Quad 3

Quad has folded the retro-modern styling of its reissued 33/303 separates into a one-box integrated aimed at real-world systems. Under the 1960s-inspired fascia sits a fully modern Class-AB amp section (65W/8Ω, 100W/4Ω), a serious ESS-based DAC stage, HDMI ARC for TV audio, an MM phono stage, Bluetooth 5.1 (aptX HD), and a proper headphone amp. UK pricing lands at £1,249, with availability from mid-June 2025. 

Design & build

The look is classic Quad: two-tone casework, flush metal knobs, and the slim orange display strip. It’s compact (about 30cm wide), solidly put together, and the front-panel controls are purposeful rather than ornamental. Quad also revives two analogue tone tools: a gentle ±3dB bass control and the company’s “Tilt” control, which pivots the overall balance around ~700Hz in 1dB steps—handy for taming bright recordings or adding warmth in lean rooms without mangling the midband. No DSP here; these operate in the analogue domain. 

Connectivity & features

• Digital in: USB-B (up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM & DSD512), coaxial, optical, and HDMI ARC (TV volume via your TV remote).

• Wireless: Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX/aptX HD.

• Analogue: 2×RCA line inputs, MM phono, pre-out (for a sub or power amp).

• Headphones: dedicated current-feedback stage on the front.

• DAC: ESS9038Q2M with a Class-A post-DAC filter, full MQA decoding, five user-selectable digital filters; Quad mentions upsampling S/PDIF and USB to 352.8/384kHz.
  This is unusually complete at the price, and the addition of HDMI ARC and hi-res USB makes it as happy under a TV as it is on a desk with a laptop. 

Amplification & engineering

Quad uses a discrete Class-AB output stage with Complementary Feedback (CFB) topology, fed by a 235VA toroidal transformer and 30,000µF of reservoir capacitance. Claimed performance figures are confident (THD <0.003% at 30W/8Ω) and S/N better than 110dB for the power amp stage. Power is modest on paper, but the current delivery and supply size suggest good grip with typical standmounts and many floorstanders. 

Day-to-day experience

The small footprint, IR remote, and ARC make it spouse-friendly; the orange display can be dimmed or turned off. The Tilt control is the star: one click warmer for thin masterings, one click cooler for overly lush productions. It’s a smarter, subtler solution than big bass/treble swings and a genuine everyday benefit that few rivals offer. 

Sound expectations (and pairings)

 The spec sheet and early demos point to a clean, low-noise presentation with modern DAC transparency and traditional Quad composure rather than showy “hi-fi” zing. Expect:

• Treble: refined and grain-free from the ESS stage when run via USB/coax; filter choice lets you trade a touch of edge for smoothness.

• Midrange: even-keeled and unforced; the analogue volume/tone architecture should keep the mids intact.

• Bass: tidy control with enough shove for 86–90dB sensitive speakers; the ±3dB bass trim helps with room gain or whisper-level listening.

Speaker matches I’d be confident about: Wharfedale Linton/4.2, DALI Oberon 5/7, KEF Q/S series, B&W 6-series, or Quad’s own Revela line. For big, low-impedance loads or cavernous rooms, you may want to use the pre-out into a beefier power amp later. (That future-proofing is a plus.) 

Versus the competition

• Audiolab 6000A MKII / 7000A: similar IAG family DNA, but the Quad 3 adds HDMI ARC and the Tilt/bass tools, and leans harder into the retro design brief. Audiolab counters with more inputs on some models; outright voicing will decide it. 

• Cambridge CXA81 MKII / Rega Elex Mk4: both are strong purely-hi-fi choices; Cambridge offers balanced inputs and more grunt on paper, Rega focuses on analogue purity. Quad fights back with HDMI ARC, full MQA decoding, and the most flexible tone shaping. (Check your feature priorities.) 

Verdict

The Quad 3 feels like a “greatest hits” of sensible hi-fi choices wrapped in a lovely throwback shell: enough power, a seriously capable DAC section, ARC for everyday convenience, and uniquely useful, analogue tone controls that help your system sing in the real world. Unless you specifically need a built-in streamer or big-amp muscle, it belongs on your audition list—and if the sound matches the engineering, it could be the class all-rounder to beat at the price.