Videodrome

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.14 of 5, 7.00 votes

Price Paid:  $549.00 from online retailer

Summary:
At the time of this writing, I have had the Quad 11Ls for about 3 months. In terms of how they meet the glowing reviews that have been bestowed on them, I am glad to say they certainly live up to their reputation. They have few weaknesses. What few there are, are sins of omission. As to their strengths:

First, the speakers image extraordinarily well. In this respect, they remind me of an old, coveted pair of Celestion SL600s. The 11L’s ability to render a wide and deep soundstage for a speaker at this price is simply amazing. Center fill is stunning, particularly on vocals. On a couple of occasions, while listening to two channel music, my wife has commented that she really loved the sound of “the center speaker” (also from the matching L series). I always enjoy seeing her reaction when I tell her it isn’t playing. The image she perceives is coming only from the left and right speakers. There are simply no gaps in the center image. And vocals are dead center. Close your eyes and it’s as if they’re right there singing to you. The speakers simply disappear. Chamber and Jazz music is also very good on the Quads. As to tonal balance, the Quads possess a very smooth midrange, but can be a teeny tiny bit dry on the extreme top end, depending upon associated electronics. I would characterize them as being more neutral than warm. At the same time, they are not analytical, sterile, or cold. They are also amazingly transparent. I have owned electostatics, and the Quads really approximate their level of transparency for a box speaker. Similarly, they are also quite fast in terms of transient response.

Now the less than stellar attributes: As I mentioned, these are sins of omission and are certainly to be expected based on price, cabinet size and the inherent limitations due the size of the drivers. As you would no doubt expect, bass response is the 11L’s Achilles heel -- they simply cannot move the air of a larger floor stander. If that’s a show stopper, look at the 21L or beyond -- I hear that model is quite satisfying for those needed a fuller bottom end. That said, I don’t want to sell the 11L’s bass performance short -- what’s there is pleasant, free of boom and goes surprisingly deep; but if you’re into Crunk, Reggae, Organ Music, etc., look elsewhere unless you have a quality sub in your system. I am, in fact, running the speakers with a sub crossed at 80Hz and they mate fairly seamlessly. If you’re in a similar boat, this may make a jump to the 12L unnecessary.

Second, the speakers are very revealing despite their modest price. Initially, I powered them with an old pair of Adcom GFA 565 monoblocks. I have since upgraded to a McCormack DNA-125. Some may find it odd to pair a $2K amp with a pair of sub-$1K speakers, but believe me, the Quads shine a spotlight at whatever you throw at them. That includes bad recordings. So be forewarned, don’t expect to hear what these speakers are capable of with sub-standard electronics. And if it’s a great recording, sit back and enjoy; but if it’s a bad one, the Quads are not going to glaze over its sonic deficiencies. My advice is to pair them with neutral to warm sounding electronics. An appropriately powered tube amp would really make them sing.

Third, the speakers are not up to par with larger floor standers in terms of visceral dynamics. Though this is mostly a function of its bass limitations, you’ll still notice a lack of “slam”, across the entire frequency spectrum. This may also make the speaker less than ideal for cavernous listening / home theater rooms. Again, a sin of omission and the speaker excels with nearly all the musical genres you throw at it. But for the bumpin’ and thumpin’ stuff, you’ll be left felling a bit wanting.

Lastly, I wish Quad had made the 11L more efficient. Granted, 86dB with a 6ohm load is not a beast, but it does limit amplification choices. Had Quad made the speaker 8ohm and over 90dB efficient, it could have really opened up some interesting pairings with low output tube amps (i.e. SET designs) or digital / Class D amps. SO reading between the lines, don’t skimp on the juice. The product literature says you can use as low as a 30 w.p.c. amp, but I think that would be underpowered if you plan to listen to the speaker at any volume and would offer limited headroom for movies (if you’re using the speaker in a home theater setting).

In summary, I am extremely pleased with my purchase and would not hesitate to recommend them. I was lucky to pick up a pair of the discontinued yew finish for a great price. The cabinets, with their 7 coats of piano lacquer, are simply beautiful. I was also able to purchase the matching 11L center in yew. Together, they make a wonderful speaker ensemble that excels on both two-channel music and home theater playback. Even if the 11Ls were twice the price, you can’t go wrong.

