Quad
Manufacturers of high-end audio equipment, particularly amplifiers and electrostatic speakers
1936 Peter Walker founded the Acoustical Manufacturing Co
Worked on professional audio and industrial products
Early 1950s: Quad 1 amplifier launched, an advanced domestic audio amplifier. The term Quad stood for: Quality unit, Amplifier, Domestic.
1953 Quad II Power Amplifier released; remained in production for 18 years.
1956 Demonstrated the first true full-range electrostatic loudspeaker which gave a sound free of unwanted colourations and distortions. Remained in production, virtually unchanged, for 28 years.
1967 Quad introduced its first transistorised amplifier - 33/303.
1975 Launched the 405 amplifier.
1978 Queen's Award for Technological Achievement for the 405.
1981 ESL 63 electrostatic loudspeaker with two sets of concentric annular electrodes fed through sequential delay lines.
Products included amplifiers, tuners, loudspeakers and CD players.
1994 77 Series was introduced, a fully integrated sound system with a two-way remote control.
Early 1990s: Verity Group acquired Quad, Leak and Wharfedale.
1996 Management buyout.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Quad site [1]