Quad is back in the spotlight and not because someone found another dusty 33/303 combo in a basement. The British brand reintroduced the 33/303 pre/power duo and has followed it up with the new Platina Integrated Amplifier — the product of a grueling five-year redesign that rethinks every circuit from the ground up.
And just when you think Quad’s done playing the heritage card, they announced the Quad 3 Integrated Amplifier earlier this year, which we’ll be covering in late November. What’s clear is that Quad’s leaning hard into its legacy name and criminally underrated lineup of dynamic cone and electrostatic loudspeakers.
The tariffs can’t be helping, but make no mistake — these folks are dead serious about clawing back market share from Cambridge, Naim, Rega, and the rest of the British hi-fi establishment.
Quad Platina Series: Integrated, Streamer, and CD Transport for the Modern Age
The Quad Platina Series marks a bold return to form for one of Britain’s most storied hi-fi brands. This new lineup consisting of the Platina Integrated Amplifier, Platina Stream, and Platina CD Transport, represents the most ambitious rethinking of Quad amplification and digital design in decades. Each component was developed to combine the unmistakable warmth and musicality of classic Quad gear with the precision, connectivity, and control demanded by modern listeners.
At the center of it all is the Platina Integrated, the first release in the series and a clear statement of intent. Quad’s engineers spent five years redesigning every circuit from the ground up. It’s built to drive today’s most demanding loudspeakers with composure and headroom to spare. The integrated includes both MM/MC phono capability and a high-end DAC section with HDMI ARC, USB, and a range of digital inputs, making it a genuine high-fidelity control hub for any modern system.
The Platina Stream, developed alongside the Integrated, brings Quad’s legacy into the streaming era with flagship ESS Sabre DAC architecture, precision clocking, and isolated digital and analog stages to maintain signal purity.
Controlled via the Quad Platina Music Control app, it delivers high-resolution performance and wireless flexibility without compromising the brand’s commitment to natural, accurate sound reproduction.
The Platina Stream isn’t just another network player—it’s the digital nerve center of the new Platina Series. Built around the flagship ES9038Pro 32-bit DAC, it delivers reference-grade decoding for both PCM (up to 768kHz) and DSD (up to DSD512) content.
The 4.3-inch full-color IPS display provides a clean, intuitive interface, while the robust streaming platform supports Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Plex, and even TuneIn Radio for the analog holdouts still clinging to FM nostalgia.
Connectivity is equally versatile. Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs make the Platina Stream a natural companion for the Platina Integrated amplifier—forming a fully balanced digital-to-analog signal chain—but it could just as easily feed a high-end amplifier from another brand or even a pair of powered speakers for a minimalist setup.
With Ethernet and dual-band Wi-Fi, plus USB storage playback and app control for Android and iOS, it’s a modern streaming solution that doesn’t need to compromise.
With the Platina CD Transport expected to complete the lineup, Quad is clearly sending a message: heritage alone doesn’t cut it. The Platina Series is about reclaiming relevance — and reminding the rest of the British hi-fi establishment that Quad still knows how to build serious audio gear.
Quad Platina Integrated: The Heart of the Platina Series and a New Benchmark
The Quad Platina Integrated Amplifier is the centerpiece of the new Platina Series — a dual-mono Class A/B designdelivering 200W per channel into 8Ω and 300W into 4Ω. It’s built around a custom 630VA toroidal transformer and 44,000µF per channel of power supply capacitance, providing high current delivery and stability under load. Every component choice, including bespoke capacitors co-developed with Wurth Elektronik, was tuned by ear to maintain Quad’s tonal integrity and balance.
Internally, the amplifier uses SMD component integration for shorter signal paths, lower impedance, reduced noise, and better thermal symmetry — all contributing to greater reliability and control. The active four-channel volume control allows for precise, natural gain steps, while the ES9038 PRO DAC handles high-resolution digital sources up to PCM 768kHz and DSD512. Dual master clocks minimize jitter for accurate timing and imaging, and the unit is Roon Tested for seamless playback integration.
Connectivity is extensive: balanced XLR, RCA, MM/MC phono, USB, optical, SPDIF, and HDMI ARC inputs make it compatible with both traditional and modern systems. The phono stage offers three gain settings (46dB, 52dB, 60dB)and adjustable impedance for MM or MC cartridges, implemented through a low-noise JFET design. Control comes via a TFT display and GUI interface, giving users quick access to system configuration and input settings.
The result is an amplifier designed for precision, consistency, and long-term reliability — a modern evolution of Quad’s engineering principles rather than a nostalgic echo of the past.
Quad Platina Integrated Amplifier — Key Specifications
Design & Power
- Type: Integrated Amplifier
- Amplifier Topology: Dual-Mono Class A/B
- Power Output: 200W per channel (8Ω) / 300W per channel (4Ω)
- DAC: ESS Sabre ES9038PRO (32-bit)
- Certified: Roon Tested
- Display: 4.3″ Full-View IPS LCD (800 × 480)
- Transformer: Custom 630VA Toroidal
- Power Supply: 44,000µF capacitance per channel
- Chassis: Precision-machined aluminum, available in Black or Silver
Connectivity
- Analogue Inputs: 2 × RCA, 1 × XLR, 1 × MM/MC Phono
- Digital Inputs: 2 × Optical, 2 × Coaxial, 1 × USB Type-C, 1 × HDMI ARC
- Outputs: RCA (pair), XLR (pair), Speaker binding posts, Optical, Coaxial, 12V Trigger
- Upgradeable via USB
Phono Stage
- Type: Dedicated Low-Noise JFET MM/MC
- Gain Settings: 46dB / 52dB / 60dB (adjustable via GUI)
- Input Impedance: 50KΩ (MM) / 360Ω (MC)
- SNR: >78dB (MM) / >70dB (MC), A-weighted
DAC Performance
- PCM: Up to 768kHz
- DSD: Up to DSD512
- THD: <0.001% (1kHz @ 0dBFS)
- SNR: >116dB (A-weighted)
- Dual Master Clocks for 44.1kHz & 48kHz families
Headphone Amplifier
- THD: <0.01% (1kHz, 50mW)
- Output Impedance: 2.35Ω
- Load Range: 20–600Ω
Performance Specs
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz (+/-0.3dB)
- THD (Amplifier): <0.0008% (1kHz @ 100W / 8Ω)
- SNR: >112dB (A-weighted)
- Max Output Current: 20A
User Interface & Control
- GUI with full-color TFT display
- Selectable input sensitivity and phono gain via GUI
- Remote control operation
Physical
- Dimensions (W × H × D): 445 × 134.5 × 348 mm
- Weight: 17.1 kg (net) / 19.3 kg (gross)
- Finish: Black or Silver
- Standby Power: <0.5W
The Bottom Line
The Quad Platina Integrated goes on sale next month for $5,495 (£3,499 / AU$7,999), available with either a black or silver front panel. It’s the first release in a wider Platina Series that will soon include the Platina Stream network player and a matching CD transport in spring 2026.
At this price point, Quad is staking a claim in the upper-mid audiophile market, taking aim at established rivals like Cambridge Audio, Naim, and Arcam, while offering the added appeal of a fully integrated digital and analog solution. For those who want modern connectivity, a robust Class A/B amplifier, and Quad’s signature sound, the Platina Integrated makes a compelling case — especially for listeners who value long-term system cohesion over chasing short-term hype.
For more information: quad-hifi.co.uk
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