QUAD VENA II AMPLIFIER
£699.00
£799.00 – Deluxe with wooden cabinet surround , Gloss black or white , mahogany
£849.00 – Play with DTS Play-fi Streaming platform
Building on the strengths of its predecessor, 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 playback devices.
Vinyl lovers will appreciate the addition of a phono stage for moving magnet cartridges – a high-quality, low-noise, JFET-based circuit with precise RIAA equalisation.
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.
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.
| 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 |
