A British Hi-Fi Elite Just Dropped a Set of Bookshelf Speakers for Rising Audiophiles

The legendary brand just launched a new entry-level loudspeaker range.

Pair of black and wood Quad speakers on black stands flanking a wooden table with a Quad amplifier, vase with dried flowers, and open book.

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Quad is a legendary British hi-fi manufacturer with a history that dates back to the 1930s. It’s best known for its electrostatic loudspeakers, such as the iconic ESL-57, and it still makes models that honor their legacy today. Its current flagship loudspeakers, the ESL 2912X, go for $18,000/pair.

While renowned for its high-end speakers (and other hi-fi separates) designed for serious audiophiles, the company also makes more accessible models. Case in point: its new Elegan loudspeaker range.

Quad’s entry-level loudspeakers

Pair of rectangular bookshelf speakers with black front panels and wooden side panels, labeled "QUAD. — Quad says that the Elegan 1 bookshelf speakers are “engineered to disappear from the room, leaving only the music behind.”

Quad’s Elegan series is its new entry-level range of loudspeakers. It consists of two models: the Elegan 1 bookshelf speakers and the Elegan 2 floorstanding speakers. Quad describes them as the “spiritual successors” to the L Series speakers from the early 2000s.

Naturally, both Elegan series loudspeakers are designed to bring the brand’s acclaimed hi-fi sound to a more accessible price. And, according to Quad, both loudspeakers are designed to match and be paired with its recently released 3 Series components, such as the 33 preamplifier ($1,599) and 303 stereo amplifier ($1,599).

Pair of black and wood Quad speakers on black stands flanking a light wood bench with a silver amplifier, gold lamp, and stacked books. — The Elegan 1 bookshelf speakers are shown driven by the Quad 3 integrated amplifier.

Two black Quad bookshelf speakers, one with wood finish sides, displayed on gray pedestals against a green background. — The two finishes available for the Elegan 1: all-matte black or with a wooden veneer.

One bookshelf, one floorstanding

The Elegan 1 is a two-way bass-reflex loudspeaker that pairs a 1-inch fabric-dome tweeter with a 6.4-inch woven Kevlar woofer for the bass and midrange. The cabinet is constructed from a high-density MDF that, according to the brand, is “extensively reinforced with strategically positioned internal bracing” to minimize unwanted resonance.

Quad says that the Elegan 1 bookshelf speakers are best suited for smaller listening rooms.

Black bookshelf speaker on a black metal stand next to a wooden cabinet with audio equipment on top. — The Elegan 1 shown paired with Quad’s 33 preamplifier and 303 stereo amplifier.

Pair of wooden speakers with black front panels, one large floor-standing and one smaller bookshelf model. — Quad’s Elegan 1 and larger Elegan 2 shown in a walnut finish.

The Elegan 2 brings the same design and acoustic principles to a larger format. It’s a three-way floorstanding loudspeaker that features the same 1-inch fabric-dome tweeter as the Elegan 1 adds a second 6.4-inch woven Kevlar woofer and a dedicated midrange driver.

It’s obviously designed to deliver a similar sound as the Elegan 1, but expand to fill larger rooms. According to Quad, the Elgan 3 is “engineered to reproduce music honestly, allowing every recording to breathe with space, realism and emotion.”

Tall black floor-standing speaker with four drivers next to a wooden sideboard with a lamp and framed newspaper. — The Elegan 2 are designed for larger rooms and for listeners “seeking full-range performance.”

Black Quad speaker on a stand next to a light wood cabinet with a silver Quad amplifier on top. — The Elegan 1 shown in an all-matte-black finish.

Both the Elegan 1 and Elegan 2 are loudspeakers with a minimalist design. According to the brand, this allows them to “integrate naturally into today’s interiors without dominating the room.”

The speakers come in two finishes: all matte black or matte black with a walnut veneer.

Pair of black bookshelf speakers on stands flanking a wooden media console with audio equipment on top. — Quad’s new Elegan loudspeaker is available now.

Availability and pricing

Quad’s Elegan range of loudspeakers are available now from the company’s website.

The Elegan 1 bookshelf speakers cost $995/pair. The Elegan 2 floorstanding speakers cost $1,995/pair.

Pair of rectangular wooden bookshelf speakers with black front panels, one showing drivers and the other covered, labeled "QUAD.

Quad Elegan 1

$995 at Quad

Pair of tall floor-standing speakers with black front panels and one with wood veneer side panel on a green background.

Quad Elegan 2

$1,995 at Quad

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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