Quad Artera Power Amp Review

[@yippie6862]

Sounds fantastic to my ears. Very well balanced. Clarity. Lots of control.

[@muzlev0001]

Thanks for the review. I have been a Quad fan for many years. There were 606, 909, now Artera stereo. Wonderful amplifier. It plays with my ELAC FS247. I have always believed and still believe that Quad plays music much more expensive than it costs.

[@chrissimmonds4383]

I have the Artera Pre and Artera Stereo and I am delighted. I've had high end amps from Cyrus, Musical Fidelity, Naim and the Artera combo is way more preferable to me. The clarity is there but not edgy or in your face and I've now found my forever amp. I use them frontended by Innuos ZENmini iii feeding Chord Hugo TT2 dac, then onto PMC Twenty5.23 floorstanders. Sound is lovely and highly recommended, especially for classical music lovers. Head bangers may prefer the Naim sound but I'm very happy with the Artera combo. My system also sounds very nice at low volumes which is very important for me.

[@dittonworks]

Yes it’s a great combo.. very pleased you’ve got them 👍

[@robinkleinsteuber5217]

Thanks for the review. I am in Canada, so I believe I should consider this QUAD Artera amp to be on my quality amp shortlist, which also includes the Benchmark AHB2 that you mentioned. Thanks again!

[@dittonworks]

The Benchmark sure ticks the spec list but it’s way more expensive here.. I thoroughly enjoyed the Quad Artera. Thanks for watching 👍

[@MichaelYates]

Thanks Kevin, Pleasure as always and great explanation on delivering the power to speakers

[@dittonworks]

Thanks Michael. Hope you’re well?

[@MichaelYates]

@@dittonworks All good thanks, hope you are likewise. will catch up soon hopefully

[@DeAudiofilosyLocos]

Thanks for the great review. Peter Comeau mentioned that he used the Artera for developement of the Lintons. I wonder how it would sound with my esl 2805s

[@dittonworks]

Probably awesome 😎

[@chriswright5016]

Very interesting Kev. Of course the other variable could be that the Artera needs to run in more, depending on how much use it's had from new. That hard edge might smooth out a bit in time. But I think you make a very valid point concerning buying a new amp to make sure you're in spec. Apart from perhaps a tiny bit of movement in bias, that can of course be corrected, however, I would expect your 557 to be performing perfectly well even after all those years. They are a superb amp and I think I need another one of them for my Kingstons and Thiels. It's been too long 😃

[@Dododaler]

QUAD ALTERA RUNNING MY MAGNEPANS 1.7 WITH EAZ & STHEY SOUNDS FANTASTIC, STILL AFTER 2 YEARS!!

[@michaelharris6106]

I love vintage quad got a few set ups and always on the lookout for more but I'm lucky I have a good shop that repairs amplifier's not far from me in Birmingham I trust him

[@gadymarcus2362]

Magnificent.

[@mat_v]

Thanks for the review, not too many for newer quad equipment out there. Did the meridian replace your older quad? I’ve had a quad 606 mk2 for the past 10 years or so, always thought it was my end game amp as it won comparisons to more expensive ones I’ve tried but recently bought new spendor speakers and it doesn’t seem to scale up very well, or the spendors are not as good as their price tag demands.

[@dittonworks]

Meridian is my favourite amp.. I sold 606 as it wasn’t as pleasing to my ears, good but the meridian edged it out.. I also kept the meridian over the new quad for the same reasons. New Spendor’s take an age to run in.. stick with them, you’ll be happy

[@alexg4284]

I’m thinking of adding this to my Naim Uniti atom / graham ls3/5a set up. Any thoughts?

[@andrewmeates7633]

Hi, good review. I own the Artera Stereo power amplifier and hope to partner it with an Icon audio valve (tube) preamp. I agree that some speakers are too demanding of current like my Magnepan MG12's. I am going to switch to the Graham audio ls6f which I hope will be a good marriage.

[@dittonworks]

I also fancy icon audio pre amp..

[@RodneyAllanPoe]

I see your Gaia-ed speakers are sitting on platforms. Are they stone or glass? And are they spiked to the floor? I used to have granite slabs under my old speakers on top of screws. My Gaia-ed Focals are on carpet spikes, though I don't think they are solid as the granite.

