.