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New in box.The VA-One boasts an impressive complement of valves for such a compact device (seven in all). The preamp section incorporates an ECC83 high-impedance triode, feeding an ECC82 twin triode driver and phase splitter stage. The output stage uses two EL84 pentodes per channel in a push-pull configuration, delivering 2x15W – sufficient power to drive efficient modern speakers to high volume levels, whilst maintaining the sumptuous sound quality derived from the amp’s valve-based topology.General descriptionIntegrated amplifierRated power output2 x 15W RMS (6½) 2 x 12W RMS (8½ / 4½)Frequency Response20Hz – 50kHz (-3dB)Total harmonic distortion0.50%Signal-to-noise ration (S/N)90dBInput Impedance50K½Inputs1 x RCA, 1 x OPT, 1 x COAX, 1 x USB B, Bluetooth (aptX)Outputs1 x Speaker Terminal,1 x 6.3mm Jack HeadponeValves1 x ECC83, 2 x ECC82, 4 x EL84EHNet weight10.8kgOutputs2 x 6.3mm Jack headphone socket, RCA PhonoDigital Resolution44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176kHz, 192kHzValves2 x 66SL7, 2 x 6SN7, 1 x EZ81Size (W x D x H)180mm x 284.5mm x 163.5mmNet Weight7.5kgDimensions (H x W x D)90 x 220 x 300mm
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Quad, the venerable British hi-fi brand, traces its origins to 1936 in London, when engineer Peter J. Walker founded S.P. Fidelity Sound Systems, soon renamed the Acoustical Manufacturing Company. Relocating to Huntingdon in 1941 after wartime bombing, the firm shifted from public address gear to domestic audio amid post-war demand for superior sound reproduction. Walker's pioneering ethos—prioritizing "the closest approach to the original sound"—defined Quad from its early QA12 amplifiers, adopted by the BBC, to the iconic Quad I of 1953.
The brand excels in amplifiers and electrostatic loudspeakers, revolutionizing both categories. The Quad II power amplifier of 1953 introduced cathode coupling for vanishingly low distortion, while the 1956 ESL 57 delivered the world's first full-range electrostatic speaker, employing a massless film diaphragm for unparalleled transparency and transient speed. Quad advanced into solid-state with the 1967 303 and transistor designs featuring innovative "Triples" output stages, later expanding to integrated amps like the 99 series, moving-coil speakers, and modern electrostatic models such as the ESL 988 and 989.
Today, under the International Audio Group since 1997, Quad holds a prestigious position in the high-end market, revered by audiophiles for its unyielding pursuit of accuracy over trends. Its heritage components command vintage collector status, yet contemporary offerings maintain a niche boutique appeal among discerning buyers seeking refined, distortion-free reproduction that honors Walker's legacy.
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