[@dittonworks]

Just granite plinths buddy 👍 Thanks for watching

[@carlitosgomez71]

Do you think the quad preamp is a good choice at over 1k i dont want to waste my money, currently using an audiolab 6000a for its pre amp section

[@carlitosgomez71]

I like the idea of using a balanced design with pure analogue signal

[@dittonworks]

I really liked the Quad Artera Pre.

[@vox9841]

Thanks for the review Kev. I have a Quad 606 Mk1 and sent it to Quad for a service and they ended up upgrading the psu to 909 spec. Quad are very reasonable for servicing. Have you demoed the Yamaha AS 2200 or AS 3200 integrated amps, or could you ask your HiFi shop to let you do so? I would be really interested to hear your views on it. Also have you has experience of the Yamaha NS1000 monitor speakers in the past and any views on them? Thanks for all you are doing and taking the time to make videos, I know it takes a lot of time to film, edit and upload.

[@dittonworks]

I’ve heard NS1000’s.. amazing detail but a tad too much for my ears and require carful system partnership. Alas my local Hifi shop don’t deal in Yamaha components.

[@thevintagehifiambassador8524]

Your rack becomes a skycraper. Good. But there is 1 meter left to the ceiling :-)

[@dittonworks]

Lol.

[@kelvinjinxd]

Current dumping is not about the current. It is about the unique negative feedback scheme.

[@dittonworks]

Pretty sure they’re high current though. Thanks for watching

[@rogerwebb7501]

Erm, not quite right! Current Dumping IS about the Current, as this rather crude term describes the method of supplementing the voltage amplifier (a pure class A 'triple' that is capable of giving the full voltage output swing) when it reaches the limit of its current capability. The 'unique negative feedback scheme', in fact isn't! This is a clever twist on the thorny issue of feedback, as this design uses feed-forward, where the input signal is compared to the output and a 'correction' signal is fed to the output stage - this is comparatively small and should not be confused with the main current-dumping purpose of the output devices. I was a young electronics engineer when the paper by Peter Walker and Mike Albinson was first given and studied it closely...and argued its merits with my peers! I have always had a soft spot for Quad - at the time I had Quad 2/22 and 33/303 amps. I passed on the 405 (the first current dumper), preferring a Radford STA 25 to drive my Quad 57s. Since then I've had Quad 63 electrostatics driven by a Quad 606, and now have Quad 2812s driven by the Quad QMP massive monoblocks, which contains two 909s (the successor to the 606) in bridge mode, giving a substantially enlarged voltage output from the class A stage....most of what one hears is pure class A in the mid and treble and I have the 12" version of the Quad L-series subwoofer to 'assist' the 2812s below 40hz!

[@carlosr.2027]

@@rogerwebb7501is the quad artera stereo amp a pure Class A or some hybrid type I’m considering artera stereo or a class D amp like peachtree gan400 or orchard audio gan amp can this class D compete with a Class A or A/b musicality

[@nigelgauntlett582]

Nice comparison Kev ! I wouldn’t part with the Meridian though ( they are definitely still very good amplifies compared to modern amps available today ) . You should look into acquiring a second 557 and Bridge them!

[@dittonworks]

Hi 👋 I had two 557’s in bridged. I actually preferred running just running a single one. Got a mega amp review coming up

[@nigelgauntlett582]

@@dittonworksfor your speakers I would say it’s more than enough power ( plus the 557 is very high current!) I’ve got a Parasound A23+ on loan ( John Curl design ) and must say I’m very impressed but with the exchange rate in the UK it wouldn’t be as great a bargain here in Canada .

[@danielpiolet]

I would like to ask about the phono of the Artera Pre, it’s good? Compare with others standalone options? Regards

[@dittonworks]

Very good imho.. only got the Vincent to try a valve phono stage

[@chrissimmonds4383]

The phono input of the Artera Pre is very good indeed. Quiet with enough gain to suit the lowest output MC's . All adjustments have to be done via the remote which I don't like as it's difficult to do a/b comparison. That's why I use an iFi Zen external preamp which is phenomenal for the money especially using the balanced output.

[@elk4711]

I run a Quad Artera Play with an old Quad 909 that has been upgraded electronically and drives Monitor Audio PL200 speakers. The ace in the setup is Chord Sarum T cables throughout. Testament to the fact that cables make a difference. Controversial statement, yes, but that's where I chose to spend my money and it works for me. Good listening.

