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The QUAD 3CDT is a dedicated CD Transport designed to deliver uncompromising digital performance in its purest form. Crafted as the natural companion to the QUAD 3, this new model embodies QUAD’s philosophy of “the closest approach to the original sound.” By focusing solely on the mechanics of disc retrieval and data integrity, the QUAD 3CDT strips away unnecessary circuitry to achieve class-leading accuracy, ensuring that every note is reproduced with absolute precision.
Housed in a sleek, compact chassis, the QUAD 3CDT’s understated styling and classic detailing perfectly echoes the QUAD 3’s timeless aesthetic. More than just seamless in aesthetic terms, when combined with the QUAD 3’s DAC architecture, this CD transport offers a listening experience that is as refined as it is faithful.
Key Features
- High-precision CD mechanism
- Custom-designed CD servo control system
- Separate motor and laser servo circuits
- High-performance 32-bit RISC CPU for robust error correction
Accuracy and Integrity
At the heart of the QUAD 3CDT lies a high-precision CD mechanism and custom-designed CD servo control system, delivering exceptional disc reading accuracy and stability. Every detail of the laser assembly and servo control system has been optimised to minimise read errors, jitter, and distortion, preserving the integrity of the original CD signal.
Unlike conventional CD players, the QUAD 3CDT is designed purely as a transport. By its very design, a CD Transport embodies the QUAD mantra – the closest approach…
Its sole task is to deliver a pristine signal — exceptionally clean with minimal interference or unwanted processing. This singular focus ensures the highest fidelity connection to the QUAD 3’s state-of-the-art DAC, unlocking the full musical potential encoded on every disc.
QUAD engineers have redesigned the internal power architecture to isolate critical digital pathways — separating the motor and laser servo circuits from the decoder stage that retrieves the digital audio signal. By preventing interference at the source, the decoder receives a cleaner, more stable data stream before it is synchronised and formatted.
A temperature-controlled ultra-low-jitter crystal oscillator (TCXO) provides the master clock for the entire servo/decoder section. Powered from its own independent low-noise supply and grounding scheme, it acts as a rock-solid timing reference. This ensures that the extracted SPDIF digital output is stable and free from timing distortion — delivering audibly cleaner transients, tighter imaging and greater musical coherence.
Three independent low-noise voltage regulator circuits are dedicated to the CD servo, ensuring clean and stable operation. In addition, the TCXO clock circuit is powered by an ultra-low noise linear regulator, minimising power supply-induced jitter and improving overall sonic purity.
In support of these advancements, the advanced CD Servo & Control Architecture is engineered with a robust dual-core processing framework, featuring a high-performance 32-bit RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) CPU and a dedicated MCU. This configuration ensures precision in servo control, disc access and reliable, robust error correction.
QUAD 3 Synergy
While the QUAD 3CDT will integrate seamlessly into any high-quality digital system, it is purpose-built to complement the QUAD 3’s DAC. Together, they form a complete solution that sets a new benchmark for CD playback.
The synergy between transport and DAC ensures a signal chain of remarkable purity. By offloading digital-to-analogue conversion to the QUAD 3, the 3CDT eliminates potential sources of electrical noise and distortion, ensuring the DAC operates at its full potential. This partnership delivers a soundstage of exceptional depth, clarity, and musicality - not to mention a striking look that only a QUAD system can bring.
Who is Quad?
Quad is a highly renowned manufacturer of quality hifi electronics and loudspeakers, having developed award-winning audiophile-standard products standard for over 80 years, their highly acclaimed reputation is well-earned. The company originally built speakers for public addresses, moving onto domestic hifi following the end of the war. The first commercially available products were the Quad 22 Pre-amp and Quad II Monoblock Power Amplifiers, both of which were on the market for ten years to great success.
Quad now develop a wide range of hifi products at varying price points, such as the S Series, Z Series, Electrostatic Series of loudspeakers and accompanying amplifier ranges the Vena and QII Series. Quad also built a range of Active Loudspeakers. Quad continue to win the hearts of critics and consumers alike with each release and each product bears the same original design philosophy set out by founder Peter J. Walker; to design and engineer a product that offers 'the most accurate' sound response for the best price.
Specifications
| Model | QUAD 3CDT |
| General description | CD transport |
| Design philosophy and core technology | Compatible with CD/CD-R/CD-RW Illuminated display 10.9 x 159mm large size full view LCD screen Remote control functionality |
| Digital output amplitude | 500 +/-50mVpp |
| Output impedance | 75Ω |
| Frequency response | -0.01 dB (20Hz-20kHz, ref 1 kHz) |
| Sampling Rate | 44.1kHz |
| Digital output interface | 1 x Coaxial, 1 x Optical |
| Standby power consumption | <0.5W |
| Power requirements (according to region) | 220-240V - 50/60Hz 100-120V - 50/60Hz |
| Product size W x H x D(mm) | 300 x 300 x 101mm |
| Carton size W x H x D(mm) | 420 x 366 x 215mm |
| Net weight | 5.37kg |
| Gross weight | 7kg |
UK Delivery
Providing your item is in stock, the order is usually dispatched within 24 hours. Postage and packing is completely free for orders over £99*. Out of stock items will be dispatched as soon as they become available, which can take between 4 to 21 days
UK Delivery orders are sent via our couriers' DPD Local on a next-day-delivery service and usually take between 1 and 3 days.
Local Delivery
Certain manufacturers disallow mail order for their products, however a local delivery may be possible.
We offer a local delivery service for a large number of our products. After your order has been placed, a member of the Hifi Gear team will contact you to arrange a convenient date and time for your local, personal delivery.
Click & Collect
We offer a free ‘Click & Collect’ service on all items. As soon as your order has been completed and is ready for collection a member of our team will be in contact with you. Orders can be collected from our store at 11 King Street, Hereford, HR4 9BW.
Please use this link to find more detailed delivery information or contact us for more details
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