Quad 3 Integrated Amplifier

QUAD 3: Classic Design Meets Cutting-Edge Technology

The QUAD 3 integrated amplifier beautifully marries classic QUAD aesthetics with the premium build quality expected of a 2025 audio component. Designed by David McNeill, the visionary behind the acclaimed 33/303 aesthetic update, the QUAD 3 draws inspiration from both the 1967 33 preamp and the earlier 1959 22. Its design echoes the 22's fascia layout and contours, while adopting the 33's two-tone grey colour scheme—reimagined here as a striking matte silver contrasting with the dark grey enclosure. Flush-mounted rotary controls, a hallmark of both the 22 and 33, are present, and the iconic orange accent colour from the 33's 1960s design is subtly incorporated. This rich "classic QUAD DNA" led the company to designate the new integrated amplifier with the numeral '3', directly associating it with the revered 33/303.

Modern Connectivity and Advanced Features

While its exterior pays homage to the past, the QUAD 3 is an entirely new design in terms of its circuitry and features. Unlike the 2024-edition 33 preamp, which remained analog-only, the new integrated amplifier boasts a built-in DAC, allowing for seamless connection to digital sources. Its comprehensive input array includes HDMI, USB, and Bluetooth, making it an all-inclusive solution for today's diverse audio landscape. The inclusion of a high-quality phono stage and a dedicated headphone amplifier further solidifies the QUAD 3 as a versatile integrated amp for 2025 and beyond, all within a compact 30cm wide chassis.

A Fusion of Classic and Contemporary Control

The QUAD 3 is like a classic sports car with a modern EV powertrain—an enticing blend of traditional British audio engineering and cutting-edge technology. The familiar row of flush-mounted rotary controls, reminiscent of the 1960s, are now digital encoders. These precisely manage source selection, bass, balance, and the innovative 'tilt' adjustment.

The 'tilt' control, conceived by QUAD founder Peter Walker and introduced in 1982, offers a more refined approach to tonal balance than traditional bass and treble controls. Walker believed conventional tone controls were too crude. The tilt function subtly adjusts both ends of the frequency spectrum simultaneously, either attenuating bass and lifting treble, or vice-versa, in 1dB steps. It essentially "tilts" the entire audible frequency range around a 650Hz axis, providing subtle "warm" or "cool" tonal adjustments without affecting volume or introducing coloration.

This 'tilt' control works in conjunction with independent bass adjustment, offering precise tailoring from -3dB to +3dB. These nuanced and consistent methods of tonal shaping are incredibly useful for optimizing sound from various sources, from streaming services and vinyl to high-resolution digital files. They also enable fine-tuning the sound to suit different acoustic environments and, of course, personal preference.

Crucially, while these rotary encoders provide the precision of digital control, they operate entirely in the analog domain, avoiding Digital Signal Processing (DSP). These are classic QUAD features, respectfully updated and authentically engineered. A larger rotary control for the analog volume stage, encircled with LEDs indicating the current level, completes the control layout.

Adding to the QUAD 3's modern-retro appeal is the long, thin LCD display beneath the rotary controls. Its orange backlight, which can be dimmed or switched off, cleverly echoes the orange-coloured strip found on the original 33 preamp. The digital watch or pocket calculator font style of the display further enhances its distinctive modern-retro aesthetic.

Ready for a Modern Sonic Menu: From Vinyl to Hi-Res Digital to TV

Designed to be the core of a high-performance, multi-source audio system, the QUAD 3 offers a comprehensive suite of inputs.

For digital sources, a USB Type B port handles hi-res audio at the highest specifications, complemented by two S/PDIF inputs (coaxial and optical).

QUAD has also integrated an HDMI ARC port (compliant with HDMI 2.1/eARC) for seamless AV system integration. This allows for a single HDMI cable connection to your TV, providing the convenience of controlling the amp's power and volume via your TV remote. This means your TV and all connected devices, from streaming boxes to gaming consoles, benefit from a significant sonic upgrade far superior to any soundbar.

