QUAD 3 Integrated Amplifier

The QUAD 3 Integrated Amplifier is an entirely new design — not a reissue, not a recreation, but a thoroughly modern integrated amplifier that draws its visual language directly from one of the most celebrated silhouettes in British hi-fi history and wraps around it a specification of extraordinary completeness and ambition. The flush-mounted rotary controls, the orange-backlit LCD strip, the matt silver fascia and dark grey enclosure all nod directly to the iconic QUAD 22 and 33 preamplifiers whose aesthetic David McNeill, the QUAD 3's industrial designer, has so carefully and reverentially honoured. The QUAD 3 sets a new standard for what a single integrated amplifier at this price can offer: a high-quality DAC, a proper phono stage, HDMI ARC connectivity for television audio, and Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD — all housed in a chassis measuring just 300mm wide, and all executed with the engineering precision and circuit integrity that QUAD's reputation demands.

Amplification

The output stage is Class AB using Complementary Feedback topology — delivering 65 watts per channel into 8Ω and 100 watts per channel into 4Ω, equipping the QUAD 3 to drive the full range of contemporary loudspeakers with authority and composure. A 235VA ultra-low-noise toroidal transformer anchors the power supply, supported by 30,000µF of reservoir capacitance, with independent regulated supplies for each critical stage. Total harmonic distortion at 1kHz and 30W into 8Ω is below 0.003% — a figure that provides the foundation for a musical transparency and low-level resolution of the highest order.

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 fine-tuning of the digital presentation to suit individual system character and listener preference. Digital inputs cover USB Type B, HDMI ARC (2.1/eARC), and two S/PDIF inputs — one optical, one coaxial. The HDMI ARC connection routes television audio through the QUAD 3 with a single cable, controllable via the TV remote. Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD handles wireless streaming with a resolution and low latency that the vast majority of Bluetooth implementations cannot approach.

Phono Stage and Analogue Inputs

The MM phono stage employs FET-based circuitry for ultra-low noise — a phono input of genuine quality that eliminates the need for a separate phono stage in the vast majority of turntable configurations, recovering the finest detail from vinyl with a resolution and silence that dedicated external units at this price rarely match. Two additional line-level RCA inputs accommodate further analogue sources.

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 — a tonal adjustment of extraordinary musical coherence that warms or cools the overall balance without the artificial quality and phase disruption that conventional tone controls invariably introduce. An independent bass control offers ±3dB of further 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 employs a dedicated current-feedback amplifier stage. A stereo pre-out accommodates the addition of a power amplifier or active subwoofer, and a 12V trigger output provides system automation.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The QUAD 3 is for the listener who wants a genuinely complete integrated amplifier — one that handles vinyl, digital streaming, television audio and Bluetooth from a single compact chassis without compromise in any direction. It is equally at home anchoring a dedicated hi-fi system around a turntable and a high-resolution digital source, or serving as the sonic centrepiece of a living room in which the television, a streaming device and a record player all demand a single, authoritative amplification solution. At its price, the QUAD 3 is without peer for the breadth and quality of what it offers — a component of extraordinary value and genuine musical distinction.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind. 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. Speak to Dave or Chris, who will be happy to discuss the best system match for your needs. The Quad Artera Stereo and Quad Revela 1 loudspeaker make outstanding partners for those wishing to hear the QUAD 3 as part of a wider Quad system.

Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.