PA-One The QUAD PA-One is a highly versatile, user-friendly headphone and preamplifier. It combines classic quad valve topology with a modern selection of digital inputs and outputs for low and high impedance headphones too. With classic QUAD styling and life-like sound quality, the PA-One is perfect for enjoying music personally via your laptop as well as being an integral pre-amp in a larger hi-fi system too.
The landscape of how consume and listen to music has radically changed. Over-ear headphones have seen a massive rise in popularity and that’s because put simply - they sound better than ever. With over-ear headphones, bigger is better. Larger drivers, larger headband, more detail, a wider frequency response and all-around better performance - you can finally enjoy a high-end hi-fi sound in a completely personal experience.
However, there’s one weak link. The devices enjoying digital music collections with cannot perform to the same high standard. While ultra-thin laptops and super-fast computers are a more than a convenient host for online streaming services, unfortunately, their headphone inputs are not equally matched.
The QUAD PA-One, however, is dedicated to achieving the best possible sound quality of any set of headphones connected to it.
A whole host of connections, both analogue and digital-driven by hi-fi amplifier valves bring an exciting detail to your music.
With a nod to Peter Walker’s styling and topology of his original valve amplification and superior quality from aesthetics to audio make a truly exquisite amplifier. The sound is full of life, yet without the unwanted colouration, many would expect from such amplifiers. The genuine heritage of QUAD has been preserved with all the features to enjoy modern audio mediums.
The history of Quad is one of technical achievement in the field of sound reproduction. It is a story that began with the Quad 1 amplifier, which brought the benefits of 15 years knowledge and experience in professional audio and industrial products to the task of making the most accurate domestic audio amplifier of its age.A few years later, in 1953, the product which set the standard for amplifiers was the Quad II Power Amplifier, the time of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation and the year in which Mount Everest was finally conquered. This amplifier pioneered the principle of cathode coupling through the output transformer to reduce harmonic distortion to almost negligible levels. Such was its clear superiority that this model remained in production for 18 years. Three years later, in 1956, Quad demonstrated the first true full-range electrostatic loudspeaker. This remarkable product (known later as the ESL 57) used a virtually mass-less plastic film as a moving diaphragm between two charged plates. Compared with moving coil loudspeakers, the ESL 57 was free of unwanted colourations and distortions. This landmark product remained in production, virtually unchanged, for 28 years.
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