[@dittonworks]

Yep.. I used Tellurium Black.. cables make a difference

[@nelsonclub7722]

One additional benefit to the Meridian is that you can use two in bridged mono - very simple to set up - one 1/4 screwdriver turn of the bridge switch - 2 second hand Merdian 557 = 1 Artera for price - double the power for the same money and separation

[@rod4530]

The Arteras do need some running in. They like a bit of jazz too.

[@dittonworks]

Indeed. My pre is over a year old as is the power amp.

[@rod4530]

@@dittonworks Not a lot of reviews for the modern Quad amps. Appreciate your taking the time and effort. If you get a chance to try a VA1, I doubt you will be disappointed.

[@dittonworks]

@@rod4530 I nearly bought one a few weeks back.

[@rod4530]

@@dittonworks One day the VA1 will be considered a classic.

[@iankemp73]

Regarding Bi Wiring. Only 1 set of Binding Posts. Try Ecosse ES 4.45....2 into 4.. Bass..ES2.15 . Multistrand...Treble..CS2.15. Solid Core. Both high purity OFC Copper. I also have an Artera Pre...Rotel RB991..Spendor S8e..... I am fortunate to have 2 excellent Techs within 40 miles.. Full Service...All aged and heat damaged components replaced , bench tested..£157.00

[@CulinaryGod]

Great review, thanks!

[@bryanjennings7821]

Thanx for the review. Got the dolus play, which i love through my ma bronze 5, and am thinking of power amp to add. Are there any other power amps you'd recommend.?

[@bryanjennings7821]

#solus

[@dittonworks]

Hi.. older Quad? 606 maybe

[@hoobsgroove]

why didn't you just connect both the wires up into one at amplifier binding post? you would like the croft hybrid poweramp 7r and micro 25r preamp try and get hold of one. you're looking for power wharfedale Pro series and not particularly expensive.

[@dittonworks]

Because I’ve got proper banana plugs on my cable.

[@hoobsgroove]

@@dittonworks I don't know what you mean by "proper"? that's a question of debate. why can't you just remove them for the tests, you should do anyway now and again and clean the wire with acetone if they're not soldered in, you got those awful heat shrink stuff on it!? they're not 5-point binding posts then? I would have thought they would have been, why you could have had connected your banana post both??

[@dittonworks]

@@hoobsgroove they are/were soldered. Had to undo that then put them back. Basically the cables wouldn’t bend around enough to put the banana in the side as well as the back of the binding posts on the amplifier. Thanks for watching

[@hoobsgroove]

@@dittonworks ok ! you can get extenders with two holes to take banana plugs

[@alexg4284]

I always know I can count on your opinion

[@kurthill7030]

Always found quad smooth nice but to smooth for me 👍

[@dittonworks]

That’s why I kept the Meridian 👍

[@kurthill7030]

@@dittonworks I still have my Inca tech the claymore 👍

[@batcave4193]

Good old Colin wonfor, I miss my claymore! 👍🏻

[@nicksundby]

I'd suggest you read up on amplifiers before trying to explain class A, AB and current dumping.

[@dittonworks]

Thanks for watching

[@napal-m1b]

한국어 번역 시청할 수 있게 부탁합니다.

[@dittonworks]

I’m so sorry I can’t read that

[@endlesssk]

korean read won't, you pictures

[@сашаалекс-р9ы]

Жаль нет перевода на русский..

[@Azakhold]

яндекс переводит видео в ютубе. Пользуйтесь, это информативное видео.

[@radiomuzika2501]

Damping factor of Quad top amplifier Artera Stereo is 11(eleven), lowest/worst i have ever heard, how could Quad make something bad like that?!

[@carlosr.2027]

Which amp do you recommend that’s better than quad artera stereo

[@muzlev0001]

Hi. How do you like Artera pre? Satisfied with it? Here I want to take it to Quad artera stereo.

[@dittonworks]

Yep I’m Happy with it

[@cpg8000]

@@dittonworks thank you for your impressions. May I ask: how do you find getting around the the volume control of the Quad Pre? I understand it is a digital control button on the unit itself, or by remote. I just felt maybe a knob would have been easier? Thanks again for your feedback.

[@dittonworks]

@@cpg8000 touch sensitive on the unit, that works well but I just use the remote

[@cpg8000]

@@dittonworks thank you for the reply

[@chrissimmonds4383]

The Artera pre is a brilliant all analog pramp with astonishing clarity. Phono stage is super quiet with a lot of gain. Take a good outboard phono amp to beat it. Advice if you get one, don't ever lose the remote control!