As for the disproportionate number of 33 vs 303 sales, quad accounts for that by reminding us that the arrival of the 405 power amplifier preceded the arrival of a matching pre amp the 44 by. Quad 99 series preamplifier and 909 stereo power amplifier tas 203 equipment report. The quad 303 delivers good detail and great rhythmic drive combined with an almost valvelike fluid quality. These are the illustrated stepbystep guidelines for upgrading your quad 44 with the dada electronics upgrade kits. Read on to find out why so many people love these great amplifiers. The quad 44 preamp was the first quad preamplifier using opamps and electronic switches.
Quad 33 preamplifier new version the quad 33 preamplifier originates from the pre sixties and came into production in 1967. Used, quad 33 preamp cracking little amp, working well. Many quad folks say the 303 sounds better than a 405. If the price and condition are right, then i would go for it. Not sure if it is worth the costs as i have read that the 22 needs a lot of work and a better option would be to go for a modern preamp from other manufacturers. Make offer quad 405 and 4052 amplifier repair and update. This is essentially an fm tuner in an am3 case to match the 33 preamp, with an. Yet the bog standard quad 44 preamp was an audible upgrade from it when used with the mm module and a mc transformer via the tape recording outlet into a passive preamp. Whether you use a turntable, cd player or ipod as your main audio source, the upgrade will result in a big improvement in the audio output. By all accounts, the quad upgrades bring the amp upto modern standards.
Quad preamp for sale in uk 60 secondhand quad preamps. Incidentally, quad s instruction booklet for the 34 preamplifier makes a very good point about listening level, asserting that for a given recording there is only one correct volume setting. Sep 29, 2010 according to the original quad brochure written by ross walker the difference between the quad 34 and 44 is confined to the input facilities offered and choice between them should be determined by the system requirements so i would take that as a no difference in sonic terms. Step 1 modifying the powersupply from 11 to 16 volt increasing the powersupply voltage to 16v makes the preamp more stable. Refurbishing quad 405 power amplifier including upgrading to 4052 475.
The quad 33 preamplifier does not enjoy a continued respect and loyal support that its stablemate the quad 303 power amplifier enjoys. Quad ii with a 33 preamp how good is the vintage quad 22 preamp without spending silly money in upgrading the components for little gain in sound quality. Hello i have a vintage quad 33 preamp which i believe has some problems. So i run the 33 with stereo radio1 and cancel buttons pushed in. Graham nalty advised me, in the 1980s, to start modifying a better preamp instead of the quad 44. The newest versions of this quad 34, as seen here, used rca connectors and relabeled the aux input as cd. Later the 44 preamp came out with the famous tilt buttons and the legendary 405 power amp. The quad 405 had a current dumping and feedforward design more on that later and i wanted a small slice of the 405 in my own system.
Tdl quad 33 pre amp restoration and upgrade i finally have gotten around to upgrading and repairing this quad 33 preamplifier. Tone control switches are also exchanged for new types and mounted on a new pcb, including new electronic parts, also including 2 small plugin new preamp boards. I run a quad 44 late model 1989 edition the best of the 44 imho has both din and rca inputs on the rear and my amp is a 606 mk. Feb 01, 2011 if you can possibly afford to avoid buying an old quad preamp then please, please don t buy one. You can also get 77 technical support about upgrading the 33 via this email. Unfollow quad 33 preamp to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. However, time changes and the 33 is now regarded as plain junk, and the.
How good is the vintage quad 22 preamp without spending silly money in upgrading the components for little gain in sound quality. Quad 405 power amplifier, audiophile 100w pc british amp recently. I downloaded the circuit diagram of the 33 from a web site, and traced my signal path with a felt pen. The input circuits where built as separate modules, allowing for more versatility. I do not offer mods for the 33 pre amp as it is not good enough starting material. Characteristic detail is the famous tonefilter control, more or less copied from its predecessor. Reviewing a quad 33303 is a tricky business nowadays. I realize that you are asking about the earlier fm3 but i would imagine that the fm3 is like other quad components, a fine sounding tuner. Quad 33 preamplifier, quad 303 power amplifier hembrow. Bass depth, definition and overall naturalness are improved markedly. Not a whole lot to say about quad that hasnt already been saidtheyre good at what they do.
