By incorporating Play-Fi within the Artera Solus one-box hi-fi system, Quad adds hi-res Wi-Fi streaming and multi-room capabilities meet the remarkably versatile Artera Solus Play

Quad, the distinguished British audio brand, is launching a new version of the acclaimed Artera Solus just add speakers single-chassis hi-fi system, adding network streaming to the multi-tasking mix.

The new Artera Solus Play offers every facility modern-day music lovers could wish for hi-res streaming via Wi-Fi and Ethernet cable, the ability to form part of a synchronised wireless multi-room system, Bluetooth reception, CD playback, full DAC and preamp faculties for other audio devices and powerful stereo amplification, all packed into a single, elegant chassis.

From listening to internet radio and online streaming services, to playing your treasured CD collection, to connecting external source components via digital and analogue inputs, the Artera Solus Play offers the perfect compact system solution coupling cutting-edge versatility with the exemplary sound quality one expects of Quad. A streamers dream

The Artera Solus Plays Wi-Fi networking is powered by DTS Play-Fi: an app-controlled platform enabling high-quality, whole-home wireless audio, capable of streaming hi-res music up to 24-bit/192kHz and supported by a greater range of established audio brands than any other wireless platform.

The free Play-Fi app (available for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices, Windows PCs and Apple and Android smartwatches) is an intuitive gateway to a wealth of music services, including Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz, HDtracks, TuneIn, iHeartRadio and SiriusXM. It is also your trusty music butler, able to serve up a streaming library stored on any DLNA-compatible NAS drive or media server on the same home network.

Favourite playlists and radio stations can be assigned as shortcut presets within the app, while Works With Alexa support enables voice-controlled playback when the Artera Solus Play is paired with any Amazon Alexa-equipped device.

Play-Fi supports a wide variety of file formats, including MP3, MP4A, AAC, FLAC, WAV and AIFF. In standard mode, which is optimised for multi-room bandwidth, audio is streamed at up to 16-bit/48kHz akin to CD-quality. By engaging Play-Fis Critical Listening Mode, hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz may be streamed to the Artera Solus Play over Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable, without transcoding or down-sampling.

There are other ways to stream music to the Artera Solus Play wirelessly, other than via the Play-Fi app. Spotify users can connect directly from the Spotify app thanks to Spotify Connect, and you can stream from smartphones and tablets without connecting to the local Wi-Fi network thanks to aptX Bluetooth.

Digital diva
Despite its attractive simplicity, the Artera Solus Play sports cutting-edge sophistication beneath the skin. At its heart nestles the ES9018 Sabre32 Reference, the eminent 32-bit, eight-channel hybrid multi-bit Delta-Sigma DAC chip, expertly implemented by Quads renowned electronics engineers. External sources benefit from this DACs exceptional quality via a range of digital inputs, handling PCM data up to 32-bit/384kHz as well as DSD64/128/256. This ensures the Artera Solus Play is equipped to make the most of todays hi-res music formats, as well as future advances in ultra-high-definition digital sound.

For CD replay, a slot-loading mechanism buffers data from the disc before feeding it to the asynchronous DAC section. Four digital filter options enable users to tailor the sound from both CDs and external digital sources, to suit personal taste and the nature of the source material.

Amp it up
The Artera Solus Plays preamp and power amp stages incorporate balanced circuitry, short and direct signal paths and high-quality components to preserve sonic purity. Volume is adjusted in the analogue domain under microprocessor control, outputting directly to the dual-mono Class AB power amp stage which delivers 2x75W into eight ohms. To minimise distortion, the power supplies for the left and right channels are isolated from each other as well as from the rest of the system.

The discrete power amp circuits output stage uses a CFB (Complementary Feedback) topology in combination with conventional emitter follower circuitry. The CFB stage offers superior linearity and ensures excellent thermal stability, as the idle current is kept independent of the temperature of the output transistors. Using an emitter follower in combination with the CFB stage is an efficient way of increasing the current ability of the amplifier without compromising the advantages of the CFB circuit.

Having the emitter follower deliver additional current only when needed allows for a simpler current-limiting arrangement, which can be voltage independent. Current limiting is under microprocessor control and programmed to allow the amplifier to supply high currents (+/- 15A) into complex loads, surpassing amplifiers that are bigger and more powerful on paper. A 300VA toroidal transformer supplies the two mono amplifiers using separate secondary windings, followed by 2x15000uF reservoir capacity per channel (60000uF in total).
Much effort has gone into the physical layout of the Artera Solus Plays circuitry, with independent low-noise power supplies feeding all critical stages to keep interference to a minimum. The result is a performance on par with much more expensive multi-component hi-fi systems detailed, natural, expansive and dynamic in line with Quads continuing quest to deliver the closest approach to the original sound.

Get connected
Cable connectivity options are plentiful. Six digital inputs two coaxial, two optical, USB
Type B and Ethernet cater for external digital sources (theres also a USB Type A socket for software updates) while a pair of RCA inputs handle analogue sources. Analogue outputs are supplied in both single-ended RCA and balanced XLR varieties, with the four-channel volume control preserving the balanced signal path from the DAC to the XLR output. A pair of high-quality speaker binding posts, optical and coaxial digital outputs, a 12V trigger output and a front-mounted jack coupled to a dedicated headphone amp circuit complete a comprehensive connectivity array.

Design icon
Despite its versatility, the Artera Solus Play shares the same compact 32x32cm footprint as every Quad Artera Series component, sporting a crisp, clean aesthetic that both evokes Quads past and looks forward to the future. The housing provides a rigid structure that exudes quality and resists interference from external vibrations, with a textured aluminium front panel, inlayed glass top and CNC-routed heat sinks on either side. The sleek appeal of Artera Series components is further enhanced by intuitive touch-sensitive controls built into their circular OLED displays; a fully featured remote control is also provided.

The original Artera Solus launched in late 2018 and was a great test of ingenuity for Quads design team, as lead electronics engineer Jan Ertner recalled. Ive been involved with the design of Quad electronics for more than 25 years and was determined that our first all-in-one system should not be a compromise. It was a real challenge to make the individual parts CD transport, DAC, analogue preamp and power amp perform to the level of a full separates system in keeping with Quads high standards, all packed into a single Artera Series chassis.

Ertner continued, We have revisited this challenge to create the Artera Solus Play, adding full network streaming to an already comprehensive list of premium-quality ingredients. Placement of circuit components has been especially critical, together with careful routing of the four-layer printed circuit board, use of balanced circuitry to minimise interference and extensive power supply isolation.

This painstaking design process has resulted in the perfect all-in-one system component for modern times, maintaining Quads distinguished tradition of hi-fi sound quality that stretches back almost 85 years. Extensive streaming options; legacy CD playback; high-performance DAC/preamp circuitry for external sources; powerful and precise power amplification. Just add a high-quality pair of speakers Quads excellent S Series and Z Series models are ideal and the result is a superbly capable and versatile audio system in an elegantly compact form, with a sound that is both powerfully expressive and exquisitely refined.

Technical Specifications

Manufacturer Site

• Quad