QUAD Announces The 3CDT Dedicated CD Transport
All Image Credit: QUAD
QUAD of the UK continues to support physical media with the launch of the 3CDT, a dedicated CD transport designed to complement the recently launched QUAD 3 integrated amplifier. The new tray-loading transport retains the 3 Series’ retro styling with a compact 30-cm wide footprint and aesthetics. Finished with a matt silver front panel against a dark grey aluminium enclosure plus an orange-backlit LCD.
This dedicated high precision CD transport is designed to focus on reading discs and extracting data, and then sending the digital signal out via coaxial or optical outputs to an external DAC. QUAD believes that isolating the digital media playback helps to reduce noise and interference. Media playback is compatible with Red Book CD/CD-R and CD-RW, but not SACD. CD’s containing FLAC, WAV, WMA, MP3 and APE files are all supported.
The transport mechanism is controlled by a dedicated microcontroller MCU for servo control and 32-bit RISC CPU. A temperature-controlled crystal oscillator (TCXO) provides the master clock, that is powered by its own linear regulator and grounding system to help reduce jitter. A toroidal transformer with analog power supply keeps noise and magnetic interference to a minimum while the internal layout keeps motor and laser servo circuits away from the decoder stage.
Rear panel signal connectivity includes; S/PDIF coaxial and optical digital outputs plus 3.5mm 12VDC trigger I/O.
Shipping:
Mid December 2025
Specifications:
- 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
- Net weight: 5.37kg
MSRP:
- UK: £599.00
- US: $750 approx.
- EU: €700 approx.
For more information visit the QUAD web site.
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