Strengths:
Incredible imaging. Nice, "British" sound. Beautiful finish.

Weaknesses:
At this price, none.

Similar Products Used:
Martin Logan, Mirage, Snell, Celestion, Boston Acoustics.

dharmasteve

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Price Paid:  $199.00 from Bartletts

Summary:
I'd always wanted a pair of Quad 11L's but never really having the spare cash I'd accepted they were not for me. A couple of years ago I'd bought a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 standamounts to partner a slightly forward and agressive Musical Fidelity X-80 amp. The 9.1's had won Speaker of the year and were classy, full and musical. A couple of months ago whilst playing around on the internet I saw my local Hifi store had an end of line in the limited edition teak laquer finish Quad 11l's on offer at £199. Bingo!!! Fifteen minutes later I was in the shop credit card at the ready. This was pure desire but better late than never.

There is a great deal of similarity between the Wharfedale 9.1's and the Quad 11L. The 9.1's have really classy rich but fluid sound that's really hard to dislike. They'd mastered the X-80's slightly aggressive presentation and I was really happy. The Quads though are a class act. They look AAA111, really beautiful laquer finish. The sound though is nothing sort of magical. Wherever possible the speakers bring a close up feel. They add width and depth to the soundstage. For a small speaker bass is real quality. Not in the depths but in the quality. Bass guitar strings have firm and recognisable edges and all bass is solid. Nitin Sawhneys, Anthem Without a Nation on the Beyond Skin album test out bass. It will show it up for good or bad. Is the bass wooly of solid? Mobile or slow? The Q 11L's have the edges and movement to excite. Midrange and vocals are perfectly forwards in the soundstage. Melody and musicality always prominent. If the upgrades are anything like these they will be magic. This is one happy chappy. If they come your way get them. Although they are great out of the box, after the 50 hours burn in time they open up to give sheer pleasure.

Strengths:
Midrange beautiful, bass accurate and realistic. Musical without being thick or too warm. Fluid and transaprent.

Weaknesses:
nest pas

Similar Products Used:
Tannoy Mercurys (1988), Kef 35.2, Wharfedale 9.1

Marcus A

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $500.00 from Hificentral

Summary:
When i went to the store to compare speakers to eachother i was first not impressed of the 11L's at all, the finish is outstanding but they did not sound very well i remember. They where hooked up to a Harman Kardon surround Reciever and since i have more power at home i thought why not try them again, i asked the dealer to use something more powerful and we tried them with quad's own preamp and amp.

The speakers did sound alot better with better cd player and amps etc, and when i went back to the store with my own Preamp and Monoblocks they sounded even better.

My advice to people who want to listen to these speakers is to dont underestimate how much better they get with more power. Even the guys at the store was impressed of how they sounded, and we did not think the 12L played any better.

The 11L's did sound more living and they are very fast and very exact.

Strengths:
Nice Looks, they are not big but can play really nice. (i compared them to speakers that where alot more expensive)

Weaknesses:
they need Alot of power to handle at there best.

Similar Products Used:
I used my Denon Dap - 5500 preamp and 2 Poa 6600A Monoblocks (rated to 260w rms in 8 Ohm). i also use a Colossus Balanced cable betwen preamp and the amps.

el34eh

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.90 of 5, 10.00 votes

Price Paid:  $495.00 from Underwood Hi Fi

Summary:
Hi Fellow Quad 11L Lovers,

I just wanted to add my opinion of these beautiful sounding little Mini-Monitors for the rest of the world to see. As I'm still in the process of breaking these in, as I've only owned them for over a month. Yet I can state for the record that I consider them keepers to say the very least.

