Purchased 2010 for GBP240.-

Sound is very nice, well rounded and well tempered with no flaws at all. In fact they put my economy sub-woofer out of work as it didn't harmonize.

I don't however experience the exuberance from the other reviews. It's worth the money I paid and maybe twice more as new and unused.

Playing on renovated and upgraded Quad 405-II and 44. incl new OP_AMPS of best quality and placed on stands.

I have no doubt they will serve a lifetime for many people.

Given the size and price it's brilliant product but it won't replace somewhat larger high end speakers. I recommend these to anyone on a budget requiring honest sound reproduction.

Personally I could at my age of 50 do with a raised tweeter, but that would be against the linear principles probably.

Great sound for it's modest price.

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

At this price, none.

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.

Similar Products Used:

Martin Logan, Mirage, Snell, Celestion, Boston Acoustics.

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

nest pas

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.

Similar Products Used:

Tannoy Mercurys (1988), Kef 35.2, Wharfedale 9.1

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

they need Alot of power to handle at there best.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Customer Service

Great. A very honest and worthwhile person to deal with. I couldn't recommend anyone else higher then Walter. A ++++++++++++ and then some.


Well worth doing business with.

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.

Very neutral Cheap for gloss finish

Pricey for sound quality Muddy and lossy in high frequencies

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".

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Quad 12L Dynaudio 52 Dynaudio 52SE Mission M73i Castle Richmond 2 Castle Durham

sound stage clarity

none

turn them on and you wont turn them off i have sub running wth them so bottom end is taken care off.words cant describe the sound only listnening can everything spot on no need to upgrade for me.love my parasound m2125 power amp and dynavector l200 pre amp sony dvpns99es cd/dvd

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nht sb1,dynaudio52

Great value. Good sound and look. Fairly easy to drive.

I can't recall for the price I pay.

This speaker is best for the money. Compared with Totem model 1 which was with me for a year before I decided to step down my system, they come close. The only thing that Quads can't match Model 1 is in the low frequency area. Soundstage is excellent. High is sweet, not as crips as those metal dome. Finishing is superb. I don't think you can find any speaker that looks as good in this price range. The very good news is that Quads is not difficult to drive. A good sound, moderate price int. amp should do the job well. This is important as it will bring dowm your whole system cost a lot. Think about it when you have the speaker that sounds great and is not expensive but you will need a mighty Krell to drive it to get the best. Having said that, don't use cheap or hard sound amp to drive Quad, it still behaves as a good monitor that can tell you how good your system are. All in all, if you are looking for speakers in this price rage, don't miss it.

Stunning fit & finish. Dripping with quality. Quality electronics to match. The 11L is best at reproducing the human voice. Weighted toward a highly detailed midrange. Rated to handle 100W

For crying out loud ! this is a DocMartin sized shoebox ... that will effortlessly blow me out of my 12x14 office. Not enough bass ? Rubbish ! It is a decidedly forward-radiating speaker that benefits greatly from proper placement. A little distance from the wall will allow the (2) rear vents to balance pressures. Don't lose the Brass Rod jumper

What a brilliant little speaker ! Cheers, mate ! and every other happy Brit expression I can toss at these "under-the-radar" Anglo-Imports. A pair of 11L's is a must-have component for every serious Audio enthusiast! What a beautiful package. Mine are hand rubbed, piano black lacquer that shine like mirrors. A deceptively powerful 4 inch kevlar (think bulletproof vest) driver provides the speakers voice. A soft dome tweeter handles the high notes. Two pair of solid brass terminals allow for bi-wire. Careful not to lose the brass pin bridge ! Elegant floating (wood framed, not plastic) grilles secure to the enclosure soft and secure. The speaker is designed as a vertical standing monitor. Quad has provided a cleverly designed recessed plinth which, not-so-subtlely, reminds the user how to properly orient these little cabinets. Velvet soft bags are provided to cradle these little gems in their packaging. When I first considered purchasing Quad mini-monitors, I was convinced that I needed the 12L's for adequate punch and presence. I could not have been more mistaken. The 11L's deliver every bit of power and detail that a room can handle. The cabinet is proportioned like the (only slightly larger) Dynaudio Contour 1.3se with an extended (9") depth. This ratio and dimension adds considerable acoustics to this small package. My Quad 11L's are "daily drivers". I listen to this pair of bookshelf-sized speakers for 8-10 hours every day in my home office ... without a moment of fatique. A vintage MAC1900 55wpc receiver drives this pair. The tube-like SS MAC amplifier is a perfect match for these Quads. Perhaps that is why I sense no lack of a bottom end in this speaker. The MAC's warmth is delightfully reproduced by the Quads. The Quads handle a full spectrum of imput; from AM talk radio, to FM, to CD (Jolida JD-100) playback. The Quads are particularly adept with the human voice. As I write this review, I am listening to an FM broadcast of Sugar Ray's Every Morning. The Quads are accurately presenting a detailed recording. I can distinguish at least a dozen tracks in this recording. The bass line is cleanly separated from drum kit and from percussion. The acoustic guitar is sharp and detailed. I can distinguish the pick pattern, and fret work of the guitar. Subtle layers of techno rhythm tracks are easily heard. Sugar Rays vocals are natural and clear. The only knock I can think of is the Quads tend to sound a little congested at low power/volume. I suspect this is owing to the kevlar driver that wants adequate Wattage to operate.

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Mirage OM-5, Spendor 3/5, DCM Timewindow (original)

Soundstage Imaging Bass Response (and not just for its size) Cabinet Construction Grills

None

To start, this is an amazing speaker. This is definetly the best bookshelf loudspeaker at its price point and one of the best under $1000. I have thoroughly tested most of the competition in the category and while there are some close competitors (JMLab Chorus 707s, Bronze B2, Paradigm Studio Monitor, B&W 603), there is nothing that comes close to bettering it. The fit and finish is defintely a cut above the rest. This is a great look speaker. As a buyer, you definetly feel like you are getting your money's worth on this front. On performance, this is a beautifully sounding speaker. Soundstage and imaging is below $1000. Across the band, Treble is clear and crisp. Midrange is warm and vocals are exceptional. When really, however, pushed with hard rock or pop, mids can get ever so slightly harsh. This is ever so slight and only on certain recordings. It is kind of like noticing a small speck of dirt on a new Luxury car - because the rest of the car is so shiny and perfect, you might actually notice the dirt. And then there is the bass. Bookshelf or stand mounted speakers don't often leave you expecting big bass. The quads are as good as it gets for a speaker of this size. Close your eyes and you could swear they were much larger, floorstanding speakers at times. This is achieved with spot on timing, clarity and accuracy of bass delivery. There is no bass boom at any volume level. These speakers will play anything well but are just absolutely sweet with Jazz. As well, you absolutely have to bi-wire these speakers to get the most out of them. I love these speakers. This is the first piece of equipment that has me not thinking about a future upgrade. These fit the bill with perfection

Similar Products Used:

Paradigm Studio Monitor, JMLab Chorus 706/707, Wharfedale 8.1 and 9.1, Polk RTi Series, B&W