Quad 303/33

Can anyone provide insight into the reconditioned Quad 303/33 combo. I have a set, but they need work. I'm considering sending them out to be reconditioned to be like new for $189 - the ad is on the auction site. Someone must have experience with these classics and I request your opinions and advice, whether yours have been updated or not. Thanks.

I don't have one, but it looks like a fair deal.

Found this the other day looking for something else

This guy has done some worth while mods to these units

http://www.richardbrice.net/quad33&303.htm

What work do they need? What symptoms are they displaying? Are you handy with a soldering iron? You may get some focussed recommendations from some of the more technically skilled contributors to this site, directed at the specific symptoms and find that you can make some improvements yourself. I have a both a 33/303 and a 33/405 combo. The 303 was improved with the Net-Audio capacitor kit that took out some noisiness especially when switching on, and was a worthwhile exercise, whereas, I improved one of the 33's with a Dada Electronics kit and by comparison with the other one, well there isn't much. If yours need work, then $189.00 to make like new sounds a very good deal. Otherwise, you could probably get audible improvement by cleaning the terminals on the removable boards (sockets also) and making sure that the interconnects are in good condition and of good quality. Couple this with any recommendations from the aforementioned techies and you could save yourself some loot and have some fun. Perhaps I have tin ears or a jaundiced view of things, but that my overall experience with cure all schemes (I have also "kitted" a Hafler DH 101 and the 405) is that the promoters are selling some reasonable components plus a huge amount of hype and self promotion with a very healthy profit margin, and that a more informed and focussed approach could cost much less and yield as good a result. Good luck: I love the Quad amps, but I am not really in love with the 33 preamp.

rabbit said:

Found this the other day looking for something else

This guy has done some worth while mods to these units

http://www.richardbrice.net/quad33&303.htm

Click to expand...

From the above link :

"As you can see, the two-transistor stage is simply transformed into a straightforward emitter-follower; the connections to the tone-controls and any interfering circuitry being broken."

Sorry, but the tone control section of the Quad 33 is what makes this pre-amp so unique.

Junknewbian said:

Can anyone provide insight into the reconditioned Quad 303/33 combo. I have a set, but they need work. I'm considering sending them out to be reconditioned to be like new for $189 - the ad is on the auction site. Someone must have experience with these classics and I request your opinions and advice, whether yours have been updated or not. Thanks.

Click to expand...

I have three 303s therefore I can tell you my personal experience.
The first I purchased is 100% stock and in excellent cosmetic and technical condition. Just the time the amp warms up (about 30 min.) and you can hear that magic, "creamy", "fashinating" sound 303s are famous for.
I then purchased the other two for cheap money in "as is" condition. Good looking amps which needed to be repaired. Therefore I sent them to Net Audio UK for a full upgrade. They now play in a biamped system and I'm really happy with them. They are solid, rigorous performers with no fear of low impedance speakers and ready to play bright and detailed from the first moment you turn them on.:tresbon:

Check this site to better understand what you can obtain from your 303: http://www.net-audio.co.uk/quad303upgrade.html.

The question is what do you expect from a reconditioning job?

If the old fashinating sound takes you in heaven, then I suggest to replace only the essential. The four main electrolytics and the small caps + the trimmers on the driver boards for easier bias and offset voltage calibration. If you want to remove the grainy sound during the first 30 minutes, then you can replace the power supply and rectifier boards because that annoying problem is caused by the obsolete components in the original circuits. These upgrades can be done by yourself, if you have some skill.
Otherwise, if your hope is to have a little monster stable as a rock and with striking PRAT, then you'll better post the amp for the full upgrade. You will be not disappointed...Your choice!! Enjoy!!:thmbsp: