RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
Quad 303 Power Amplifier I have owned this Quad 303 ($600) with Quad 33 Preamp ($400) since new. Quad 303 capacitors replaced some years back and all kept in storage since. Will be sold together with Quad 33 Pre Amplifier listed separately due to website constraints. Both work perfectly. Condition: Good Payment Method: EFT or cash on pickup Region/State: (VIC) Victoria/Australia By Brian Farnan 0 Comments AUD $600 Date: May 22, 20241 yr
With unknown condition, A$600 is a touch above the current used-market median of A$515 and sits just over the 75th percentile at A$591, so this reads as slightly ambitious rather than a bargain. It is not wildly out of line, but it is priced at the top end of recent comparables, so I’d want something concrete to justify the extra spend.
That said, the Quad 303 has a strong reputation for musical, relaxed power and a very likeable classic British amp sound, which is why it stays sought after. If it’s been serviced properly, runs quietly, and includes any original or matching accessories, the premium can make sense; if not, the age-related caveats matter more here than at a lower price.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
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.
See all Quad listings on RADAR.
