NAD 3020 as separate phono stage

Dear All

I experimented with several separate phono stages, yesterday my bro took his NAD 3020 to my place. Just for fun, we took the signal out from the tape output to feed the line stage of my Audio Research SP9 Mk II

... I was shocked! The sound of my loved Shure V15 was too good to believe. Although I missed some of the fresh touch of the SP9 in the mids/highs, although the overall presentation is not as clean as from the SP9, the energy and realism of the NAD output is quite something.

I decided I want to experiment a bit further. So I'd like to modify the signal path to avoid the tape loop. I want to put a pair of RCA connectors on the back and take the phono output from an optimal location in the circuit.

I wonder whether this has been tried before. Any experience to share?
 
This phono stage has an unbuffered RC low pass filter at its output, loaded by the 50k volume control.
Try to duplicate this loading when taking the phono signal from the output side of C422. Just deselect
the phono on the front panel, and its output will be disconnected from the rest of the following circuitry.
As it happens, the two ARC 100k balance and volume controls (in parallel) will load the phono stage
correctly when phono is deselected on the NAD.
 
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Hi thanks!

This phono stage has an unbuffered RC low pass filter at its output, loaded by the 50k volume control.
Try to duplicate this loading when taking the phono signal from the output side of C422. Just deselect ...

let me see if I understood it correctly (I am not too much into active circuits):

(A) I take the phono signal on the output side of C422

(B) then, before the RCA outuput plugs (that I will add on the back) I load the previous signal with 50K.

What kind of resistor do you suggest for (B)?
 
Hey! the NAD phono is something I wanted to adopt too. I took the design and made some simulations and tweaked up the output driver and made a pcb for it. I didn’t have a chance to build it yet. If anybody wants a stand alone pcb for it I have spares. I included a dual rail shunt regulator on the board too. I looked at several NAD integrated amps as there were a few variations. I ended up taking the best from what I understand. I really must build it as I currently have no phono and vinyl sitting in wrappers.

TGMC - a modular control pre-amplifier
 

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(A) I take the phono signal on the output side of C422
(B) then, before the RCA output plugs (that I will add on the back) I load the previous signal with 50K.

1) Yes, along with a ground wire. Twist them together.
2) No need for a resistor, the ARC will load the NAD properly by itself.
Just remember to "deselect" the phono function on the NAD's front panel.
 
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