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Quad 99 Pre Amplifier with MM MC Phono Tested Working
Brand: Quad
Model: 99
Type: Pre Amplifier
Colour: Silver
Audio Inputs: RCA, AMPBUS
Power Requirements: 230V
Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Pre-owned - Good condition. The amplifier shows minimal signs of wear with a few surface scratches visible. Please see photos. The amplifier is in good working order but does not come with a remote control.
The Quad 99 preamp is a revered, sonically transparent unit that defined the brand’s modern era, offering clean gain and selectable phono that still competes with today’s classics. At US$491, this listing sits just above the 75th percentile of US$468 from our recent comparable data, making it slightly ambitious but not unreasonable for a clean, unknown-condition example. It’s not a bargain, but it’s close to fair value if the unit is fully functional and free of the common relay or capacitor wear seen in older 99s.
What makes this a worthwhile buy is the 99’s enduring reputation for neutrality and its robust build quality, plus the included phono stage that many modern preamps lack. If the seller confirms original-owner history or includes the original power cord and remote (if applicable), the US$491 price becomes a solid opportunity to secure a timeless preamp without paying new-market premiums. Watch for relay chatter or tone-control issues, but if those are absent, this is a smart buy for a serious listener.
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.
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