The QUAD Platina Stream: Where Heritage Meets High-Resolution Streaming £2,995

In the world of high-end audio, few moments match the satisfaction of hearing a familiar track revealed in stunning new detail. At Martins Hi-Fi, we've spent decades helping Norwich music lovers experience these revelatory moments, and the QUAD Platina Stream represents one of the most compelling ways to unlock the full potential of today's digital music landscape.

A Streaming Revolution Built on Nine Decades of Excellence

QUAD has been crafting exceptional audio equipment since the 1930s, and their Platina Stream network player brings this heritage firmly into the streaming age. What sets this flagship streamer apart isn't just its impressive specification sheet—though the ES9038 Pro DAC at its heart is genuinely reference-grade—but rather how it transforms the often-frustrating world of digital music into something effortlessly elegant.

The magic begins with that ESS Sabre ES9038 Pro DAC, an eight-channel converter that delivers the kind of performance typically found in standalone DACs costing several thousand pounds. Dual precision master clocks ensure vanishingly low jitter, while support for PCM up to 768kHz and native DSD512 means you're future-proofed for whatever high-resolution formats emerge. But here's what really matters: whether you're streaming a beloved Spotify playlist or exploring pristine DSD recordings, the Platina Stream renders each with remarkable musicality and engagement.

Seamless Integration, Exceptional Sound

What truly elevates the Platina Stream above the crowded streamer market is its comprehensive ecosystem approach. Native integration with Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and Qobuz Connect means you control playback directly from the apps you already know and love—no learning curve, no compromises. For those invested in Roon's sophisticated music management system, full Roon Ready certification ensures flawless integration with multi-room setups and DSP capabilities.

The purposefully designed QUAD Platina app deserves special mention. Running on iOS or Android, it transforms your tablet or phone into an intelligent command centre, cataloguing network shares, USB drives, and streaming services into one unified library. The quad-core ARM Cortex processor, running at 1.8GHz per core, provides the computational muscle to navigate thousands of albums without a hint of lag. It's the kind of responsive, intuitive experience that makes rediscovering your music collection genuinely enjoyable.

Engineering Excellence You Can Hear

Beneath its elegant exterior, the Platina Stream showcases meticulous engineering. Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs deliver reference-grade signals to any amplifier, while digital outputs preserve the pure digital stream for those preferring external DAC solutions. The substantial 11.8kg chassis, complete with side-mounted heatsinks, ensures stable operation and freedom from mechanical resonance.

The 4.3-inch IPS display offers multiple viewing modes—from artwork-focused browsing to classic VU meters that add a touch of nostalgia to your listening sessions. And with both Gigabit Ethernet and dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity, you can position the Platina Stream wherever it works best in your system without compromising on network stability.

Why Premium Streaming Makes Sense

At Martins Hi-Fi, we often meet customers who question whether a dedicated streamer can really outperform a laptop or budget streaming solution. The answer becomes immediately apparent during a demonstration. The Platina Stream eliminates the noise, dropouts, and complexity inherent in computer-based audio. It offers instant-on convenience, silent operation, and sound quality that reveals layers of detail and emotional engagement you simply won't achieve with compromised solutions.

Consider this: you've likely invested significantly in your amplification and speakers. These components deserve a source that can fully exploit their capabilities. The Platina Stream ensures that whether you're exploring new releases on Qobuz or revisiting cherished albums from your NAS drive, you're hearing them at their absolute best.

The Martins Hi-Fi Difference

Since opening our doors in Norwich, we've built our reputation on combining exceptional products with genuinely knowledgeable service. The Platina Stream exemplifies why this matters. Network audio can be daunting—configuring routers, optimising streaming services, integrating with existing systems—but our team makes it effortless. We'll demonstrate the Platina Stream with your preferred music services, help optimise your network for flawless performance, and ensure seamless integration with your current system.

Our demonstration rooms allow you to experience the Platina Stream's transformative effect on familiar music. Bring your favourite tracks; we'll show you details and dynamics you've never noticed before. And with competitive part-exchange options available, upgrading to this level of streaming performance might be more accessible than you imagine.

An Investment in Musical Discovery

The QUAD Platina Stream represents more than just another streaming device—it's a gateway to rediscovering your entire music collection while embracing the vast possibilities of modern streaming services. Its combination of reference-grade conversion, comprehensive connectivity, and intuitive control creates an experience that makes exploring music as enjoyable as listening to it.

In our experience at Martins Hi-Fi, the right streaming solution doesn't just play music; it reconnects you with why you fell in love with music in the first place. The Platina Stream achieves this with remarkable consistency, whether you're streaming a jazz quartet from Tidal, spinning high-resolution files from your NAS, or simply enjoying BBC Radio 3 through TuneIn.

Visit our Norwich showroom to discover how the QUAD Platina Stream can transform your listening experience. Our specialists will guide you through its capabilities, demonstrate its sonic advantages, and help determine how it might elevate your system. Book your personal consultation today—because life's too short for compromised sound quality.

Call us on 01603 627010 or email info@martinshifi.co.uk to arrange your demonstration.

At Martins Hi-Fi, we've been helping Norwich audiophiles achieve their perfect sound since our founding. The QUAD Platina Stream continues this tradition—combining cutting-edge streaming technology with the timeless values of musical integrity and exceptional service that define both QUAD and our approach to high-end audio.