Two are fixed mother boards and five are slot in edge connected types. The other three, slot vertically into the two motherboards inside the 33. This quad 34 preamplifier was an early version before serial number 8000 without the input buffers fitted on the later models and the quad 44 but it had single tl071 opamps unlike the later versions which used some tl072 dual opamps. I have owned the 33, 303, 22, quad 2 tube amps, 4052power amps and 4 pair of quad electostatic speakers. For optimum results, always update the firmware when prompted by the software. Despite my fondness for the quad 33 303 combination i am resigned to replacing both with some kind of integrated receiver amplifier that will allow me to run my subwoofer seperately and at least 2 or 3 pairs of speakers in different rooms. The quad 33 selects and controls the radio tuners, gramophone pickup and tape recorder connected to it and feeds the loudspeakers via the power amplifier, providing for stereo, mono on either or both channels, from all inputs, plus monitoring and track selection facilities for tape. And, i still have my original fm3 tuner in its wood sleeve along with the 33 preamp the 33 is not hooked up to anything, but it looks nice in the sleeve.
Quad 33 transistor, for use with any of the solid state quad power amplifiers. Conventional wisdom across many fora is that the 33 was no good. This preamp has been with me since 1983 and if it were a dog it would have been gone a long time ago. Right now i have the the 303 and 11ls running with a chromecast audio streaming spotify. The quad 33 303 hifi amplifiers are classic designs. I have had a quad 303 with matching 33 and fm3 for well over 20 years judging by some of the equipment i have heard over the years, i think that when that sad day comes when the old quad finally goes to that great studio in the sky, i will have to dig very, very. In 2008 i took a quad 303 amplifier and 33 preamp as part exchange against some work on a quad405 which was to be modified with my dcdmod3 pcbs and with an input gain control for use in a studio the quad 303 i was told was originally from the bbc and was a 303a2 which was a bbc modified version for driving the ls38 loudspeaker and should have been fitted with an active crossover in a. Although quad 303 amp is still active and popular today, the matching quad 33 preamp sounds tired and outdated. Quad 303 amplifier modification to general purpose lab amp from 303 a2. The build quality is amazing and the din sockets are nice and compact when you get used to them.
It is ideally suitable for driving loudspeakers in the 416 ohm range and will provide an output of up to 45 watts per channel depending upon the load impedance. I dont recommend use of the 33 with a fully modded 303 as it. Ultimate amps for the ultimate loudspeaker nbc news. Most people seem to spend time and money upgrading their quad pre amps and still. Part ii upgrades to amplifier, disc, disc adapter and tape adapter boards, replace volume. Quad ii with a 33 preamp i have recently taken possession of a pair of quad ii valve power amplifiers and is seeking advice on a suitable preamp to partner these quad ii power amplifiers. Dada electronics is specialised in vintage hifi revision.
Upgrade output stage to be fully complementary page. Net audio also offers complete upgrades but if you just add up all the costs involved you might as well buy a new tube preamp. Quad mono valve preamp, or control unit for use with the quad 11 power amplifier. Hi, i have a lovely little vintage system that sounds great to me and includes a pioneer pl112d turntable with shure m75ed cart, quad 33 303 amp and mordaunt short pageant speakers. Hi, robert, before, when quad amplifiers were designed, a preamp was an.
