The new Quad 3 clearly nods to a glorious past, especially in terms of appearance—though under the hood, it features thoroughly modern technology.
The Quad 3 stands out with its distinctly retro-modern design, inspired mainly by the 1960s. But inside, it’s all about contemporary engineering. It’s an integrated amplifier with a built-in DAC, and its Class A/B output stage delivers up to 2 x 65 watts into 8 ohms. The design incorporates the brand’s proprietary “Complementary Feedback” technology, which promises superior linearity and excellent thermal stability. Separate power supplies are used for various critical components within the unit to ensure optimal performance.
Bluetooth Support
At the heart of the DAC is the ES9038Q2M Sabre chip, utilizing ESS’s Hyperstream II architecture and a precise jitter eliminator. The Quad 3 supports PCM files up to 768 kHz / 32-bit and DSD playback up to DSD512. Got some old MQA tracks lying around? You can still enjoy those, too.
As for connectivity, you’ll find optical and coaxial digital inputs, USB-B, HDMI ARC, two stereo RCA line inputs, and an MM phono input. Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD allows for wireless headphone listening, or you can use the 6.3 mm headphone output.
The Quad 3 will be available from around mid-month at a price of €1,499. Due to tariffs, U.S. buyers will be paying significantly more—$2,799.