![]() A decent array of affordable functional speakers well under the price cap and all of them performed admirably. Speakers: ELAC Debut B6, KEF Q100, Q Acoustics 3020, and Pioneer SP-BS22-LR. Like any proper sommelier it’s my duty to work out the pairings, so with respect to price, not function, and the focus being on a starter system, I paired the system with kit that I have at home costing no more than $500 per component. In order to position it as the heart of a starter system, I first had to come to grips with the fact that it is an integrated amplifier, a DAC, and a phono stage all in one, with a SUB OUT thrown in for good measure. And, while taken on the whole, it is a tall order, the Sprout 100, much like Jeopardy in reverse, is the answer to all the questions. The above is pretty much an aggregate of what those starting out on the Hi-Fi journey toss my way. Am taking that to mean you want for it to be relatively inexpensive and made to last? Is there anything else? You want it to be an investment in your future. You want to be admired and respected by your circle of friends for your gear. You’re not sure if you’re going to stick with records and want the flexibility of digital. You move a lot and it has to be transportable. ‘So, you want something versatile? You want something which you can build a system around? OK, oh there’s more. ![]() That all this comes in one box which I would liken to the size of an early model Apple Mac Mini is hard to believe, and I’m sitting right in front of the unit. Universal Power Supply (for those who like to TRAVEL!).Volume Controls – continuous activation.Remote control (controls sparse yet functional and the unit itself surprisingly magnetic).USB supports up to 24/384 PCM and DSD 128.Output power 2 x 50 watts 8 ohms, 2 x 100 watts 4 ohms.Specifications (file this on what doesn’t the Sprout 100 do?) Normally, specifications find themselves at the end of a piece, but the Sprout100 is nothing short of extraordinary for the price. How one judges PS Audio’s latest incarnation is a matter of perspective, so I’m going to look at it as the core of 3 systems: starter, office, and travel. It poses a headscratcher of a question itself: What does it not do for $599? And as you can see from the specs listed below, not much is the answer. The Sprout100 ticks all the boxes and then some. Will travel well nationally and internationally. ![]() Can make their office/secondary solution.Can be proud of around their friends and audiophiles (I have to chuckle that the two seem to be mutually exclusive).And, what they have all in common is their particular criteria that it be something they: I cannot tell you the number of times aspiring audiophiles and existing ones who share my penchant for travel ask me online and in person to make recommendations for them. Don't let these petty criticisms stop you from buying it if the features fit your needs.If PS Audio’s Sprout100 has all the answers, you can just imagine the questions. My main point is that the D3020 is very user friendly and easy to live with. It is a bit quirky until you learn where it wants to be touched. In fairness, sometimes I have to press the power button a second time, but so what? We're talking maybe half a second to press it again. Same goes for the interface, which is really just the power button and input switch on the unit itself. But please don't let it stop you from buying this great amp. Could NAD have added some white? Of course. You'll have their locations memorized in no time and you'll have no need to even look at the remote. But the buttons are few and nicely spaced out. The remote is black on black, and yes it it hard to see the buttons. I've commented previously on his site and others about how these criticisms are overblown, but here I go gain. The reason? Because such criticism actually kept me from buying this wonderful little amplifier for months, until I finally bought it because it was exactly what I was looking for. I've owned the D3020 for almost two months now and I am particularly sensitive to criticism of its remote and interface.
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