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Quad's Elite line-up set to replace long-running 99 Series

Six-strong range will start to arrive this Summer

Andrew Everard 12:16pm GMT 28th June 2010
Quad Elite Series

Quad's new Elite Series line-up

Quad's highly-regarded 99 Series components, launched in 1999, are set to be replaced over the next few months by an all-new Elite Series. Six models will be available, with the first two arriving in shops later in the Summer, and the line-up is similar to that of the 99 range.

There'll be an Elite CD-S CD player, using a Sony mechanism and Crystal 24-bit/96kHz digital to analogue conversion with upsampling, and an Elite CD-P CD player/preamplifier. This uses the same mechanism with 24-bit/192kHz Crystal conversion, and has three optical and three electrical digital inputs.

The Elite Pre preamplifier has three line-ins, one tape loop and a moving magnet phono input, with moving coil available as an option: it can be used with either the 90W per channel Elite Stereo power amplifier or a pair of the 150W Elite Mono moboblocs. Connection between preamplifier and power amplifier(s) is via conventional RCA  sockets or Quad's AmpBus system.

Completing the range is the Elite FM radio tuner.

Quad says that while the Elite range takes some of the elements of the outgoing 99 Series, it has 'updated internal audiophile-class components, highly specified transformers, multi-layer circuit boards and the latest, most advanced software available.'

This, the company says, allows the new range to build on the classic Quad sound, but with added clarity and definition.

The new models are housed in high-quality cast alloy casework, in dark grey with a matt black front panel, and are designed to work together via an integrated system ensuring 'ease of use, seamless connectivity, fully balanced audio signals and intelligent control systems that allow complete control via the remote handset.'

The Quad Platinum  system, seen at shows over the past couple of years, remains in prototype form, the company saying that when launched it will slot into the range above the new Elite models.

Prices are yet to be announced for the Elite Series.

Also on the way from Quad is a new compact speaker design: the 11L Classic will also be available later this Summer.

 

Andrew Everard

Andrew Everard, Audio Editor of Gramophone since November 1999, read English at Queens' College, Cambridge a very long time ago, and was a member of the Westminster Abbey Special Choir even further back in the mists of time. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision, High Fidelity, Audiophile and Home Cinema magazines, as well as contributing a monthly column to Japanese title HiVi.

Comments

Submitted by Willem on Thu 2nd December 2010.

I will gladly buy them to replace my wonderful 33/303/fm3 combination if and when there will be a BD multiformat player and a media server as well. Also pre amps really should have a built in outboard DAC these days, and since this is such fast moving technology, perhaps like the interchangeable input boards on older Quad pre amps.

I really do not want to buy a stylish matched set with crucial components missing so I would still need some ugly Japanese BD player and an outboard DAC that looks different again. I accept this for my prehistoric set, but for me it just does not make sense for a new set.

Willem