Quad 3 + Wharfedale EVO 5.4 Speakers

In 2024, QUAD paid tribute to its distinguished heritage by unveiling a thoroughly modernised version of one of its most iconic products: the 33/303 pre/power amplifier – a two-box design that revolutionised home audio in the 1960s. Since the reissue's debut, demand has been remarkable, capturing the imagination of discerning audiophiles both in the UK and internationally. Once again, this timeless combination has found itself in the limelight, achieving best-seller status among music enthusiasts who appreciate both history and high-fidelity performance.

Introducing the QUAD 3

Following on from that success, QUAD now introduces an all-new integrated amplifier styled in a similarly classic vein: the QUAD 3.

Unlike the 33/303 project – which focused on modernising a classic design while preserving its essence – the QUAD 3 is a completely fresh creation. However, it retains unmistakable design hallmarks of its forebears. With industrial design by David McNeill – lauded for his acclaimed update of the 33/303 – the QUAD 3 takes visual cues from the 1967 33 and the 1959 22 preamps. These influences are cleverly reimagined with premium craftsmanship expected in 2025, from the flush-mounted rotary dials to the updated two-tone finish and subtle orange accents. These nods to heritage led QUAD to name the new integrated amplifier simply ‘3’ – a logical continuation of its legacy.

New Circuitry, Classic Intuition

While it may echo the past in form, the QUAD 3 is cutting-edge in function. In contrast to the analogue-only reissued 33, the QUAD 3 integrates digital capabilities, thanks to an internal DAC. It boasts a comprehensive range of inputs – including HDMI, USB, and Bluetooth – along with a built-in phono stage and headphone amplifier. Despite its wealth of features, it remains compact, with a chassis just 30cm wide, making it perfectly suited for the modern living space without compromising on performance or aesthetics.

Innovative Control with Analogue Integrity

One of the QUAD 3’s most intriguing features is its blending of traditional control design with modern functionality. The row of flush-mounted rotary controls, reminiscent of 1960s QUAD models, are now digital encoders managing functions like input selection and tone adjustments.

The standout feature is the ‘tilt’ control, first introduced by QUAD’s founder Peter Walker in 1982. Unlike conventional tone controls, tilt adjusts treble and bass together in 1dB steps around a 650Hz pivot point, allowing subtle sound shaping. These tone controls operate entirely in the analogue domain, eschewing digital signal processing, which preserves audio purity. A larger volume dial, with LED indicators, complements these refined adjustments, while an orange-backlit LCD display subtly references the vintage 33 preamp.

A Central Hub

Designed as the central hub of a high-end audio setup, the QUAD 3 caters to an extensive range of sources. For digital input, a USB Type B connection supports the highest-resolution audio, alongside coaxial and optical S/PDIF options. HDMI ARC (HDMI 2.1/eARC compliant) allows seamless connection with televisions, enabling control via the TV remote and delivering audio quality that far surpasses typical soundbars.

Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD ensures excellent wireless performance. Analogue sources are also well-supported, with two line-level RCA inputs and a dedicated turntable input. The phono stage, based on a low-noise FET design, provides superb clarity for vinyl playback.

A separate headphone amplifier, integrated beneath the chassis, delivers high-quality audio via a 6.35mm output – ensuring headphones receive the same attention to fidelity as speakers.

State-of-the-Art Digital and Amplification Technology

At the heart of the QUAD 3’s digital performance lies the ES9038Q2M DAC from the renowned 32-bit Sabre family. Enhanced with ESS Technology’s HyperStream II and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, this setup ensures low noise and exceptional dynamic range. Proprietary clocking and power systems elevate its capabilities further, along with a Class A post-DAC filter for refined audio reproduction.

Hi-res playback is fully supported up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512, and it includes MQA decoding and Roon Tested certification. Users can upsample to 352.8kHz or 384kHz, and select from five DAC filter profiles. Meanwhile, QUAD’s bespoke Class AB output stage features a CFB topology, powered by a 235VA toroidal transformer. This configuration ensures excellent linearity and stability, delivering 65W per channel into 8 ohms (and 100W into 4 ohms). Precision analogue circuitry and discrete low-noise power supplies for each section guarantee the QUAD 3 not only looks the part, but sounds exquisite too – a true union of classic inspiration and modern British engineering.

Wharfedale EVO 5.4

The EVO 5 Series marks a significant advancement for Wharfedale, taking the successful formula of the EVO4 and enhancing it with luxurious design upgrades and technical improvements. This evolution brings a new level of sophistication, offering a speaker that defies its price bracket. Combining high-performance features and an elegant appearance, the EVO 5 delivers an exceptional listening experience suitable for both audiophiles and casual listeners alike. Whether you're after detailed musical expression or clear, immersive sound, the EVO 5 speakers provide a high-fidelity experience that competes with much more expensive audio systems.

Distinct Approach to High Frequencies 

The EVO series is rooted in the same extensive research and development that defined Wharfedale’s flagship Elysian project. It was designed to bridge the gap between affordable pricing and high-end sound quality, with the EVO AMT (Air Motion Transformer) high-frequency unit being a standout feature. The AMT tweeter offers unparalleled precision and detail by using a pleated diaphragm, which expands and contracts to move air efficiently. This allows the AMT to push four times more air than a traditional dome tweeter, resulting in lower distortion, faster transient response, a wider frequency range, and superior dispersion.

ResoFrame™

Wharfedale has further refined the EVO 5's performance with the addition of Silentweave™, a new sound-absorbing material placed behind the AMT diaphragm. Silentweave™ combines cotton and felt fibre to minimise sound wave reflection and coloration, ensuring a purer sonic output. In addition, the ResoFrame™ acoustic damping system, made from elastomer, has been incorporated into the drive units to reduce mechanical resonances and smooth the response. The AMT benefits from an additional elastomer gasket, which enhances the lower treble band’s clarity and removes any harshness, resulting in a cleaner, more natural high-frequency reproduction.

Unparalleled Vocal Reproduction 

The EVO 5 also features innovative improvements in midrange and bass performance. The new Resoseal™ technique applies a mass ring of elastomer to the rear of the cone, optimising midrange response and enhancing vocal reproduction. This ensures that voices sound more natural, full-bodied, and emotionally engaging. These enhancements contribute to an overall listening experience that is both immersive and rich, with vocals and midrange frequencies becoming more prominent and engaging.

Next Gen Slot Loaded Profiled Port

The internal cabinet volume of the EVO 5 has been optimised for deeper bass extension and improved sound dispersion. This results in a more immersive and expansive audio field. Additionally, the speaker features a hybrid plinth made from both metal and wood, enhancing structural integrity and minimising unwanted vibrations. Wharfedale’s proprietary Slot Loaded Profiled Port (SLPP) system channels the bass drivers' rear output effectively, improving low-frequency performance. The innovative three-directional SLPP port design reduces turbulence and distortion, allowing the speakers to produce tight, controlled bass that integrates seamlessly with the midrange and treble for a balanced and refined sound.

Quad 3 Specifications

Specifications