Solid State Preamp Reviews

Quad 34 preamplifier Specifications

Sidebar: Specifications

Description: Stereo solid-state preamplifier. Inputs: Phono (MM or optional MC preamp supplied), Tuner, Auxiliary, and Tape Loop. Choice of 3 HF filter curves. Tilt control. Bass boost and cut. Mono/stereo switch. One switched AC outlet. Maximum output leve;L 500mV.
Dimensions: 12.5" (318mm) W by 10.5" (267mm) D by 2.75" (70mm) H, including knobs and rear plugs.
Price: $595 (1983–1985); no longer available (2015).
Manufacturer: Quad ElectroAcoustics, IAG House, Sovereign Court, Ermine Business Park, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England PE29 6XU, UK. Tel: (44) (0)1480-447700. Fax: (44) (0)1480-431767. Web: www.quad-hifi.co.uk. US distributor: Quad USA, Palo Alto, CA (1983); IAG America, Walpole, MA 02081 (2005). MoFi Distribution, 1811 W Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660. Tel: (269) 262-1612 (2015).

COMPANY INFO
Quad ElectroAcoustics
US distributor: MoFi Distribution
1811 W Bryn Mawr Avenue
Chicago, IL 60660
(269) 262-1612
www.quad-hifi.co.uk
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on June 11, 2015 - 10:31am

Still do, one day maybe will get that with a 306 or 405-II as well as my other must have a Tandberg pre/power amp combo. Yes, they (Quad's) don't sound great but they are built to last and the design and ergonomics I think are beautiful.

spacehound's picture
Submitted by spacehound on June 12, 2015 - 12:57am

That Mr Holt used it with the 405 amplifier, which is woolly, confused, and muddy. Used with a better amplifier the sound of the preamp is uncoloured and clear. Though I never found the tone controls and 'Tilt' very useful.

I purchased mine new in the 1980s and still use it, seeing no reason to change. I use it with a modern Naim NAP250 and it is fine, though I have modified it slightly to give a 2 volt output (500 mV was the DIN standard and used by many European suppliers).

Incidentally I am amused by the 'New, outstandingly modern technology' of the Devaliet amps. The Devaliet is just a Quad 405 'current dumping' amplifier with Quad's Class A/B power section replaced by an equally crude and inaccurate PCM power section. It's the little Class A part in both of them that does the real work and I have no doubt that Devaliet got the idea from the old Quad.

In the UK they were not supplied with any MC input card, that was an extra, so you did not waste money on a 'standard supplied' one you might not use or on which the sensitivity was not what you wanted.

Quad made a nice matching FM tuner too.

To volvic. Buy the 34, it will be fine and they are not expensive. But I wouldn't bother with the 405. If you want a nice matching look the FM tuner is not expensive either and is fine, though it's no Sequerra.

X