Quad’s platinum standard

October 03, 2012 — Article

Quad’s has launched its flagship Platinum component range with an integrated CD player/DAC/preamplifier, plus stereo and mono power amps.

Quad Platinum DMP

First up is a generously specified CD player/DAC/preamp called the Platinum DMP, together with two power amplifiers – the Platinum Stereo and Platinum Mono. The Platinum DMP (Digital Media Player) incorporates a high-quality CD transport which reduces noise and vibration through critical damping of the mechanical components, allowing the laser to read the disc completely unhindered. A high-precision master clock is placed locally to the DAC circuit which can handle audio data from external digital music sources, converting data of up to 24-bit/192kHz with minimum jitter and maximum accuracy.

For optimum performance, Quad provides driver software to enable asynchronous data transfer from PCs and Macs via USB. Connectivity options include six digital inputs (3x optical; 2x RCA; 1x USB) and four digital outputs (1x optical; 1x RCA; 1x BNC; 1x AES/EBU). There are also balanced XLR and single-ended RCA analogue inputs.

With the Platinum DMP, Quadʼs engineers have designed a four-layer PCB to ensure a high degree of isolation between the digital and analogue domains to maintain the accuracy and precision of the digital signal extracted from a CD or external digital source and the resulting analogue music signal at the output stages.

The Platinum Stereo is a stereo power amp that delivers 150W per channel into eight ohms, while the Platinum Mono is a monoblock design with a rating of 180W into eight ohms, an amp configuration promising extremely low distortion and low gain, and the ability to drive virtually any loudspeaker. Thanks to extensive research into electromagnetic interference, Quad promises “an ultra-clean technical performance with vanishingly low levels of noise and distortion”.

Quad Platinum Stereo

The Quad Platinum DMP, Platinum Stereo and Platinum Mono are available now for £2,500 each. A separate preamplifier, the Platinum Pre, will launch later in the year.


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