Quad Artera Pre Analogue Preamplifier Pure Analogue Signal Path The Quad Artera Pre focuses on analogue purity. It drives your front end without any digital inputs, preserving signal integrity. Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA line inputs, plus MM/MC phono inputs, let you connect CD players, turntables and long-standing high-fidelity sources with confidence and style. Precision Inputs and Outputs You get three RCA AUX inputs plus an additional XLR input for balanced sources. Phono MM/MC inputs accommodate vinyl lovers. On the output side, the Pre offers variable PRE OUT (RCA), AUX-fixed RCA, balanced XLR, and a 6.35 mm headphone socket. You sculpt tone and dynamics without compromise. Gain and Sensitivity Control Quad built the Pre with generous gain stages: 8 dB on line/XLR, 53.5 dB for MM phono, 73.5 dB for MC. Input sensitivity suits both loud source gear and low-output cartridges. Headroom remains clean—fully capable of delivering >4 Vrms (RCA) or >8 Vrms (XLR) before distortion enters. Low Distortion, Wide Response Frequency response spans 20 Hz to 20 kHz (±0.2 dB), with Total Harmonic Distortion under 0.002% across the same band. Signal-to-noise ratio beats 110 dB on line/XLR, drops slightly for phono stages, but remains excellent. Channel separation at 10 kHz exceeds 100 dB. Build, Design, and Usability You appreciate the Artera Pre’s substantial weight and dimensions: 7.8 kg and a chassis measuring 320 × 320 × 105 mm. It stays cool under use. Standby draws less than 0.5 W. Volume, balance, input gain, and tilt controls reside in remote and internal settings—front panel remains clean. Feature Details Analogue Inputs 3 × RCA (AUX1, AUX2, AUX3), 1 × XLR balanced, Phono MM / MC Analogue Outputs PRE OUT RCA (variable), AUX fixed RCA, Balanced XLR, 6.35 mm headphone Gain (Max, Volume = 100) 8 dB (Line/XLR), 53.5 dB (Phono MM), 73.5 dB (Phono MC) Input Sensitivity 775 mV (Line/XLR), 4.1 mV (Phono MM), 410 µV (Phono MC) Input Impedance 10 kΩ (Line/XLR), 47 kΩ // 100 pF (Phono MM), 100 Ω // 1.7 nF (MC) Maximum Output Level (THD <0.1%) 2.3 Vrms (RCA), 4.6 Vrms (XLR) Input Headroom 4.1 Vrms RCA / 8.2 Vrms XLR; 62 mV MM / 6.2 mV MC @1 kHz Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.2 dB) Total Harmonic Distortion <0.002 % (20 Hz – 20 kHz) Signal-to-Noise Ratio >110 dB(A) Line/XLR; >80 dB(A) MM; >76 dB(A) MC Channel Separation >100 dB (10 kHz) Output Impedance 120 Ω (RCA), 100 Ω (XLR) Standby Consumption <0.5 W Dimensions (W×D×H) 320 × 320 × 105 mm Weight 7.8 kg
