Quad 99 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: The 99 series from Quad includes two CD players, and you'll have trouble distinguishing them from the front. It's another story from the back, as the more expensive 99CD-P adds inputs and other goodies...

Pros: Rises to the challange ofcomplex music

Cons: Loses focus with quieter music

Verdict: Despite its small size, this player revels in big music where its fearless presentation is unhindered by any kind of constriction

Review summary: The four front panel buttons actually manage to operate five switches

Pros: Rises to the challange of complex music

Cons: Loses focus with quieter music

Verdict: This is a player that positively revels in the challenge of a really large-scale piece of music. In fact, the sound actually seems to get better - more solid, more 'present' - as the level and complexity increase. This is a rare situation, though not quit

Review summary: With its blue steel livery and statuesque bulk, the 909 screams 'power!' to anyone who'll listen, while the svelte and sleek 99 will look smart in any company if you want to park its beefy brother out of sight...

Pros: Good value, excellent detail and superb midrange delivery

Cons: Heavy and brutal looking, slight lack of definition at tonal extremes

Verdict: The 99 pre and 909 power amps are obviously designed to work and look best together, though they can of course be partnered with other components quite easily. The 99 offers a remote, built-in phono stage for vinyl junkies and the option of its 'love it o

Review summary: Outfitted with a volume control (operable only from the remote), the 99-CDP is in fact designed to function as a minimalist preamplifier for a digitally-based system comprising DAB tuners, minidisc players, computers, cable or satellite television receive