Quad 303 amplifier & Quad 33 Pre-Amp

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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Quad 303 amplifier & Quad 33 Pre-Amp

Post by rubber_jonnie »

CiH wrote: 08 Jan 2025 11:33 In the seventies, my dad was a good friend of the local high-end Hi-Fi shop owner.

He got to try out lots of gear.

Highlights included the Dalek-like KEF 105 speakers, but the Quad amp-pre amp combo was the most enduring part.
Nice. I think Kef are still about too.

As well as the Quad I've got the Thorens record deck to look at, plus a Sugden tuner (valve I think) and a Technics dual cassette deck.

My Dad liked his audio and the Quad was the pinnacle of his purchases IMHO.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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HigashiJun
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Re: Quad 303 amplifier & Quad 33 Pre-Amp

Post by HigashiJun »

rubber_jonnie wrote: 08 Jan 2025 12:12 As speakers go they are quite epic 😁
For sure...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Quad 303 amplifier & Quad 33 Pre-Amp

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Hooked the Quad up to some speakers today and fed in a very low level signal into each channel one at a time:

IMG20250109115240.jpg

Both channels seem to work great, so I think I'll move onto the record deck next :)
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Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Re: Quad 303 amplifier & Quad 33 Pre-Amp

Post by stephen_usher »

:yay2:
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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Icky
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Re: Quad 303 amplifier & Quad 33 Pre-Amp

Post by Icky »

@rubber_jonnie, you need some Quad ESLs to go with that amp. Some nice retro radiator speakers :)

Quad_ESL-57_luidspreker.jpg
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Quad 303 amplifier & Quad 33 Pre-Amp

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Icky wrote: 09 Jan 2025 17:12 @rubber_jonnie, you need some Quad ESLs to go with that amp. Some nice retro radiator speakers :)


Quad_ESL-57_luidspreker.jpg
Oh I'd love some.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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HigashiJun
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Re: Quad 303 amplifier & Quad 33 Pre-Amp

Post by HigashiJun »

rubber_jonnie wrote: 09 Jan 2025 11:55 Hooked the Quad up to some speakers today and fed in a very low level signal into each channel one at a time:

IMG20250109115240.jpg

Both channels seem to work great, so I think I'll move onto the record deck next :)
:dualthumbup:
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chronicthehedgehog
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Re: Quad 303 amplifier & Quad 33 Pre-Amp

Post by chronicthehedgehog »

You'll probably need a new drive belt for the 125. Thakker.de do the best although there are some cheaper belts available. I change mine about every 12-18 months. Luckily they are very cheap. You'll know it needs changing when 45s are realllly slow :D

Has it got a fancy tonearm like an SME? I bet it has and I'm envious already :D
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Quad 303 amplifier & Quad 33 Pre-Amp

Post by rubber_jonnie »

@chronicthehedgehog For your enjoyment here are some photos:

IMG20250110085939.jpg
IMG20250110085911.jpg
IMG20250110085841.jpg
IMG20250110085916.jpg

I have discovered an issue though, and that is that there are 3 bolts that run through from the main deck to the metal substructure. They have rubber bushings that give some softness to the suspension, which is 3 large adjustable springs (The big white knob). I found one rubber bushing to be missing:

IMG20250110085819.jpg

I've pulled one from another mount and I'll see if I can buy some or even make one myself. Finding a nut and washer should be a trivial task. This is what is missing:

IMG20250110085953.jpg

It looks like the nut worked off over the years, but somehow my Dad didn't notice. I think it is a Nyloc nut (Or some sort of locking nut), so it really shouldn't have fallen off, but I will use a drop if threadlock when I reassemble it. I'll use threadlock on the others at the same time and I'll re-level it using the spring adjusters.

BTW I already have a replacement belt :)
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Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Maximilian
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Re: Quad 303 amplifier & Quad 33 Pre-Amp

Post by Maximilian »

rubber_jonnie wrote: 01 Jan 2025 13:23 Construction is just beautiful. I pulled all the PCBs and cleaned the contacts with IPA followed by a cotton bud with a little Electrolube.
It is interesting to see that the electronics of those days was a lot more colorful...

Very nice construction, reminds me of my school days where we learned to tie the cables together this way...

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