As I'm using mine with a tube integrated amp - I find their sound to be first and foremost one of refinement and balance, I beleive that all to often many of us tend to place to much emphasis on what something isn't doing as opposed to just what said speakers are doing right. I hear these speakers as a very sound alternative to either my much beloved ProAc Tablette Refernce 8 Signatures or Audio Pyhsic Step SLE's or Harbeth Acoustics HL - P3ES2's - and can also find a sound which I consider very lovely indeed. These have a sound that I consider to be very very very Musical and more then capable of pleasing those whom are willing to overlook their price and simply allow oneself to merely hear what these things are very good at doing - which is to my mind - offer a better sense of the innermost texture and nuances to the very fiber of the recordings themselves which I also consider to be a quite rare ability once again considering their cost, yet if one is willing to have an openmind and the ability to simply listen to these as a means to hear what is offered through some of the Worlds best sounding Mini-Monitors yet at a slightly lower cost, one can't help but be pleased with what's here.

As opinions are often nothing more then ones view of what sounds best to said user in the end, I can only say that if one prides oneself of being a Music Lover First and foremost as opposed to an Audiophile Per Se then one shall be able to fully enjoy what Beautiful Music these speakers are capable of rendering to begin with. Yes we all often talk about a desire for more bass output or this or that, but please keep on mind that one can often ask for the wrong things at times and simply not understand the differences that lie between a better bass and/or more bass. I'm simply one of those people whom tend to love a fast and very agile mid-bass of say 50 - 55HZ on any given day of the week as opossed to say a false sense of someones 40 - 20Hz from a cabinet which isn't braced properly and allows for unwanted cabinet resonance and boom.

As this is something which many lovers of smaller speakers might recall as being what the legendary Rogers LS 3/5A's and/or Linn Kans where both renowed for - Their Fun Factor and their ways of being able to communicate what was going on in the Mid-Range area above all else. Bass in nothing more then a function which allows for better detailing below a certain point - yet isn't what Musical Information is purely based upon as the only thing which matters, I say get the midband correct and everything else shall come into its own. [ Then again I could be wrong - Yet I do doubt it ]

All of this to say that I consider these as very worthwhile speakers to those whom simply do not care to continue wasting money on the hardware side ot the Audio hobby and would much more perfer to continue adding to what I've always considered a more important part of this hobby which is often overlooked because one isn't in fact pleased with what one owns more so then simply having a collection of some of the most costly hardware in the world and only a very few selected Audiophile approved recordings no matter the format to play on them.

I say again if Music is your main focus in this hobby? then please do yourself and your sanity a favor and by all means consider a pair of these, all that's required is an open mind and Music to play through them. [ Hint - Hint ]

Enjoy what many do consider a very Musical Little Speaker - and I myself am not willing to go against the grain here, as I think that these things sound Beautiful indeed.

EL34EH

Strengths:
The way in which they simply allow the end user to hear what's on the recording in a more beautifully and textured whole as opposed to simply hearing a sound of Hi Fi for the sake of it.

Weaknesses:
Somewhat lacking in the bass - but considering what one has to pay in order to get a true 35 - 20Hz is unbelievable. Just think Wilson Audio WAMMs to get some ideal as to where I'm going with this. And even then - what quality of Bass is seriously there? for this sort of price. In other words - More money can at times only buy one more SOUND - not more ENJOYMENT.

Similar Products Used:
ProAc Tablette Reference 8 Signatures and/or Tablette 50 References - Audio Pyhsic Step SLE's - Harbeth Acoustics HL - P3ES2's - Reference 3A Dulcet.

holbob

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
2.33 of 5, 9.00 votes

Price Paid:  $380.00 from Sevenoaks

Summary:
This was the first audio "upgrade" I ever made, an attempt to combat the harshness in my system. It went some way to doing so, and I enjoyed the neutral sound from these Quads. The finish on these speakers is superb, far better than on my 2 and a half times the price Dynaudio's. I soon upgraded these speakers when I foolishly bought some 12L's off ebay, and immediately regretted doing so, realising I would have been far better having spent money on a sub. The Quad's are lovely in the mid's, but a bit short in the low's, and quite lacking in the highs. I think of them quite affectionaly now as they were my first glimpse of "high-end".

Strengths:
Very neutral Cheap for gloss finish

Weaknesses:
Pricey for sound quality Muddy and lossy in high frequencies

Similar Products Used:
Quad 12L Dynaudio 52 Dynaudio 52SE Mission M73i Castle Richmond 2 Castle Durham