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Heed Audio Quasar III MM/MC Phono Preamplifier

Reference:
2972
Condition:
New

Power Supply is not included. This device must be purchased together with Heed Q-PSU

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€647.54
Available for immediate shipping.

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Description
The signal processing of cartridges is one of the most delicate jobs in amplification. All the more so because it isn’t done merely by boosting a few hundred microvolts to a few hundred millivolts. In fact, at this thousandfold amplification (60 dB) the signal must be processed as cleanly and noise-free as possible. The extremely low signal level and the frequency-dependent amplification which arises from the RIAA equalisation curve applied in the cutting of LPs make the highest demands of the circuit topology and technical realisation of a phono preamplifier.

Our award-winning QUASAR phono stage, with its discrete conception and wide range of features, meets the requirements of even top-class turntable/cartridge combinations without being “unreasonable” in the usual high-end fashion.

The QUASAR is built in dual-mono configuration from the power supply upwards. There are two separate amplifier stages for MM and MC cartridges, both being fed from their own regulated power supply arrangement. Optimum adjustments to the MC cartridge in use can be applied for sensitivity and load by various settings of the jumpers on the PCB. The two separate outputs with different output levels make it possible to fine match for preamps or recorders.

The output stage has huge headroom at extremely low noise levels and, due to its low output impedance and high current delivery, can drive long interconnect cables without any sonic degradation.

The enhanced power supply of the QUASAR, the Q-PSU that also can be used as power supply upgrade with other components, is based around a 50 VA toroidal transformer with low-density magnetic field and very little dispersion. This power, together with a fine voltage regulation system, can feed the circuit with the kind of super-clean current usually delivered only by battery-based supplies, even with extreme dynamic swings.

Key Features:

  • Separate MM and MC input stages

  • Adjustable MC gain and impedance via jumpers

  • Fully discrete bipolar transistor design

  • External and upgradeable power supply (Q-PSU)

  • Dual outputs (High/Low) for flexible integration

  • Output stage with wide headroom and ultra-low noise


Technical Specifications:

  • Inputs: 1x MM / 1x MC

  • Outputs: 1x 0 dBm (High) / 1x -10 dBm (Low)

  • Frequency Response: 3 Hz – 150 kHz

  • Input Sensitivity (MC): 100 / 330 / 600 µV

  • Input Impedance (MC): 100 / 470 / 1000 Ω

  • Input Sensitivity (MM): 2.5 mV

  • Input Impedance (MM): 47 kΩ

  • Gain: 50 dB (MM) / 62 – 78 dB (MC)

  • RIAA Accuracy: ±0.5 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)

  • Power Supply Options: Q-PSU (included), Obelisk PX, Thesis Pi

  • Dimensions (W x H x D): 9.5 x 7.5 x 22 cm

Heed Audio at a glance

Heed Audio is not just another hi-fi electronics manufacturer with British audio heritage in its DNA — it is a manifesto of authenticity, passion, and independent vision. Founded in Hungary, the brand stands out for its radically human approach to sound reproduction. In a market so often dominated by numbers, measurements, and technological catchphrases, Heed chooses a different path: that of the listening experience as an absolute value.

Every Heed product is designed to serve the music, not the machine. The amplifiers, DACs, and external power supplies are built according to a philosophy that places musicality, tonal coherence, and natural soundstaging at the very centre. There are no gimmicks — just tonal integrity and emotional balance that recall the finest British electronics of the golden era, reimagined with elegance, craftsmanship, and a modern spirit.

And that’s exactly where it all began — with one defining example:

In the 1980s, those who brought home an ION Obelisk experienced something rare and precious: the feeling of having discovered one of hi-fi’s best-kept secrets. It wasn’t a flashy amplifier, nor did it shout its specifications. But from the very first listen, many enthusiasts realised that something extraordinarily musical was happening.

Here’s what it felt like:

  • A sense of wonder: at how such a compact device could drive even demanding speakers with such ease and refinement.

  • Emotion: because the Obelisk didn’t impress through brute power, but through its ability to tell the story of music — with fluidity, dynamic range, and a sense of timing reminiscent of valve amplifiers.

  • Deep satisfaction: the kind that comes from extended listening sessions, free of fatigue, drawn into a sound that keeps you there.

  • A sense of uniqueness: because owning an Obelisk meant making a choice that went against the grain — a commitment to musical substance over passing trends.

In short, those who welcomed such a device into their home discovered an amplifier that didn’t try to dazzle with figures or appearance, but that won them over gradually, listen after listen, by speaking directly to the heart.

And on this front, Heed Audio makes no compromises. It doesn’t follow fashion. It’s not made for everyone. But those who discover it rarely look back. Because listening with Heed isn’t about technical showmanship — it’s about returning to music as a deep, living, and emotionally resonant experience.

If you’re seeking the soul of soundHeed is a name worthy of your attention — and your respect.

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