Quad Artera Stereo

Quad Artera Stereo

The Quad Artera Stereo is a 140-watt stereo power amplifier built around Quad's patented Current Dumping topology — a circuit architecture that has defined the company's approach to amplification since its original development, and one that remains as technically distinctive today as it was when Quad first introduced it. In a market where most power amplifiers choose between Class A purity and Class AB efficiency, Current Dumping refuses the compromise: it takes the sonic integrity of Class A and combines it with the headroom and practicality of a high-power output stage, linked by a precision combining network that Quad have refined across decades of continuous development.

Current Dumping — Quad's Patented Topology

Current Dumping is not a marketing description of a conventional circuit — it is a specific, patented amplifier architecture that Quad developed and that no other manufacturer replicates in the same way. The principle is straightforward in concept: a high-quality, low-power Class A amplifier handles the signal with the precision and linearity that Class A is known for, while a separate high-power current dumping section provides the output capability that Class A alone cannot sustain efficiently. The two are combined via a precision network — not a simple summing stage, but a carefully engineered bridge that maintains the quality of the Class A signal while the current dumping section delivers the power the loudspeaker demands.

The result is an amplifier that does not have to choose between running hot and running out of headroom. At 140 watts per channel into 8 ohms, and 250 watts into 4 ohms, the Artera Stereo has the output to drive demanding loudspeakers with authority — but the character of the Current Dumping topology means that authority is available without the coarseness that high-power Class AB designs can exhibit at lower listening levels.

Connectivity

The Artera Stereo accepts both single-ended RCA and balanced XLR inputs, making it a natural partner for a wide range of preamplifiers. A 12-volt trigger input allows integration into a system where components are powered in sequence from a control source — a practical convenience in a system where the Artera Stereo sits alongside a dedicated preamplifier such as the Quad Artera Pre. Speaker terminals are high-quality binding posts suited to spade, banana, or bare wire connections.

Finish Options

The Artera Stereo is available in three finishes: Aluminium Black, Aluminium Silver, and Classique Gold — the last a nod to Quad's heritage aesthetic that sits particularly well alongside the valve amplifiers in the Quad QII range.

Who Is It For?

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. You can hear the Quad Artera Stereo at our Norwich showroom, partnered with Quad sources and loudspeakers that show what the Current Dumping topology is genuinely capable of. When you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris, and our Product Links specialists — experienced specialists who can advise on this amplifier and your whole 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.

Technical Specifications