Quad 44 Preamp - Is it worth keeping and upgrading

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eldarvanyar

eldarvanyar

Member
Joined 2008
#1
Hi,

I have a Quad 44 which I bought a couple of years ago. It's all standard and a mark II version according to the Dada Electronics website.







I have been doing some reading regarding the Quad 44 and I am unsure about the real potential of this preamp and whether I should invest some money in it before using it, or just sell it and put the money into something else.

I am also thinking about having a passive preamp made by BTE Designs as well, so have to decide on which to do first.

Either amp would feed into a Quad 606 MK1 power amp, which I bought earlier this year and immediately sent to Quad for a service, and they also upgraded the PSU to 909 spec.

I am aware that there is the DIY route with DADA Electronics
Quad 44 MKII DIY Upgrade and Revision kit Deluxe
Quad 44 MKII DIY Upgrade and Revision kit Deluxe

I would have to get someone to do the soldering and upgrading for me due to being post stroke and my eyesight not being very good close up

Redhill Audio
QUAD 44 PREAMP UPGRADE - STAGE 1
Elna Cerafine audio-grade electrolytic capacitors
Additional, high-quality Panasonic PPS film capacitor decoupling added to remove noise from critical areas
Solid Film MKS signal path capacitors
Unnecessary signal path capacitors bypassed for reduced grain and a cleaner sound
A well chosen blend ofLME49710NA/LM4562NA National Semi & Texas Instruments Op amps for better refinement and improved detail
Quad 44 Preamp Upgrade - Stage 1

QUAD 44 PREAMP UPGRADE - STAGE 2
Increased capacity Low-ESR Power Supply Capacitors
Output signal path capacitors upgraded to solid film types
Elna Cerafine Decoupling capacitors
LME49710 & TI/National Semi Opamps
Panasonic PPS Bypass Capacitors
2 x Red Hill Audio Mini-Shunt Voltage Regulators +/-15v
Signal Path Improved with Audio Wire "Silver Signal"
http://redhillaudio.co.uk/hifi-upgr...reamp-upgrades/quad-44-preamp-upgrade-stage-2

Amplabs who do upgrades as well.
http://www.amp-labs.co.uk/q44fs-a.htm
Rob from Amplabs serviced and upgraded a Quad 303 that I bought a couple of years ago
http://www.amp-labs.co.uk/servicing.htm
He originally serviced a Yamaha CR1000 for me which I stupidly sold a couple of years ago but he only works on Quad now I think.

I have read online that the Quad 44 suffers from the 4066 CMOS Chip which was originally designed for and used in the Plessey System X Telephone exchanges, and is naturally bandwidth limited.
Other issues include the use of the Op-Amp TL071 as was used in the 405 power amp.

With the modular design and ability to have different boards the Quad 44 could be quite an asset if it sounds any good. Are the MM and MC cards any good or able to be upgraded to anything worthwhile?

Any advice, thoughts or experience much appreciated

Thanks

Lee
 
#2
Don't touch that thing! It's history man, real valuable piece of audio technology history.You'll loose more than half of it's value doing it.You could ask these guys to make a similar one from scratch with their own components, but i would say that trying to "upgrade" that thing it's complete ******** . There's no upgrade to a monument of technology!
 
#3
dreamth said:
Don't touch that thing! It's history man, real valuable piece of audio technology history.You'll loose more than half of it's value doing it.You could ask these guys to make a similar one from scratch with their own components, but i would say that trying to "upgrade" that thing it's complete ******** . There's no upgrade to a monument of technology!
Click to expand...

Oh thanks for the positive reply and passion. I have read such negativity about the 44 on forums. Can you say some more about why its such a piece of audio history technology?

Would you use it with a 303 or 606?

I know if it's changed by upgrading it that it would be harder to send to Quad if there are any problems.

Do you have or use one?
 
#4
the problem with "Upgrading " excelent vintage components is that you get to change their original sound and if you want a modern sound you can get lots of new preamps that can deliver on a modern sound, real cheap.I modified some stuff myself in my life and all i can say is that "the lack of knoledge" pays well!
 
#5
Love the industrial design. I had one for a while. IMO it was outclassed by entry level Naim gear from the 90s. There seems to be a fetish for old Quad transistor gear. It was good in its time and Peter Walker was an important and brilliant engineer. But transistor gear in general has advanced a lot in the last few decades. Now the Quad speakers are another story!
 
#7
Signal Path Improved with Audio Wire "Silver Signal"
Click to expand...
As that 'upgrader' believes you can improve things with silver wire you can actually safely ignore all his other suggestions too. They appear to be merely a sprinkling of audiophile myths and brand names.

If you like the Quad 44, use it. If you don't like it, sell it and buy something you do like. Don't turn it into something which still looks like a 44 externally but isn't a 44 internally. You will destroy its monetary and historical value without making any real difference to its 'sound' - be aware that Peter Walker will have designed it so it doesn't have a sound at all.
 
#8
As above : use it or Lose it 😉
Try it for a few days or so.. If you don't like it's sounds?
Sell it on.. lotsa Museum types about.
Personally I'm No fan of Quads .. I Never aquired a taste for their sounds.
Did like their looks though. Entirely different from the Japanese styles of the era.
I believe that many Quadies were attracted to the 'styling' more than anything else.
 
#9
I agree with the previous posters...

I am a Quad user, lover, and a big fan - I use a 33 and FM3 with a Spectra Sonics based power amp and Tannoy 12" HPD's for my home hifi. I couldn't be happier with the set up and am consistently amazed at the performance.

Tho I know this isnt 100% apples to apples - I think it is still pertinent.

When i got the Quad 33 the previous owner had done all the Dada mods and I have slowly reverted everything - except the power supply mod back to stock - and for my needs - with each step back, it sounds better and better...

Speaking specifically to the Quad 33 - most of the published Dada Mods are to facilitate the preamp tolerating modern hifi components output levels - which for me - is unnecessary. I primarily play vinyl in conjunction with a high output moving coil cartridge (Dynavector 10x5 - which, by the way, is particularly well suited for the Quad 33) or Digital Audio thru a DA converter with an adjustable output level.

All that being said - I think the Quad stuff is well designed, well engineered and absolutly has a place in the modern hifi....

so yeah - give it a shot before you start swapping components - you might be pleasantly surprised - if not - there are plenty of people put there looking for Quad stuff in good shape.
 
#10
There are modern high performance 4066 you could use instead. Most elcos are by now in very bad condition and need replacement. There is no way that by replacing components that need service you can spoil anything. I did replaced big elcos for my friend that owns 44/FM4/405/Tannoy Little Red Monitor. But 44 needs proper service in order to sound it's best. It's age is such that you can expect malfunction soon if you don't service it properly.
 
#15
MAX4066 might fit in.
Shorting out the output tants (if DC is very low) will make you smile.
It has an interesting modular construction and if you want to make a museum there are loads of them in original state to buy.
I'd say, mod it to hell and back. Especially the PSU. If you want to use faster opamps check the opamp spec sheet for decoupling.
There are even relay mods to replace the 4066s.
Good luck.
 
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