Quad 99 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: With its blue steel livery and statuesque bulk, the 909 screams 'power!' to anyone who'll listen, while the svelte and sleek 99 will look smart in any company if you want to park its beefy brother out of sight...

Pros: Good value, excellent detail and superb midrange delivery

Cons: Heavy and brutal looking, slight lack of definition at tonal extremes

Verdict: The 99 pre and 909 power amps are obviously designed to work and look best together, though they can of course be partnered with other components quite easily. The 99 offers a remote, built-in phono stage for vinyl junkies and the option of its 'love ...

Review summary: Outfitted with a volume control (operable only from the remote), the 99-CDP is in fact designed to function as a minimalist preamplifier for a digitally-based system comprising DAB tuners, minidisc players, computers, cable or satellite television ...

Review summary: The amplifier is simplicity itself, the front panels adorned with nothing but a tiny light that indicates on, off, or standby, with good but ordinary RCA jacks and binding posts on the rear and removeable IEC power cords. A trip-circuit shuts them ...

Review summary: Minor ergonomic concerns aside, this is a class performer that works superbly

Pros: Even-handed sonic delivery with strong dynamics and fine resolution ; flexible ; good build ; compact

Cons: Imprecise controls ; display not clear