QUAD 3 Integrated Amplifier

A brand-new integrated amplifier built around QUAD's 1960s design language — with a DAC, phono stage, HDMI ARC and Bluetooth already on board.

The QUAD 3 is an entirely new design, not a reissue. It takes its visual cues from the iconic QUAD 22 and 33 preamplifiers — the flush-mounted rotary controls, the orange accent lighting, the compact horizontal format — and wraps thoroughly modern electronics inside. The industrial design is by David McNeill, who was responsible for the acclaimed aesthetic update of the 33/303. The matt silver fascia, dark grey enclosure, and orange-backlit LCD strip nod directly to the original 33.

At £1,249, very few amplifiers at this price include a high-quality DAC, a proper phono stage, HDMI ARC for TV connection, and Bluetooth — let alone all four in a chassis measuring just 300mm wide. Reviewers have been unusually positive: one described it as forgiving without being sloppy, expressive without being soft, and awarded it an Editors' Choice without hesitation.

Amplification

The output stage is Class AB using Complementary Feedback topology, delivering 65W per channel into 8Ω and 100W into 4Ω. A 235VA ultra-low-noise toroidal transformer feeds the amplifier, supported by a 30,000µF reservoir, with independent regulated power supplies for each critical stage. THD at 1kHz and 30W into 8Ω is below 0.003%. It will drive most floorstanding or standmount speakers without difficulty.

DAC and Digital Inputs

The DAC is an ESS ES9038Q2M from the 32-bit Sabre series, handling PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512, with full MQA decoding and Roon Tested certification. A Class A post-DAC active filter handles the analogue output stage. Five user-selectable digital filters and optional upsampling to 352.8kHz or 384kHz allow further fine-tuning. Digital inputs cover USB Type B, HDMI ARC (2.1/eARC), and two S/PDIF inputs — one optical, one coaxial. The HDMI ARC connection lets you route your television's audio through the QUAD 3 with a single cable, controllable via your TV remote. Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD handles wireless streaming from a phone or tablet.

Phono Stage and Analogue Inputs

The MM phono stage uses FET-based circuitry for ultra-low noise. Two additional line-level RCA inputs handle other analogue sources. If you're building a system around a turntable, the QUAD 3 handles vinyl without needing a separate phono stage.

The Tilt Control

Peter Walker's Tilt control rotates the entire frequency response around a 700Hz pivot point in 1dB steps rather than adjusting bass and treble independently. It's a more musically coherent approach to tonal adjustment — warming or cooling the sound without the artificial quality that conventional tone controls tend to introduce. An independent bass control offers ±3dB of adjustment. The master volume is a precision motorised potentiometer that rotates physically when adjusted via the remote.

Outputs

Speaker outputs use gold-plated binding posts. A 6.35mm headphone output uses a dedicated current-feedback amplifier stage. There's a stereo pre-out for adding a power amplifier or active subwoofer, and a 12V trigger for system automation.

Specifications

Why Buy from Martins Hi-Fi?

We've been selling hi-fi in Norwich since 1968. The QUAD 3 is in stock and available for demonstration at our showroom — bring your own music and hear it paired with speakers to suit your budget and room. We cover Norfolk, Suffolk, and East Anglia, and can arrange home demonstration for customers who'd prefer to hear it in their own space.

Arrange a Demonstration

85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY
Phone: 01603 627010
Email: info@martinshifi.co.uk
WhatsApp: 07554 687137
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