Quad 306 Power Amplifier
The Quad 306 was a highly underrated solid state amplifier introduced by Quad primarily to power the Quad 10L bookshelf loudspeakers which at the time were Quad’s only dymamic loudspeakers on sale and also their first as well, although strictly speaking they were an Spendor OEM design rebadged by Quad.
First launched in 1987, the Quad 306 Power Amplifier was a 50 watts per channel rated amplifier that basically resembled a Quad 405 sliced in half. The Quad 306 was a very solid amplifier that was beautifully built, although minimilist in looks very much followed the design looks of older Quad amplifiers. Unlike the Quad 405 which has a huge power supply under it’s bonnet, the Quad 306 Power Amplifier used a large torridial transformer which although very poweful was only a couple of inches in height meaning the designers at Quad could build an amplifier that was much slimmer nad more compact than any of its predecessors.
The Quad 306 Power Amplifier won praise from many camps as being more than a capable perfomer and although primarily designed for the Quad 10L loudspeaker and not any of the Quad electrostatic range, many Quad owners did indeed partner the Quad 306 Power Amplifier with electrostatic loudspeakers and with success although the bigger more powerful Quad 606 Power Amplifier was the ideal and optimised choice for the electrostatic loudspeakers at the time.
The Quad 306 Power Amplifier was in production until 1997 before being withdrawn after nearly 25,000 units being sold. Like all Quad amplifiers, the Quad 306 Power Amplifier was built to last and a large proportion of that 25,000 are still in service today and regularly change hands on ebay.
Not the best Quad amplifier ever made and not as popular with enthusiasts as the Quad 303 or the Quad 405, it is still a very good amplifier.
Quad 306 Power Amplifier Specification
Power Output: 50 Watts per channel into 8 ohms
Distortion: < 0.003%
Hum and noise: -105dB
Input connectors: RCA phono sockets
Input Sensitivity: 0.375v
Speaker Terminals: 4mm banana plug sockets
Voltage: 220-240 V (UK)
Overload Protection : Yes (Resettable via push button at the back of the amplifier)
Additional Mains Output : YES (IEC socket)
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:24 pm
The Quad 306 was designed with the Quad ESL63 in mind, Quad’s only speaker at the time, long before the 10L speakers were introduced. In fact, in their brochure Quad recommended the 306 for “the vast majority of domestic systems”, adding that the 606 “provides enough power for the largest and most demanding systems”. They say “the Quad 306 and 606 use identical circuit designs and the only difference between them is their power output.” In 1994 the Quad 306 retailed at £350 inc VAT, the 606 at £690.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Russell’s spot on with this one. I bought it to power our 63’s at the time- the 10L didn’t exist yet. Now I use it to drive our 988’s. Installed the dada electronic modifications (new op amp, capacitors, and output connectors). Sounds great.
Pretty sure the 606 would have put the 63’s in the arcing and sparking mode.