Ok it goes through a lot of switch contacts, one preamp board, the volume pot, and then out to the 4052. I would like to bring it back to full working order, i. Quad 303 amplifier modified for general purpose lab amp. My life with quad a personal recollection by barry hunt. The model 34 preamplifier is the component from english manufacturer quad that will disenchant perfectionists, partly because of its obvious pandering to connoisseurs of old and sometimes lousysounding records, and partly because of its sound this solidstate design is supplied with a builtin movingmagnet cartridge preamplifier, and a movingcoil preamp is included with it for easy. Quad 34 transistor and integrated circuit otherwise as for the 33. So i purchased out of my pocket money a sansui aud33, which was a mediumpower amplifier with very low distortion, and most importantly for me, their super feedforward system. Sep 03, 2011 i run a quad 44 late model 1989 edition the best of the 44 imho has both din and rca inputs on the rear and my amp is a 606 mk. The photos above show a quad 33 fitted with our rear panel upgrade. We dismantle your old rear panel and desolder all the wiring from the old sockets. The design is stable into any load and with our upgrades fitted is capable of stunning sound quality. David has actually improved upon what quad created 40 years ago by bringing the circuitry into the 21 st century.
The quad 33 is a modular preamp which offers a range of different facilities. C2 to eca1aad330x 33f, 10v scaled by gain change 4. Two of the slot types are user configurable cards that slot in horizontally at the rear of the 33. Quad 332 preamplifier a few ago we were puzzling about a totally new setup of the quad 33s pcbs and connection boards. The uad software prompts to update the firmware automatically if newer firmware is available. The quad 303 is a two channel power amplifier primarily designed for high quality domestic installations. Quite simple, but a delicate design, small and easy to operate. Jun 11, 2015 but it does mate well with the rest of quad s system, the esl63 speakers and the 405 power amplifier. Do you have experience with this preamplifier as to maintenance and overhaul.
Two years after the upgrade, i realised that one channel sounded very dull compared with the other. A view of new net audio plugin boards inside a quad 33 preamp. I was so impressed by the sound quality that i went out looking for the matching quad 303 power amp. The effort was another thing, removing and cleaning old pc boards. Quad 33 manual stereo control amplifier hifi engine. We then fit the new completely reengineered back plate along with gold plated rca connectors and fused iec in let wit dual outlets. I had hesitated in going the quad route but was so taken with the looks, build and cost of the 33 303 that i just had to give it a go. David makes a number of special hifi items including upgrades for older quad.
To be fair to the radford i had never used it in this way so perhaps the comparison is improper. The matched firmware files are always installed with every uad version even if there are no changes to the firmware. The first versions of this quad 34 had an aux input and had 5pin din connectors for most inputs and outputs. Its a great time to upgrade your home theater system with the largest selection at. Quad 33 preamp 405 303 power amplifier fm3 tuner speaker original catalogue. Walker built products that worked and worked for a long time, and his customers really did keep them for a long time. Quad 303 manual stereo power amplifier hifi engine. After minor modifications the unit found its definite form and stayed in production for about 15 years. Nov 02, 2018 my speakers are quad 11ls, in a small living room. Still got a soft spot for the old fella and its 33 companion.
An upgraded quad 66 has more detail, more naturalness and improved tonality. Jan 05, 2018 choosing a backup generator plus 3 legal house connection options transfer switch and more duration. Everything you need to do a full revision of your 33 yourself. Reformed quad 22 preamp and a remote power supply, 2001. No attempt to keep the quad 303 sound is made and the intention is that i make it into a much better amplifier. I use quad 33 radio 1 input link to arcam signal output. Various refurbishing kits and upgrade services are offered in the market, and quad 33 responds very well to them. The company made the transition to transistorpowered models in 1966 with the professional quad 50 monoblock which had a tapped transformer output and in 1967 the consumer quad 33 preamplifier and 303 stereo power amplifier.
Now includes low noise transistors for all the boards. The 33 preamp, 303 power amp, and fm3 tuner enjoyed life spans of more than a decade and a half. For restoration details, check out my quad 4052 restoration and quad 405 refresh articles. The great looking, sweet sounding quad 33 control unit has seven printed circuit boards.
