Quad Speakers & Amplifiers
Of all the British high-end hi-fi brands, Quad boasts the longest and most distinguished history. The company has been at the cutting edge of audio since 1936, continually pushing back the boundaries of performance with technologies both new and established. In 1953, the Quad II valve amplifier was launched, setting new standards for audio amplification, and three years later Quad invented the first full-range electrostatic speaker – later known as the legendary ESL 57. The ESL then evolved into the ESL-63 and then the current ESL-2905/2805, which many Hi-Fi critics rate as one of the Greatest Hi-Fi Products of All Time.
Throughout the ensuing years, Quad products have continued to win worldwide acclaim, building a reputation for excellence that bears comparison with the most distinguished brands in any field. Quad has been part of the International Audio Group (IAG) since 1998, following its acquisition from the Verity Group (alongside Wharfedale). The companyʼs design and technical support teams and much-admired servicing department continue to be based in Cambridgeshire, England, supported by key personnel who have worked with Quad for decades.
IAGʼs funding ensures that Quadʼs current range boasts many award-winning audio components, including the latest generation of ESL electrostatic speakers, class-leading valve amplifiers, dynamic ʻboxʼ speakers, and a range of solid-state audio electronics that fuses high-end performance with innovative connectivity. With more exciting launches planned for 2011/2012, Quad continues to be driven by the philosophy of its founder, Peter Walker, to produce “the closest approach to the original sound”.