Björn Erik Edvardsen - Creator of NAD 3020 - RIP
Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2018
I read this morning of the sad passing of Björn Erik Edvardsen, the creator of the NAD 3020. I'm sure that for many of us here (myself included), the NAD 3020 - along with it's variants and successors such as the 3120 and 3130 - was the gateway amplifier that really got to the heart of the music, while still being relatively affordable. For some it was the first step before moving on to owning a Naim amplifier.
sad news, and indeed my son still has my old NAD G 370 in his system today G 370 I think was one of the best on the market at the time, i moved over from that to NAP 200
My 3020 is sitting just beside me in my study. A wonderful amp - I had great fun in the early days decoupling the pre and power sections and it still drives a very battered pair of Heybrook HB1's.
RIP BEE. I still have fond memories of my 3020 way back when I began my journey into hifi and music - and a simple set-up consisting of that amp, a Rega TT and a decent pair of two-way speakers from Dali kept a (much) younger version of myself happy for a number of years.
Sad news.My first amp was a 3020 when I was 15 and I have my Fathers 3020 i in my Study as he is now in a carehome.Always liked NAD great value for money product.
We had one at work linked to a tuner & cassette deck, it played every day, all day, for years
Very sad - I had a NAD 3140 and it was head and shoulders above the rest... until I traded it in against a 62/90. The 3140 was a damn fine amp and great value for money with many original design features.
Had a 7020 which was the version of the 3020 with a tuner. They used to be called Receivers, IIRC. Great bit of kit that introduced me to HiFi and sad to hear of the passing of the creator.
A sad loss indeed.
My 3120 is still in daily service as at the hub of our AV setup. It's only needed a little help from Darran to cure a switch-on buzz in 33 years. It was my man amp from 1985 to 1992 and is now part of the family . Fine sounding and flexible and clearer and more gutsy than the famous 3020A as it was the stripped down version (no tone controls, LEDs), but continued the mould for excellent vfm and SQ fro which NAD became known. Ground breaking in its day, rivalled only by Rotel, whose designs were more conventional.
I bought a second-hand 3020 in 1984. In 1988, when I got a Nait 2, I sold it to a mate. Sometime in the late 90s he sold it on to someone else, whose kids are still using it to this day.
A truly remarkable piece of kit. The 3020 must have introduced so many people to the sound of "real" hi-fi that BJE must be, along with the likes of Saul Marantz, Ivor T, Julian V, one of the industry's most influentiual figures.
3020 many fond memories . This was the amp that elevated me from the Comet specials of the time,from direct drive tt an Amstrad amplifier and Solavox speakers. All courtesy of Russ Andrews Hifi, Northumberland St Edinburgh. I still remember entering going downstairs and the sound playing was awesome ( LP12 32.5 250 driving Kans) so out of the league if a young lad who had collected paper round money and tips and odd job cash. But the seed was sown... In the end I left with rega planar two with the wooden edge trim and rb 200, NAD 302O and a pair of AR18s.
Great amp . Great days
Another former 3020 amp owner here - owned just before I bought my Nait 2.
RIP.
RIP - his amplifier was also my step before naim, amazing design, sound and value for money. Few designers have such an impact
I remember back in 1983 when I bought my Linn Isobariks DMS through The Sound Organisation they lent me a 3020 NAD whilst waiting for a Nap 250 CB. Used to good effect made a game changer when I went over to the 250.
Regards,
Martin
Ahh, respect indeed for the designer of an iconic amplifier. I still own and occasionally use my NAD3020.
It got me thinking of iconic audio amp design.. ie they made an impact rather than being necessarily the ‘best’
NAD 3020
Naim NAP 250
Cyrus III
Pioneer A200
Sugden A21
Another ‘gateway’ 3020 owner here. An icon of its time.
G
I had until very recently the more contemporary C326BEE amp, a superb successor to the 3020 (which my younger bro had for years). Faultless really. If only NAD had been taken more seriously in the 1980s....
Simon-in-Suffolk posted:Ahh, respect indeed for the designer of an iconic amplifier. I still own and occasionally use my NAD3020.
It got me thinking of iconic audio amp design.. ie they made an impact rather than being necessarily the ‘best’
NAD 3020
Naim NAP 250
Cyrus III
Pioneer A200
Sugden A21
I'd also include the Audiolab 8000A in the list. Another amp along with my 3020 that is still in the house.
RIP. I did not own a 3020 but a good friend of mine did and I spend many hours listening to this amp in his place and discovering new music in the early 90s. It is one fine amp for sure.
I use the spiritual successor - the 3020D at work everyday. Fine no fuss unit.
I couldn't get a 3020. They were like hen's teeth when I wanted one. Got a 4020 though. Still have it in the loft. Astoundingly good for the price.
No one lives forever. But his legacy will live a lot longer. Deservedly.
I started with a classic Rega 3, NAD 3020, AR18s. Paid £89 for the amp. Spend many great hours discovering music, sound was brilliant.
The first time these ears heard Beethoven 7th, Tchaikovsky 4th, Beethoven piano concerto no. 3, Beethoven violin concerto, The White Album. These are like old friends to me now, discovered on that wonderful kit.
BEE RIP.
Salmon Dave posted:I had until very recently the more contemporary C326BEE amp, a superb successor to the 3020 (which my younger bro had for years). Faultless really. If only NAD had been taken more seriously in the 1980s....
Weren't they?!
I was still rocking a 3140 until 2013, when I got the Naim bug, and changed it out for a SuperNait (1).
RIP Björn.
I had a NAD 7120 with the NAD 6050C cassette deck and Dual CS 505 turntable with Heybrook HB1 loudspeakers.
It's boxed away upstairs apart from the speakers which unfortunately gave in years ago. RIP Bjorn.