I’ve read several positive reviews about Quad’s revision of the classic amp has anyone here heard it.
I’ve always loved the amps styling and am curious.
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Been following this new product from first reveal, a while back. Apparently available to order very soon, from Quad dealers.
Having owned Quad pieces in the late 70’s, have a soft spot for earlier Quad amps and industrial design. So, I’m genuinely intrigued.
The retro styling looks great 
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I had the original 33/303 and FM3 back in 1982. I loved it until I heard the Nait. That started my journey down the wallet emptying HiFi road.
Andy
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Is this a response to Naim’s (fairly successful, AFAICT) release of the Nait 50? Good luck to them - gotta love a bit of retro styling.
Mark
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Very much on my radar too, I’m a bit of a closet Quad fan from the days of my Dads Quad 11’s and ESL 57’s which I still have stored. I think they really missed a trick though in not bringing out a streamer / DAC in the design of the FM3, Quad don’t really have any digital sources that are not built in to an Integrated or Pre so they’ve left themselves a big gap.
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I’ve always thought that the 33 and 303 look great. How they sound I’ve no idea, but the 405 I heard back in the ‘70s was bloody awful, the most boring amplifier I’ve ever heard. The whole retro styling is interesting and I’m unsure if it’s a good idea. It looks cute but can a company live on past glories?
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I don’t think there’s any relationship between 303 and the current dumping 405 other than the manufacturer .
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I don’t think Quad today’s is what he was till the end of the 90’s. The same for Mark Levinson or other iconic brands.
@davidhendon knows well the brand, from memory.
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Accoustica were demonstrating at NW Audio Show - I think it was this kit. Acoustica, sadly, seem to prefer exposure (not the brand) to engaging demonstrations but others may disagree. The kit does look nice but not as nice as the classic Quad amps.
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From what I’ve been reading the amps have been updated internally and though they have a similar philosophy they have been updated and modernised so I wouldn’t expect them to sound the same as the originals.
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I could discuss Quad at length from the valve equipment all the way to the 99 series, most of which I owned. The 405 is of course totally different from the 303 and much more capable. The 405 has been developed and tweaked since it was first introduced and the “Artera Stereo” power amplifier is I think still the latest incarnation of the original 405.
I have both a recent Quad Artera Stereo power amplifier and a NAP 250DR both of which I bought new and to be honest I prefer the sound of the Quad to the Naim, even though the Quad price was half the price of the Naim. I did compare a Quad 606 with the Artera Stereo and I’m couldn’t really detect any real difference, but the 909 which fell about half way between them didn’t strike me as that good and I sold it on. The 405 is in the loft currently, along with a 44 preamp abd the afore-mentioned 606. I haven’t got round to connecting any of it up since I had the 405 serviced by Quad about 10 years ago.
Apart from the Artera Stereo power amp, I don’t know the current Quad models at all, so can’t comment on how they sound.
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I had plans to build my pwn 405 clone, following publication of the circuit in Wireless World back when it first came out in 1970s, but with a difference - I was planning water cooling. The output transistors were unavailable anywhere that I tried in Britain (this was long before common ownership of computers let alone internet), but a letter (snail mail!) to the semiconductor manufacturer in Japan brought success - and better than I bargained for, as a few weeks later four transistors arrived, and no demand for payment! I designed a PCB, though of course I had no idea of the original component amd amp layout - but I never did get around to doing. However I do still have the transistors!!
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For clarity, there was no attempt to create any relationship.
The comment was more a warm nostalgic thought to share.
That is, I’m fond of earlier Quad amplifiers
That simple.
Wishing you luck with your 405 clone project.
Best wishes
R
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I had the Artera pre amp with the QSP power amp which was an excellent amp.
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Yes, I think the QSP and the Artera Stereo are basically the same excellent power amplifier, but in different boxes.
It seems a shame that this revisited ‘great British icon’ is made in China. But then, Naim’s excellent muso is also made there. It’s economics, but it’s rather sad.
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I had the 33/303? and every naim since has knocked spots off the quad… just dull by comparison to naim
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I remember reading about and desiring these original boxes for nearly a decade in the 1980s. Finally I was in a position to own them. I had a listen. So underwhelmed. Broke my heart but moved on to a brand we all know well.
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I have a real soft spot for the 33/303; it was my first ‘real’ hifi system and I had it for a fair few years before the power amp started to play up and I exchanged it for a Cyrus system.
I love Quad’s beautiful, elegant design, so unlike that of any other manufacturer; it’s almost Art-deco in appearance. Also the attractiveness of the small, non-standard cabinet design and the fact the power amp can be tucked away out of sight.
I guess I have a thing for small, shoebox sized, one box designs (as is the Cyrus, I had) and it’s this that initially attracted me to the Atom. I just don’t like piles of black or silver boxes in open shelving and untidy cabling scattered across the floor.
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