QUAD Elegan Series Loudspeakers
QUAD ELEGAN SERIES LOUDSPEAKERS INTRODUCE A NEW ENTRY POINT TO THE BRAND
QUAD has announced the new QUAD Elegan Series, a two-model loudspeaker range designed to provide an accessible introduction to the company’s loudspeaker line-up.
The series comprises the standmount QUAD Elegan 1 and the floorstanding QUAD Elegan 2, with both models developed under the direction of QUAD Director of Acoustic Design Peter Comeau.
QUAD ELEGAN SERIES DESIGNED
According to QUAD, the Elegan Series has been developed as an all-new loudspeaker range rather than an update of an existing design, although the company says the speakers can be seen as spiritual successors to its earlier L Series models. The range has been engineered to complement QUAD’s current electronics while also partnering with systems from other manufacturers. Finish options are limited to deep matt black or walnut wood veneer with a matt black front baffle.
QUAD ELEGAN SERIES USES WOVEN KEVLAR DRIVERS
Both loudspeakers are built around newly developed woven Kevlar drive units. QUAD says it has applied experience gained from more than two decades of working with Kevlar cones to develop the new drivers, which use lattice-woven Kevlar combined with a self-damping resin.
The Elegan 1 is a two-way standmount design featuring a 165mm woven Kevlar mid/bass driver paired with a 25mm fabric dome tweeter. The Elegan 2 adopts a three-way floorstanding configuration with twin 165mm woven Kevlar bass drivers, a dedicated 125mm woven Kevlar midrange driver housed in its own internal chamber and the same 25mm fabric dome tweeter. Both models also incorporate a profiled waveguide designed to improve high-frequency dispersion and off-axis performance.
CROSSOVER AND CABINET DESIGN
QUAD has developed dedicated crossover networks for each model using Linkwitz-Riley acoustic topologies. The company says the crossovers were created using computer modelling alongside extensive listening tests, with polypropylene capacitors used throughout and a combination of air-core and laminated-core inductors depending on frequency section.
The cabinets have also been designed specifically for each loudspeaker rather than sharing a common platform. High-density cabinet construction, internal bracing and damping materials are combined with the company’s Airflow rear port system, which is intended to reduce turbulence and improve bass performance. Cabinet volumes have been optimised for each model, with the standmount offering a 15.5-litre enclosure and the floorstander separating its midrange and bass sections into dedicated internal chambers.
QUAD ELEGAN SERIES SPECIFICATIONS
The QUAD Elegan 1 offers an 86dB sensitivity, an 8-ohm compatible nominal impedance and a recommended amplifier power range of 30-150W. Frequency response is quoted as 56Hz-24kHz (±3dB), with bass extension reaching 44Hz (-6dB).
The QUAD Elegan 2 increases sensitivity to 90dB and is recommended for amplifiers delivering between 30W and 200W. Its quoted frequency response is 44Hz-24kHz (±3dB), extending to 32Hz (-6dB).
QUAD ELEGAN SERIES PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The QUAD Elegan 1 and QUAD Elegan 2 will be available from 24th July in deep matt black or walnut wood veneer finishes.
Prices are £749 per pair for the QUAD Elegan 1 and £1,499 per pair for the QUAD Elegan 2.
HiFi PiG says: A cool-looking new entry point to the QUAD loudspeaker range.