For convenient wireless streaming from smartphones and tablets, High-Performance Bluetooth is included, supporting multiple codecs like aptX HD and compliant with Bluetooth 5.1 for optimal range and speed.

Analog enthusiasts are catered for with two line-level stereo RCA inputs and a dedicated input for a turntable. The amp's built-in phono stage is an ultra-low-noise FET-based design, perfectly matched for MM cartridges. Surpassing many phono stages found in integrated amplifiers, it extracts all the detail from vinyl grooves with engaging clarity and verve.

Exceptional Headphone Output

A 6.35mm headphone output is discreetly located alongside the remote control's IR sensor, cleverly underslung beneath the main chassis to maintain the fascia's clean appearance. This output is driven by a dedicated headphone amplifier featuring a current-feedback design and high slew rate, ensuring dynamic and detailed performance with all types of headphones. Unlike the often rudimentary headphone outputs found in many integrated hi-fi amplifiers, the QUAD 3 ensures your headphones receive a level of performance akin to its quality when driving loudspeakers.

The amp's extensive connectivity is rounded out by a stereo pre-out, gold-plated speaker binding posts, a USB-A port for firmware updates, and a 12V trigger input/output for system synchronization.

The QUAD 3's Advanced "Digital Engine"

The QUAD 3's DAC stage is built around the ES9038Q2M, a high-specification DAC chip from the 32-bit Sabre series. This is supported by additional circuitry that maximizes the benefits of ESS Technology’s HyperStream II architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, resulting in ultra-low noise and a high dynamic range.

Proprietary clock and power supply circuitry further elevate the DAC's performance, alongside a Class A post-DAC active filter - critical for the QUAD 3's superior sound quality with digital sources. It offers state-of-the-art hi-res support, handling PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD up to 22.5792MHz (DSD512) via USB. Full MQA decoding is included, and the QUAD 3 is certified as 'Roon Tested' for seamless integration into a Roon audio environment.

Listeners have the option to upsample digital audio data to 352.8kHz or 384kHz, while five DAC reconstruction filter settings allow for sonic adjustment to suit the source material—particularly useful given the varying quality of digital formats and streaming platforms. Regardless of whether it's connected via USB, HDMI, S/PDIF, or Bluetooth, every digital source benefits from the outstanding quality of the QUAD 3’s "digital engine."

High-Performance Analog Circuitry

The QUAD 3’s amplification and power supply circuits are crucial to its engaging blend of musical energy and finesse. QUAD’s engineering team has created a clean-sheet design to deliver class-leading performance. Significant effort has been invested in the internal layout, fully utilising the available space to preserve the integrity of the signal path and ensure sensitive circuitry remains free from interference.

The discrete Class AB output stage incorporates a CFB (Complementary Feedback) topology, ensuring superior linearity and excellent thermal stability by keeping the idle current independent of the output transistor temperature. This stage is powered by a 235VA ultra-low-noise toroidal transformer and delivers 65W per channel into 8 ohms (100W per channel into 4 ohms).

The preamp section is kept as simple as possible to maintain signal purity, with line input signals passing through a precision analog volume stage. Independent low-noise power supplies are provided for each critical stage, optimizing performance and contributing to the amp’s detailed, expansive, and expressive sound quality.

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UK Orders

We despatch the bulk of our UK mainland items on a 24 hour service – Free of Charge. Non Mainland locations - Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, the Scilly Isles, the Scottish highlands and Islands, the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland may take a day or so longer and are not Free of Charge. Smaller items are delivered using Royal Mail 24 or special delivery. Larger items are delivered using a courier service such as DPD or UPS.

International Orders

Due to the nature of our products and brand restrictions we are only able to send certain items internationally. Smaller items are delivered using Royal Mail Small Packets Airmail with International Tracked and/or Signed depending on value of item and availability of the service. Larger International shipments are sent by insured and tracked services using UPS. If there are any delays due to specific customs regulations, etc, you will be contacted by Hifisound or by the courier with a request for any further information required. Customs duties can apply for shipments to any countries outside of the UK depending on where the product you have bought is made. Customers are responsible for all taxes and duties incurred when the items enter their country.

Collect in Store or Home Install

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