The company was founded by engineer and inventor Peter Walker in 1936 under the name Acoustical Manufacturing Company and initially specialized in the production of broadcast systems and amplification for them. Later, the company decided to enter the home systems market.
1949
After several years of work, an acoustic system with a ribbon driver was released, which reproduced a range of frequencies inaccessible to others and brought success to Walker's company, which was talked about all over the world. In the same year, the QA/12P integrated amplifier was released - the first commercial home amplifier to use Walker's developments from broadcast systems. From the name of the model, the modern name of the company grew - QUAD (Quality Unit Amplified Domestic).
1951
A significant product for Quad was introduced - QUAD 1, which was the result of the company's ideas and developments over 15 years.
1953
QUAD 1 received a continuation - the QUAD II Power Amplifier model, which became the standard in its class for many years to come and was produced for 18 years. In the Walker amplifier, harmonic distortion was reduced to a minimum, thanks to the pioneering principle of connecting cathodes using a transformer.
1956
QUAD reasserted itself loudly with the release of the world's first full-range electrostatic speaker, the ESL 57. The model was completely free of the unwanted coloration and sound distortion present in coil speakers, and a nearly weightless plastic film was used as a membrane between the anodes. ESL 57 was a watershed moment for the industry. This iconic product remained in production, virtually unchanged, for 28 years.
1950s
An ambitious project with Wharfedale founder Gilbert Briggs was carried out - a series of demonstrations were organized in the UK and US to provide the listener with the opportunity to compare live performance with the capabilities of the equipment, which aroused great interest among the audience. “There is practically no aesthetic difference between the original sound and the reproduced one,” this is what the experts ultimately said about the work done.
1967
The company introduced its own first transistor amplifiers - the QUAD 33/303 preamp/power amplifier combination. The amplifier models completely eliminated the overheating problem that plagued all similar amplifiers from other manufacturers at the time. Two years later, the line was awarded an award from the Design Council for its revolutionary design and appearance.
1975
The company's landmark Quad 405 Current Dumping amplifier was released in 1975 and won the Queen's Award for Technology Excellence, as well as numerous other awards around the world.
1981
A new electrostatic acoustics was released - ESL 63. The design of the model used two sets of ring-shaped emitter electrodes, which, when triggered sequentially, formed a spherical sound wave. The acoustics were capable of producing sound pressure indicators that coincided with the characteristics of a point sound source.
1994
A new line was introduced - the 77 system, the amplifier of which was recognized by EISA as the best in Europe.
1995
QUAD Electroacoustics Ltd was acquired by Verity Group plc, joining the existing Wharfedale and Mission brands. Several changes were made, including moving all production to Shenzhen, China.
1997
In September 1997, the company changed hands again as Verity Group sold the business to finance the development of flat panel loudspeakers. With Wharfedale he became part of the Chinese International Audio Group (IAG) under the leadership of Bernard and Michael Chang.
1999
QUAD launched the successor to the 77 series, the current 99 series, and complemented it with a range of moving horn loudspeakers, the L series and two new electrostatic models, the ESL 988 and ESL 989.
2003
The book "QUAD The Closest Approach" was commissioned, which presented the history of the company from its inception to this point. After Walker's death in 2003, the firm had only its design ethos - "the closest approach to original sound" - like the British hi-fi firm he founded in 1936.
QUAD today
QUAD has become a true legend in the field of audio technology, its solutions and accumulated experience guarantee high quality products and durability, and constant recognition from the market and respect confirm the company's status.
Each product in the current portfolio has received international recognition. Listed here are just a few of the highlights from QUAD's pedigree of technological advancements. However, QUAD has never indulged in technical "single craftsmanship". Technology exists for a purpose, which has remained the same over the years. Reproduce music in a form that is closest to the original.
