QUAD 33 Preamplifier and QUAD 303 Power Amplifier – Back to the Future

British brand QUAD has announced the revival of its legendary QUAD 33 preamplifier and QUAD 303 power amplifier, originally made in 1967. These classic amps have been reimagined, offering a modern take on design.

The QUAD 33 preamplifier retains its compact size and unique appearance, with updated features to suit today’s audio systems. The new preamp now includes bass, tilt and balance controls, giving users the ability to fine-tune their sound. The tilt control simultaneously alters both ends of the frequency response graph, either cutting the bass and boosting the treble, or boosting the bass and cutting the treble, in 1dB steps. In effect, it tilts the graph around 700Hz, thereby adjusting the overall sonic balance to a warmer or cooler tone without changing the volume or adding colour to the sound.

The new QUAD 33 preamplifier features both single-ended RCA and balanced XLR analogue inputs. There is also a buid-in phonostahe, which works with both moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) cartridges. The output switching also allows for unbalanced and balanced connections. The QUAD 33 also has a headphone amplifier. Specifications of the 2024 QUAD 33 preamplifier:

The QUAD 303 stereo Class A/B power amplifier also uses proprietary “triples” output stages - an invention of QUAD founder Peter Walker, providing low distortion and high thermal stability. The new QUAD 303 power amplifier delivers up to 50 watts per channel when driving a 8 Ohm load and 70 Wt into a 4 Ohm load. The amplifier also supports bridged mode, which means it can deliver up to 140 Watts into an 8 Ohm load. Connection possibility - via both unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR inputs.

The 2024 versions of the QUAD 33 preamplifier and QUAD 303 power amplifier will be available in mid-November 2024 at recommended retail prices of €1,499 or $1,599 each.

Image from https://quad-hifi.co.uk/