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View Full Version : Quad 22 control unit? What it is? Is it Stereo preamp?


RoboCopper
09-02-2014, 18:46
Hi,

What is Quad 22? Tube preamp?

How it works? how do you connect to the mains?

Is it stereo? Can you connect any new modern CD player/DAC without problems in Stereo?

How it sounds?

Any info is helpful.
topoxforddoc
09-02-2014, 18:54
Rob,

The Quad 22 is a 60s design valve pre-amp, which most people used with a pair of Quad IIs. The mains socket on the back is an old Bulgin two round pin male socket. You will need a two pin Bulgin plug on the end of your mains lead. If you are not using Quad IIs, which are powered by the pair of flying leads (blue and yellow) at the back of the 22, then you could take one of the two pin power plugs off and wire it to your own mains cable. You will see a pair of blue and yellow leads. The 6 pin plug is Jones plug, which acts as the signal lead from the pre-amp to the power amp. You can buy Jones plug adapters for about GBP25 a pair from **ay and other sources.
RoboCopper
09-02-2014, 19:04
No, I dont have Quad IIs. I would like to use it with present day poweramps and DACs.
How to connect normal stereo DAC?
Also do I need power supply unit?
Firebottle
10-02-2014, 07:51
An excellent source of technical info on Quad gear is here http://www.keith-snook.info/quad-22-pre-amplifier.html

This is the Quad 22 page.
You need a separate power supply if you are not connecting to Quad II power amplifiers.
The mains socket is only to enable the mains to be switched via the preamp.

Cheers,
Alan
RoboCopper
10-02-2014, 08:28
Thanks Alan,
But can you connect stereo CD player? I can only see some kind of mono input.

Also how much are they worth it to be considered as bargain? Is £150 good value price?

Cheers
Macca
10-02-2014, 10:12
It is a stereo pre amp but I think it uses some ancient connector system that runs both channels into the same socket. So you would need a special interconnect making up. I doubt Maplins sell them. Also you might have issues with the input voltage of a CD player being too high as nothing in those days output at such a high level. But I am guessing there.

Personally I think it is just a curio and not something you would want to use with modern kit but no doubt someone will think otherwise. Value would really only be to a collector or someone running QUAD II power amps. I have a couple of valve mono pre-amps from the same era, can't give them away.
hifi_dave
10-02-2014, 10:13
As stated above, the 22 pre-amp is powered from the matching II power-amp and NOT by the mains. If you want to use the 22 separately, you will need to build a separate power supply.

The 22 can be used with modern CD players.
walpurgis
10-02-2014, 10:56
Old British valve pre-amps are collectors items and not something I would want in a modern system. Having owned and used the Quad, Leak and Rogers variants (amongst others) I know what they sound like. The power amps of the sixties and seventies are still worth using if fettled properly, but not the pre-amps in my opinion. They just don't sound that good.
RoboCopper
10-02-2014, 19:24
So buying one in good condition for £150 is not a good deal?
Bearing in mind I would love to use it as rather main preamp (would refresh it or put better valves, even possible upgrade).
loo
10-02-2014, 19:34
I would not bother with the Quad 22 pre unless I had the Matching Quad II power amps £150 is a lot for an amp that will cost you at least another £200 to build a power supply just to get it working then It will still need work Like upgrading the phono sockets ,Even with a pair of Quad II power amps it doesn't sound that good. Get a Radford if you want a decent vintage valve preamp
Paul
Barry
10-02-2014, 19:36
I would not bother with the Quad 22 pre unless I had the Matching Quad II power amps £150 is a lot for an amp that will cost you at least another £200 to build a power supply just to get it working then It will still need work Like upgrading the phono sockets ,Even with a pair of Quad II power amps it doesn't sound that good. Get a Radford if you want a decent vintage valve preamp
Paul

The Radford (SC22 or SC22P) is no better - all of the '60s preamps sound equally dated.
walpurgis
10-02-2014, 19:54
So buying one in good condition for £150 is not a good deal?
Bearing in mind I would love to use it as rather main preamp (would refresh it or put better valves, even possible upgrade).

It wasn't long ago, you couldn't give the damn things away. Now they are fetching a bit (far too much) just because they are vintage and people think they may be 'a bit special'. They're not!

I'd describe their sound as unfocused and limp myself. As has been said, it's not a plug & play item. All the messing about to get one up and running is pointless.
loo
10-02-2014, 20:08
The Radford (SC22 or SC22P) is no better - all of the '60s preamps sound equally dated.

Yep wont argue with you Barry ,its been years since I've heard one
Paul
RoboCopper
10-02-2014, 21:10
It wasn't long ago, you couldn't give the damn things away. Now they are fetching a bit (far too much) just because they are vintage and people think they may be 'a bit special'. They're not!

I'd describe their sound as unfocused and limp myself. As has been said, it's not a plug & play item. All the messing about to get one up and running is pointless.

Yes, it makes perfect sense.....will go cheap with Matisse preamp probably for peanuts :)
walpurgis
10-02-2014, 21:15
Yes, it makes perfect sense.....will go cheap with Matisse preamp probably for peanuts :)

If you really fancy something vintage, go for early seventies Japanese made pre-amps. Maybe Harman Kardon or Luxman etc. and spend some money on a full service/refurb. Then you'd likely have something that sounds worthwhile, probably with a decent phono stage too.
istari_knight
10-02-2014, 21:45
If you really fancy something vintage, go for early seventies Japanese made pre-amps. Maybe Harman Kardon or Luxman etc. and spend some money on a full service/refurb. Then you'd likely have something that sounds worthwhile, probably with a decent phono stage too.

HK Citation 11 is one such. I only sold mine as UPS gave it a massive scuff along the fascia before delivering which annoyed me every time I looked at it ! Sounded lovely though.
RoboCopper
11-02-2014, 08:13
Isnt HK Citation 11 integrated amp too?

I think I will go with this one to start with, any experiences?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220772711672&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123
walpurgis
11-02-2014, 11:33
I think I will go with this one to start with, any experiences?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220772711672&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123

Yes, I've seen those. It limits you to one line level input, but may sound OK. I've had quite a few Chinese/HK bits in the past and they've been decent enough.
istari_knight
11-02-2014, 17:09
Isnt HK Citation 11 integrated amp too?

I think I will go with this one to start with, any experiences?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220772711672&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123

No, it just has a high level loop-through for the headphone output.

Another idea if your power amp works ok with passive pre's would be to buy a crappy mono valve preamp, scrap the guts & fit a rotary input switch & decent Alps volume pot. You'll have what looks like a vintage pre but with a modern sound.
RoboCopper
11-02-2014, 23:42
But this is preamp, not the headphone preamp. Or they have done some tricks to it?

Anyway, friend of mine have listened to it and he was gob smacked, so he ordered one straight away.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item-img/Free-shipping-HIFI-Stereo-Audio-Amplifier-Buffer-6N3-Tube-Preamp-AMP-Matisse-Kit-transformer-220V-or/630560563.html