The quad preamps are a week point, the 33 look cool but sounds very fuzzy and the 34 is better but is a long way from a preamp like the ps audio 4. Im not sure of the exact vintage of the quad amp as i believe they. Replacing quad 33 and quad 303 amplifier amplifiers. These are the illustrated stepbystep guidelines for upgrading your quad 44 with the dada electronics upgradekits. First launched in 1967 to partner the quad 303 power amplifier, the quad 33 pre amplifier is a very high quality well designed pre amp using high quality push switches to select the input source which then passed through tone filters and a volume control before the sound is outputted to.
Quad 33 preamplifier, fm3 tuner, 4051 to the right on the record cabinet and 303 on floor power amplifiers. Vintage hifi services for quad, leak, radford, dynaco, fisher, h. Stage 1 upgradepanasonic lowesresl power supply smoothing capacitorselna cerafine decoupling capacitors. Quad 33 405fm3 control amplifier sn18129 maintained with wooden fram made inuk. Quad 303 amplifier or quad 33 pre amplifier audiophile upgrade and repair a dramatic improvement to your quad amplifier this upgrade is guaranteed to make your quad 303 or 33 units sound better than new. A rather ambitious plan to add remote control into the small space available gets a bit out of hand, but it. By the way, the quad tuners used a nonstandard antenna connector. And you wont feel stupid tomorrow for having bought them today. Find great deals on ebay for quad 33 preamp and quad 303.
I live in a flat, so listening levels are low to moderate. Sep 24, 2007 hello i have a vintage quad 33 preamp which i believe has some problems. They were replaced by the 33 and 303 which was the first ss amp from quad. Quad 99 series preamplifier and 909 stereo power amplifier.
Quad 303 amplifier or quad 33 preamplifier audiophile upgrade and repair a dramatic improvement to your quad amplifier this upgrade is guaranteed to make your quad 303 or 33 units sound better than new. Due to being a relatively early transistor power amplifier design, from the 1960s, when high power complimentary pnp transistors were not so easy to find, they were designed to use a triplet circuit instead, with all npn transistors. I did a test for each different input on the preamp disc,tape,radio 1,radio2 and seemed to get different levels of audio output,noise and hum on each of them with. Quad provided mains power for the 33 to allow it to be used as a standalone unit and it had two switched sockets on the rear panel to supply mains to a tuner and a power amplifier.
I have always liked the look of the 33 303 combinations. Great deals on quad home audio amplifiers and preamps. The quad 33 preamplifier can be regarded as the semiconductor successor of the valve operated qc 22, the last dating back to the fifties. Quad 303 power amplifier fitted with cannon connectors. I dont know what you are useing the 34 with but it should not sound bad. I used to own a quad 33, 405 upgraded to 4052, quad 44 and finally a fm4. I also have a second rough 33 preamp on which i can try out some modifications. Im not sure of the exact vintage of the quad amp as i believe they were produced between 1969 and 1982, but is it w. The reason why quad used an 11 volt powersupply was the size of the capacitors at the time the 33 was designed. The 33 was quads first solid state preamp and likewise, the 303 was. This popular at least in the uk and compact only 12. Reviewing a quad 33 303 is a tricky business nowadays, price paid. The quad 33 preamplifier can be regarded as the semiconductor successor of the. Quad 33 control amplifier, quad 303 power amplifier the quad 33 303 hifi amplifiers are classic designs.
How to upgrade a quad 4052 power amp to current standards. Quad home audio amplifiers and preamps for sale in stock. They are meant to sell as a bundle, not separately, perfect for a winter diy project. Quad 33 controller is 50 years old, designed to drive quad 303 power amp. Description a vintage quad preamplifier dating from the early 70s. The quad 33 pre amplifier is a classic example of british hifi at its very best. The quad 33 was one of the best examples of 6ties design.
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