Further information

The external design of the QUAD 33 Pre-Amplifier retains the brand’s characteristic simplicity, but now integrates modern features such as a backlit display, LED illumination, and remote control functionality. The premium machined and anodised front panel, along with an all-metal chassis, enhances its modern look while remaining unmistakably QUAD. Despite its updated digital control system, the QUAD 33 stays true to its analogue roots, reflecting a balance between tradition and technological advancements.

MM/MC Cartridge Compatibility

The QUAD 33 offers improved connectivity with fully balanced XLR inputs and outputs, setting it apart from its predecessors. The new phono stage is compatible with both Moving Magnet and Moving Coil cartridges, allowing seamless switching between the two. The input stage is designed for ultra-low noise performance, using advanced audio op-amps, and includes a high-performance RIAA processing circuit for exceptional sound quality, even during demanding output swings.

Control

The controls of the new QUAD 33 echo the simplicity of the original, with logically grouped functions that are easy to navigate. A backlit LCD screen displays settings and input selections, while motorised volume controls offer both tactile precision and remote adjustment. The addition of bass, tilt, and balance controls allows for fine-tuning of sound without compromising the integrity of the audio. The unique Tilt control, developed by QUAD’s founder Peter Walker, enables precise tonal adjustments by modifying both ends of the frequency spectrum in unison.

Performance and Build Quality

With over 50 years of advancements since the original release, the new QUAD 33 incorporates cutting-edge technology without straying from the brand’s core principles. A custom toroidal transformer, multiple capacitors, and regulators contribute to its superior performance. The robust and aesthetically refined design reflects QUAD’s commitment to both form and function. Built to last, the QUAD 33 maintains signal purity through a direct, short signal path, ensuring high-fidelity audio reproduction while adhering to QUAD’s tradition of ‘the closest approach to the original sound.’

QUAD’s Legacy and Modern Excellence

By revisiting the QUAD 33 and 303 components, QUAD reaffirms its longstanding legacy in the British hi-fi industry, blending authenticity, pedigree, and innovation. This new iteration pays homage to QUAD’s past while showcasing its excellence in modern audio engineering. The QUAD team involved in this project possesses nearly 200 years of combined engineering experience and over 100 years dedicated to QUAD’s unique designs and service, further reinforcing the brand’s enduring commitment to quality.

The Team Behind the Innovation

The development of the new QUAD 33 and 303 was overseen by a team of experts, including Rob Flain and Paul McConville, two of the most experienced QUAD service engineers. Jan Ertner, with three decades of QUAD design expertise, Peter Comeau, the mastermind behind some of QUAD’s most successful loudspeakers, and David McNeill, who has been at the forefront of QUAD’s innovations for two decades, all played key roles. Together, they ensured that the new products could uphold the legacy of the iconic 33 and 303.

Quad 303 Power Amplifier (2024)

• Completely re-engineered with modern design, surpassing the original while retaining its reliability.
• Uses QUAD’s ‘symmetrical triples’ for ultra-low distortion and stability, ensuring near-perfect audio clarity.
• Features a fully complementary output stage with premium transistors for better performance under tough conditions.
• Equipped with a custom toroidal transformer, delivering 50W @ 8 ohms to handle demanding speakers with ease.

Evolution of the QUAD 303

Every aspect of the QUAD 303 Power Amplifier has been re-engineered beyond a simple update of components. Originally designed for domestic use, it also became a favourite in broadcasting and recording studios for its reliability. The new model surpasses the original’s standards while maintaining its ethos, with modern design and functionality that reflect its enduring appeal, even earning a place at the Museum of Modern Art.

Technological Advancements

The QUAD 303 stays faithful to its roots with QUAD’s ‘symmetrical triples’, ensuring low distortion and stable performance under dynamic conditions. This advancement means distortion levels are now almost negligible, far below what is detectable by the human ear. The ‘triples’ design also protects the output transistors, enhancing reliability without complex circuitry.

Complementary Output Stage

Unlike the original’s quasi-complementary stage, the new QUAD 303 employs a fully complementary output stage, using premium transistors for better linearity and stability under challenging conditions. With this, the amplifier handles overdriven or disconnected speaker scenarios effortlessly, maintaining excellent sound quality and reliability.

Modern Features and Power Output

The new QUAD 303 incorporates a custom low-noise toroidal transformer and advanced feedback topology for thermal stability and dynamic power delivery. Rated at 50W @ 8 ohms, it handles modern audiophile demands and drives even the most challenging speakers with ease. The amplifier’s design remains iconic, with durable materials and rugged construction that offer both style and substance.

QUAD’s Legacy and Modern Excellence

By revisiting the QUAD 33 and 303 components, QUAD reaffirms its longstanding legacy in the British hi-fi industry, blending authenticity, pedigree, and innovation. This new iteration pays homage to QUAD’s past while showcasing its excellence in modern audio engineering. The QUAD team involved in this project possesses nearly 200 years of combined engineering experience and over 100 years dedicated to QUAD’s unique designs and service, further reinforcing the brand’s enduring commitment to quality.

The Team Behind the Innovation

The development of the new QUAD 33 and 303 was overseen by a team of experts, including Rob Flain and Paul McConville, two of the most experienced QUAD service engineers. Jan Ertner, with three decades of QUAD design expertise, Peter Comeau, the mastermind behind some of QUAD’s most successful loudspeakers, and David McNeill, who has been at the forefront of QUAD’s innovations for two decades, all played key roles. Together, they ensured that the new products could uphold the legacy of the iconic 33 and 303.

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Specification

Quad 33 (2024)

Quad 303 (2024)