ByMark Sparrow,
Senior Contributor.
It’s been five years in the making and now QUAD, the classic British hi-fi brand, says it is finally ready to launch its most accomplished range of audio electronics yet. The new Platina Series is described as “hi-fi’s new gold standard,” and the Platina Integrated amplifier is at its heart.
Of all the British high-end hi-fi brands, QUAD — Quality Unit Amplifier Domestic — has perhaps the most distinguished of histories. Ever since the 1950s, the company has been responsible for many innovations and products considered to be the best of their time. The brand’s lineup has included valve amplifiers, electrostatic and dynamic loudspeakers, as well as solid-state electronics that took fledgling transistor technology to new sonic heights.
Since QUAD’s first transistor-based stereo amplifier was launched — the iconic 33/303 pre/power amp, introduced in 1967 — the company has revised and updated its solid-state audio electronics across successive generations. While innovating, QUAD has maintained its essential DNA, which has culminated in the Platina Integrated, a product that QUAD says is its finest integrated amplifier yet.
