QUAD have just announced the QUAD Vena II integrated amplifier, with built in DAC and Bluetooth streaming.
Music in the blood
Quad upgrades the versatile Vena integrated amplifier to deliver an even richer specification with pure musicality coursing through its circuits Quad, the distinguished British audio brand, is launching a new version of one of its most popular products of recent years – the Vena integrated amplifier. The new Vena II builds upon the strengths of its predecessor – compact design, a useful range of facilities and thoroughly engaging sound – by adding new features and enhancing sonic performance to form the beating heart of an affordable, high-performance audio system.
The original Vena offered an unusually forward-thinking feature set when it arrived in 2014, offering hi-res USB, optical and coaxial digital inputs in addition to wireless streaming via aptX Bluetooth. Just 313mm wide, the diminutive Vena II maintains the aesthetic of its predecessor – smart and contemporary, yet still distinctly ‘Quad’. A neat row of source-selection buttons and a large, smooth-acting volume control adorn its fascia, tidily proportioned and elegantly functional. The same impressive range of digital and analogue inputs is provided, with the addition of a phono stage to allow the direct connection of a turntable – a facility for which there has been a resurgence of demand in recent years.
Digital developments
Beneath the hood, the Vena II sports significant upgrades. The digital audio circuitry has been improved, the Cirrus Logic DAC chip found in the original Vena replaced by an ES9018K2M from the Sabre32 Reference family. This enables the Vena II to benefit from ESS Technology’s 32-bit HyperStream architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator to deliver ultra-low noise and high dynamic range.
Though technically excellent, Sabre32 Reference DAC chips can be challenging to implement effectively. If the circuitry that surrounds them it is not of a sufficient standard, the resulting sound can seem a little cold and hard; treat them right, however, and the level of musical expression that these chips dig from the digital signal is captivating. One such critical element is the post-DAC active filter; Quad’s design team has paid great attention to this circuit, using op-amps that were specifically chosen for their synergy with the ES9018K2M.
In terms of hi-res file compatibility, the original Vena maxed out at 24-bit/192kHz PCM via USB. The Vena II stretches this to 32-bit/384kHz, alongside DSD (up to DSD256). This ensures the amp is fully equipped to make the most of today’s hi-res music formats, as well as future advances in ultra-high-definition digital sound.
Analogue upgrades
Significant improvements have also been made to the Vena II’s analogue stages. Like the original model, the new amp sports a Class AB power amp section that draws on Quad’s many decades of design experience. Here, though, the power supply has been upgraded, a new 200VA toroidal transformer lying at its heart. This is followed by 2x15000uF reservoir capacity (30000uF in total), helping the amp to maintain firm control of the music whilst enabling excellent dynamic range.
Vinyl lovers will appreciate the addition of a phono stage for moving magnet cartridges – a high-quality, lownoise, JFET-based circuit with precise RIAA equalisation – adding to the Vena II’s already formidable format flexibility.
Headphone users are also better catered for. The original Vena included a headphone output, but this was connected to the amp’s main output stage rather than to a specialised headphone amp circuit. The Vena II incorporates a dedicated headphone amp with current-feedback circuitry, its gain bandwidth and high slew rate delivering a more dynamic, detailed and engaging performance with all manner of headphone types.
The preamp section is kept as simple as possible to maintain signal purity, with line input signals passing to a precision analogue volume stage controlled by a precision, motorised ALPS potentiometer. Much effort has gone into the physical layout of the Vena II’s circuitry, protecting the sensitive preamp section from noise interference. This, plus the use of independent low-noise power supplies for critical stages, helps the Vena II to excel sonically at its price point, even before taking its impressive feature set into account.
The original Vena was praised for its thoroughly engaging sound quality; the Vena II retains this infectious musicality and adds greater resolution and refinement. Crisply defined detail reveals the character of voices and instruments, impressive dynamic range conveys natural impact and the amp’s transient ability keeps feet tapping with rhythmic music. For all its versatility, this is an amp that always puts the music first.
Simply well connected
Simplicity is key to the Vena II’s outward design. Quad’s design team selected Bluetooth wireless streaming, with support for the aptX codec, to ensure easy pairing with all manner of smartphones, tablets, PCs and Macs – expertly implemented to deliver an adroit balance of quality and convenience. The Vena II feels like a traditional hi-fi amplifier, with its uncomplicated front-mounted controls and simple remote, yet its specification is state-of-the-art.
Copious cable connections enhance the amp’s flexibility. Inputs for digital sources comprise asynchronous USB and three S/PDIF sockets (one coaxial and two optical), while digital outputs are provided in optical and coaxial flavours. Analogue signals are catered for by three stereo RCA inputs – two line-level plus the new MM phono input for turntables – while pre-out sockets permit the addition of an external power amplifier.
Vena en vogue
Smart aesthetics are important to today’s music lovers. The Vena II’s small footprint (compared to many amps in its class) allows flexible positioning and ensures the amp slips tidily into a range of environments. The amp‘s dapper design is enhanced by a choice of four finishes: Quad’s classic Lancaster Grey is the standard option, while three premium finishes – Sapele Mahogany, Gloss Black and Gloss White – wrap the Vena II’s aluminium housing in veneered or lacquered wood.
The Vena II is an exceptionally neat and convenient way to bring true high-fidelity sound to the varied nature of modern music collections – from vinyl and CD to digital streaming and hi-res files – via all manner of 4 playback devices. The Lancaster Grey finish has an RRP of £649, while the three premium finish options add £100 to the price tag.
Quad is also offering a specially priced system package, which combines the company’s five-star-rated S-1 compact speakers in Black Oak with the Vena II in Lancaster Grey, for an RRP of £999 – a £150 saving compared to the individual RRPs.
Both the Vena II integrated amplifier and the Vena II/S-1 system pack are available from late November.
SPECIFICATIONS – QUAD VENA II
Preamplifier Section
- Analogue Inputs 2x line-level RCA / 1x MM phono
- Analogue Outputs 1 x RCA (pre-out)
- Analogue Input sensitivity 450mV (line-level) / 4.1mV (MM phono)
- Analogue Input impedance 10kΩ (line-level); 47kΩ / 100pF (MM phono)
- Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz (+/- 0.5dB)
- Total Harmonic Distorion (THD) < 0.002%
- Signal-to-Noise > 110dB (A-weighted)
Power Amplifier Section
- Power Output 2x 45W RMS (8Ω) / 2x 65W RMS (4Ω)
- Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz (+/- 0.5dB)
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) < 0.005% (30W, 8Ω)
- Signal-to-Noise > 108dB (A-weighted)
Digital Section
- DAC Chip ESS Sabre32 ES9018K2M
- Digital Inputs 2x optical; 1x coaxial; 1x USB Type A; aptX Bluetooth
- Max Sampling Frequency – USB 384kHz PCM; DSD256
- Max Sampling Frequency – Optical/Coaxial 192kHz PCM
- Digital Outputs 1x coaxial; 1x optical