Anglo-Chinese brand Quad is not one of your consumer electronics companies that revamps their entire line every year (whether it needs to or not). Some might even consider their approach a bit stodgy, resisting change. So when they come out with not just one new product but a completely new series, that has to be considered news.

Quad's new Platinum series of solid-state electronics come above the current 99 series (which will remain in the line), and includes a CD player, preamp, integrated amp, 150Wpc stereo amp, and 170W monoblock amps. The components use balanced connections, and feature standard 12V triggers. The units on display were pre-production prototypes, with delivery promised for the third quarter of 2008. Prices have not been determined yet, and the Quad representatives would not even offer an estimate for publication—but it's safe to say that while they will be significantly higher than the prices for the current 99 series, they won't reach the high-end stratosphere.