LICENSE
Under this Agreement NAD grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicenseable, royalty-free limited license to use the program or online documentation for use solely for the purpose of upgrading NAD Products.
YOU AGREE NOT TO MODIFY, ADAPT, TRANSLATE, REVERSE ENGINEER, DECOMPILE, OR DISASSEMBLE THE PROGRAM OR ONLINE DOCUMENTATION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR IN THIS AGREEMENT OR UPON NAD’S WRITTEN REQUEST. IN ADDITION YOU AGREE NOT TO TRANSFER OR DISCLOSE THE PROGRAM, ONLINE DOCUMENTATION OR ANY PROGRAM YOU DEVELOP FROM THEM IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO ANY THIRD PARTY EXCEPT UPON NAD’S PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL. FINALLY YOU AGREE NOT TO USE THE PROGRAM IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN AS OUTLINED IN THE ONLINE DOCUMENTATION.
This license is effective until terminated. You may terminate it at any time by giving NAD written notice to that effect. NAD may terminate it if you fail to comply with this Agreement by giving you notice. Upon termination you will destroy the program or documentation and all copies you have made of them. In addition upon termination you will have no recourse against NAD for your inability to use the program or accompanying documentation.
OTHER
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Build and features
There are obvious aesthetic differences between the NAD D 3045 and its stable mate – it’s bigger, for a start, and features an extra dial for source selection above a small screen rather than a line of LEDs to show you what it’s connected to.
Generally it’s the same book-like chassis with curved top edge that can be laid either horizontally or stand up vertically. While it’s a neat design, it is certainly possible to buy classier amps for the money.
Alongside two optical and a coaxial digital input that make use of the D 3045’s hi-res DAC, NAD has included an asynchronous USB in. This is for attaching a computer that uses the amp’s precision clock, instead of the computer’s, to reduce jitter and optimise USB for audio playback. There are also analogue inputs for those who want them.
NAD D 3045 Tech specs
Hi-res Up to 24-bit/384kHz
Impedance 400 Ohms
Power 80W (8ohms)
Dimensions (hwd) 235 x 70 x 265mm
Weight 2.6kg
Around the rear, you’ll also find the phono input for use with the D 3045’s moving magnet phono stage, so you can connect a turntable, an HDMI input and option for adding a subwoofer to your basic stereo set-up.
Bluetooth aptX is also built in, which allows for 24-bit hi-res wireless sharing, and it’s two-way, meaning you can send the signal to your wireless headphones and listen to the D 3045 as a personal music system.
It’s the kind of feature list that helped win our affections for the D 3020 V2 – thankfully, much of the smallest D-series amp’s sonic character remains as well.
Sound
It’s a smooth balance, with plenty of detail across the frequency range. Given the arsenal of connections, wired and wireless, that the D 3045 possesses, it would be unfair to compare it directly with a more traditional full-size analogue amplifier at this price, but there is no feeling of insight being lacking, or balance being skewed in favour of any area.
The most obvious difference between this and the D 3020 V2, though, is the gain in power. It is undoubtedly a meatier presentation, adding weight and solidity without compromising on detail or NAD’s generally smart timing. If you found its smaller family member a little lightweight, the D 3045 presents a fine and sensibly judged alternative in that regard.
In fact, the only reason the D 3045 drops a star is due to its more staid sense of dynamics. It doesn’t have the same enthusiasm for our music as the other amp in this line. It isn’t entirely averse to changing dynamics, but it lacks the punch and expression we enjoyed from the D 3020 V2.
That added power gives NAD the opportunity to really put us on the ropes, but the D 3045 is coy to land that knockout blow. The midrange in particular feels a little withdrawn, but it’s a malady that affects the whole frequency range. It’s frustrating because we know what this kind of amplifier is capable of – and more to the point, what another version of this amp is capable of.
MORE: Best hi-fi amplifiers
EXCLUSIONS AND WARRANTIES
The software and documentation are provided “AS IS” and without warranty of any kind and NAD expressly disclaims all other warranties, express or implied. NAD will not be liable for damages, either direct or consequential, arising from the use of this product or from the inability to use this product, even if we have been informed in advance of the possibility of such damages. While we have made every effort to ensure that the Upgrade Software and/or Program, or Documentation operates in the manner described, we do not guarantee operation to be error free. Upgrades, modifications, or repairs to this program or documentation will be strictly at the discretion of NAD. If you encounter problems installing or operating the Upgrade Software and/or Program, or following the Documentation, please contact NAD Electronics at [email protected]
Because of the great variety of PC-compatible, operating system versions, and peripherals currently in use, we do not guarantee that you will be able to use Upgrade Software and/or Program successfully on all such systems.
D 3045 Hybrid Digital Amplifier
HIGHER FIDELITY
High Res is to audio, what High Definition is to video. It is more lifelike and natural, and an altogether more enjoyable listening experience. With features like Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) the D 3045 can faithfully and accurately reproduce the full spectrum of sound encapsulated on the Studio Master. Until now, music lovers have only been allowed to hear an edited version of the full fidelity because our delivery systems, be it tape, vinyl, or CD, did not have the capacity to hold all the information contained in the Studio Master recording. With High Res downloads and streaming we can now enjoy exactly the same experience the artist heard in the studio when the recording was first made.
AMAZING CAPABILITY
We recognize that just because there is a new better format available doesn’t mean your present music collection will be discarded – far from it. So we have included all the inputs and circuits required to listen to all your current music, while also possessing the capability to fully exploit today’s best High Res sources. Especially notable is the Asynchronous USB input for attaching a computer which allows High Res streaming using one of the several High Res programs like Roon, JRiver, and Amarra. Asynchronous operation uses the D 3045’s precision clock (instead of the computers clock) to reduce jitter to a minimum and make the USB format work ideally for audio. For everyday convenience we have included Bluetooth wireless streaming featuring aptX HD, the latest 24-bit High Res version of Bluetooth that is being supported by more and more phones and tablets. Additionally, if you have Bluetooth headphones, you can also stream your non-Bluetooth sources wirelessly to your headphones, or you can plug in your wired headphones to enjoy the exceptional performance of our low impedance, high current, Headphone Amplifier.
FEATURES YOU WON’T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE
Love vinyl? The D 3045 features NAD’s super accurate, wide dynamic range, Moving Magnet Phono preamp to extract every last morsel of sound from your LPs. If you still play CDs, we have both analog and digital inputs. The digital inputs allow use of the advanced High Res DAC built into the D 3045. You can even send the sound from your TV to the NAD and seamlessly control the system using your TV’s remote by taking advantage of the HDMI ARC input. Complete your system by adding a subwoofer with the convenient Sub Out jack.
