Reviewing a Quad 33/303 is a tricky business nowadays,
Price paid : 175 Euro (with 303)

Should you review an Quad 33 compared to products from the same production year? (1967-198x)
Or to current (2009) products?

And if compared to current products, do you review an 'untouched' Quad 33, which has been working for 40 years? or an refurbished one? or an modified one?

If you compare my first Quad 33 (brought new in 1978) with amplifiers from that time than there is only one conclusion. Perfect clean sound (compared to similar prized Pioneers, Akais and Sony amplifiers. Only at par with Revox amplifiers. Other European Amplifiers where not of the same league. Nor Amstrong, nor Leak, nor Cambridge, Forget Grundig, Telefunken and Philips ) And the build quality. A lot of Quads do still exist and work. That is PROVEN quality. Electronic switches and remote didn't exist at that time.

If you compare my latest Quad 33 (brought last week) The perfect sound is still there. Not that 'clean' sound you get from some new quality amplifiers. (Cambridge Audio is my preferred choice).

The annoyance of DIN plugs and the modifications needed for connecting an iPod or a CD-player does exist now. But eBay is your friend in this.

Do better Pre/End-amplifiers exist?
Yes, definitively. My eye opener was an Arcam 6 plus. The phone amplifier is astonishing compared to an Quad 33. But will it last as long as my Quad 33? Probably not.
My Quad will be refurbished soon!

Compared Amplifiers:
Quad 34, Quad 44, Leak, Amstrong, Revox 75, Sony SE, Philips, Pioneer, Akai, Harman Kardon, Arcam.

Tiny, works well, apparently bombproof.

None that I ever found.

This pre-amp gets a very bad press in Audiophoolia. For the life of me, I could never figure out why. I once tried to improve matters by adding the replacement boards of Net Audio (a small UK operation whose services I cannot recommend highly enough), and it made no difference. The only reason I no longer use it is that I acquired a Quad 44. However, anyone wanting an amp for a second system should look no further than the classic 33/303 combo.

Customer Service

After 27 years' ownership, still haven't needed any

Similar Products Used:

Quad 44

Classic design, collectable.
Small footprint.

Loads, really poor build when you compare it with a quality machine.

You see these a lot on EBay. going for BIG money as a collectable.
Of course they make a great match for the excellent 303 power amp.

BUT if you have any choice wait for a 44 or as I have a 34.
The 33 was built as a modular unit and uses some very dodgy push fit circuit boards. Even though these are gold plated they wobble and can cause significant problems.
This wobble is exacerbated by the mechanical push selectors. Separation between sources is not too good, I have frequently heard the radio over the phono.
Significant adaptation is required to connect a CD which will blow it’s mind. The 33 also uses very odd Din plugs on the interconnects, really awful to fix and brew up, prone to movement and crossover too. Remember those buzzes and booms that is what you get with a Quad 33.

Nice design, classic shape but now a museum piece and best left unconnected.

Customer Service

Load now, Quad still building and there are a lot of service agents around.

Similar Products Used:

Quad 34 ( with 303 amp)
Technics SU V450 integrated amp.