There is no doubt that veteran British firm Specialized in Audio Quad, acronym for “Quality Unit Amplifier Domestic”you can show a particularly distinguished story. It is supported by a trajectory of Excellence and innovation continued that dates back to 1936, the year of its foundation for the charismatic Peter Walker, in which realizations such as valve amplifier stand out Quad IImarketed in 1953, and the first “Full Range” electrostatic acoustic screen, the legendary ESL 57who saw the light three years later. Two other mythical references of the brand in the field of sterephony, the Preamplifier 33 and the Transistor stage 303, They return strongly in a fresh and revitalized format 57 years after the market is launched for the first time. And they do it for a very clear reason: delight a new generation of music lovers who are looking for a touch Retro in the high flight audio components. Presented in society last May during the Munich High End contest, the two quad powerfully reimaginated two electronic that They redefined expectations On a technology that at the time was in its dawn, the “solid state” or solid state. In parallel, they contribute a drastic change in the formal fieldby proposing the preamplification and amplification of power in independent blocks endowed in addition to a very personal aesthetic that honors that of the original references. Posts ready in the United Kingdom by a team of First level professionals Directed by Jan Ertner (surgeital topology), David McNeill (industrial design) and Robert Flain and Paul McConville (the most experienced post -sales service engineers in Quad), the renewed 33 and 303 shine through the vibrant and respectful updating of which They have been subject.
In the case of the first, it continues to be a radically “analog” preampler, and therefore without internal DAC, although its functionalities have been modified to adapt to contemporary demands. The vinyl filters have been suppressed, while the dials for serious, acute and pending cut (“only”) have been replaced by Graves controls, “Tilt” (A sophisticated scheme of correction of the tonal curve placed by Peter Walker in 1982 for preamplifier 34 that simultaneously adjusts the two ends of the audio spectrum) and balance. Connectivity has also evolved, having replaced the DIN input and output connectors of the original model by a mixture of Tomas Rca and XLR, having four line inputs and one of phonus (compatible mm and MC), to which two inputs for 12 V fire signal and a USB for software updates are added. As regards the circuitry, we must highlight its fidelity to conception of the 33rd of 1967, revolutionary at the time, while recognizing the substantially upper quality of current electronic devices compared to those available in the 60s. The renovated 33 is completed with a headphones amplifier Dedicated with current and high feedback topology “SLEW RATE”, which guarantees a Dynamics and an outstanding analysis capacity whatever the helmets used.
Going to the 303 stageit is worth underline in the first place that that of 1967 continues to enjoy the admiration of HI-FI enthusiasts and recording engineers for three reasons: its Exceptional reliabilitythe Flexibility of installation allowed by its compact dimensions and its sweet, although energetic and richly detailed, sound. These attributes are equally valid in a modern context, incorporating technologies and technologies in that electronic sensational and resulting in the brand new 303. In line with this philosophy, the Revolutionary Circuit Innovation developed by the founder of Quad, the triple departure stage, in the heart of the amplifier, having added Tickets with RCA and XLR connectors. Updated with the best components available and preserving the operation in class AB, the novelty “Triple symmetric” scheme From 303 it is faithful to the original, materializing in a completely balanced output stage and causing the resting current to be independent of the temperature of power transistors. Also, the distortion is reduced to minimum Without sacrificing stability, maintaining these benefits whatever the dynamic conditions. To this we must add a sensitive increase in output power (2×50 W RMS over 8 ohms or 2×70 w rms over 4 ohms) accompanied by a remarkable increase in current delivery capacity, thanks the use of a Toroidal Food Transformer of low noise of 200 va, finishing the whole with the Possibility of monkey configuration To use two 303 in a system that requires additional watts (140 W RMS over 8 ohms).
