QUAD celebrates its 90th anniversary with the QUAD 90 Collection: a satin black finish with green displays and illumination for the QUAD 3 series and the QUAD 33 preamplifier. Unlike most anniversary models, the QUAD 90 Collection is not a limited run. The British brand adds it as a permanent option alongside the classic grey finish, with the same engineering inside.
QUAD 90 Collection: four components in satin black
The QUAD 90 Collection covers four products, and QUAD lists a fifth, the WS3, as coming soon:
- QUAD 33: analogue preamplifier, first introduced in 1967
- QUAD 303: stereo power amplifier
- QUAD 3: integrated amplifier with built-in DAC
- QUAD 3CDT: CD transport
The satin black fascias and green displays give the components a darker, more contemporary look than the familiar grey. Anyone who knows the story of founder Peter Walker will recognise the respect for the brand’s past in these designs; read more in our Industry Icons portrait of Peter Walker.
QUAD 33 and QUAD 303
The QUAD 33 preamplifier keeps a fully analogue signal path, with balanced XLR connectivity and a switchable moving magnet/moving coil phono stage. It offers QUAD Tilt and bass controls, dedicated headphone amplification, a precision-machined fascia and an informative display.
Its partner, the QUAD 303, is a stereo power amplifier with a fully complementary Class AB output stage. It delivers 50 W per channel into 8 ohms and 70 W into 4 ohms from a 200 VA toroidal transformer, with balanced XLR and RCA inputs and green standby illumination. Two 303s can run in bridged mono, delivering 140 W into 8 ohms each.
QUAD 3 and QUAD 3CDT
The QUAD 3 integrated amplifier combines 65 W per channel into 8 ohms in Class AB with an ESS ES9038Q2M DAC. It has USB, optical and coaxial digital inputs, HDMI ARC for TV sound, Bluetooth, two analogue line inputs and a moving magnet phono stage, plus QUAD Tilt, bass adjustment and a headphone amplifier.
The QUAD 3CDT is the matching CD transport, with a precision mechanism with servo control, separated power supplies and a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator. It sends its signal via coaxial or optical outputs to the DAC in the QUAD 3 or another compatible DAC, and plays CD, CD-R and CD-RW, including data discs with FLAC, WAV, WMA, MP3 and APE files. In the QUAD 90 Collection it also gets a green display.
Pricing and availability
The QUAD 90 Collection is a permanent addition to the range. QUAD has not yet listed prices for the satin black versions on its website; dealers and distributors can be found via the QUAD website, where demos can also be booked.
Key specifications
- Finish: satin black with green displays and illumination (permanent option next to grey)
- QUAD 33: analogue preamplifier, XLR, MM/MC phono, QUAD Tilt, headphone amp
- QUAD 303: Class AB stereo power amp, 50 W (8 ohms) / 70 W (4 ohms), 200 VA toroidal transformer, bridgeable to 140 W
- QUAD 3: Class AB integrated, 65 W (8 ohms), ESS ES9038Q2M DAC, USB, optical, coaxial, HDMI ARC, Bluetooth, MM phono
- QUAD 3CDT: CD transport, coaxial and optical outputs, CD/CD-R/CD-RW and data discs
- Coming soon: QUAD WS3
- Price: not yet announced
