Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Quad 12L Speakers by marine.tradition@muri-be.ch

Model:	12L
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$1000./pr.
Description:	2-way stand-mount speaker.
Manufacturer URL:	Quad
Model Picture:	View

Review by marine.tradition@muri-be.ch ( A ) on March 22, 2006 at 03:59:03
IP Address: 213.221.234.25

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for the 12L

The Quad 12l is a 2-way monitor rated at 87db.

The finish, the engineering and the design are firstrate and matches or betters many speakers 2 or 3 times the price.

They are boxed individually in protective bags with the Quad-logo and come with a pair of white gloves! The manual is supplied in its own protective cover.

It has a sturdy grille with good quality textile cover that positively locks into the small fixtures. The driver is made of black kevlar. The tweeter is a very supple design inlayed in a small hornlike fixture.

The Quad Logo is almost jewellery like in its execution.

The back has two bassreflex openings.

The goldplated cable posts are setup for bi-wiring. They connect with goldplated bolts if bi-wiring is not used. None of the oversized and garrish stamped steel stuff here!

They are propelled by an new Melody Sp-3 (Onix Sp-3) integrated tube amp.

Rated at 2x38w - it is a very good playmate for the Quads. This amp drives them to painful sound-levels if needed. The 8ohm speaker out is good, 4 ohm out is better for the 6 ohm rated speaker.

The Quads would mercilessly show the shortcomings of my old tube amp rated at 35w. So that had to go.

I tested the speakers also with an AURA SS amp rated 50w. Good match.

There is none of the salesroom sparkle that other speakerbrands exhibit.

Soundwise they feel very, very competent. Much better so than the B&W that I used to have. They never feel stressed like the smaller Quad 11l. Great recordings sound great, others sound, well...

Positioning of the speakers was easy. No tilt towards the listener is needed. Sweetspot is large enough for 2-3 people to comfortably sit and listening.

The tweeter height needs to be on earlevel. I have mine mounted on 45cm high posts made of sandstone blocks. The speakers are spiked.

Highs are subtle and roll off without hiding the details. Mids are beautifully rendered. Bass is to my liking, rolling off and not boomy.

If mega-bass is needed - a very high quality sub would be needed to not drag the Quads down. The garden variety boombox would not do it justice.

Soundstaging is real and not overblown, they feel very much like ESL-type speakers. Spacial envelope is highly developed with good recordings.

There is no need for nearfield listening with the Quads, detail galore.

Resolution makes it an audiophile gem and mine will stay!

Product Weakness: None, except spikes should be supplied with the speakers.
Product Strengths: It is all there. No listeners fatique. Good bass extension for the size. Absolutely finest 2-way monitor I`ve heard. Beautiful pianolaquer-finish.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Melody Sp-3
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Cambridge 640P Phonostage, Audion Premier (soon)
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Cambridge Audio 640C, Project III, Ortofon 540 MkII (MM)
Speakers:	Quad 12l
Cables/Interconnects:	Cheap coax ICs, cheap bi-wire cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, Blues, Jazz, Classic
Room Size (LxWxH):	30 x 14 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	Hardwoodfloor
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 months
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	Project III turntable, Ortofon 540 MkII (MM). Cambridge 640P Phonostage, Audion Premier Phonostage(soon) Melody Sp-3 amplifier. Quad 12l.

Product Weakness:	None, except spikes should be supplied with the speakers.
Product Strengths:	It is all there. No listeners fatique. Good bass extension for the size. Absolutely finest 2-way monitor I`ve heard. Beautiful pianolaquer-finish.