One of the most iconic amplifier pairings of all time is being brought back, with QUAD announcing new iterations of its famous 33/303 pre/power models.
First launched in 1967, their innovative transistor based circuit design by Peter Walker included a Class AB ‘current dumping’ approach in its power amp, with a feedback amplifier within an amplifier. This required far less negative feedback making the current within the output stage more immune to temperature fluctuations and distortion.
Updated with modern circuit components, the new 303’s ‘symmetrical triples’ design remains faithful to the original, with a completely symmetrical output stage, rendering the resting current independent of output transistor temperature.
The new 303 boasts a 200VA low-noise toroidal transformer, helping it deliver 50W per channel into 8 ohms (up from 45W for the original), rising to 70W into 4 ohms while also offering an option to run it in bridged mode, increasing its power output to 140W/ 8 ohms.
The 33 preamp has also been brought bang up to date, with analogue only inputs spread over line-level (RCA plugs instead of the original’s DINs) plus balanced in/outs via XLR. As you’d perhaps expect with this being a QUAD, there’s also a moving-magnet/moving-coil phono stage, .
Round the front and its vinyl filters have gone, while its bass, treble and slope dials have been replaced by bass, tilt and balance, with the ’tilt’ option being Peter Walker’s more sophisticated form of tone control, first introduced in 1982 on QUAD’s 34 preamp.
With their styling remaining true to the original models while packing modern updates (including remote control and LED front panel on the 33), each model costs £1,199 each. Find out more at quad-hifi.co.uk.
