Hi-Fi Choice - May

THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS…
Quad's
Z stars
Distinguished British hi-fi brand introduces
Z Series loudspeaker range as part of a host
of new products set to mark its 80th year
PRICE: £ 1,200-£3,200 AVAILABLE: NOW CONTACT: 01480 447700 WEB: QUAD-HIFI.CO.UK
ITS REPUTATION AS one of the
world's greatest audio brands
is largely based on its iconic
electrostatic loudspeakers, which
first set the hi-fi scene alight in 1957.
Any Hi-Fi Choice reader will know all
about Quad's impressive legacy, and
successive loudspeaker models from
the Cambridgeshire-based company
have been able to justifiably boast
that its approach gets closer to the
original sound than its challengers.
Like the company's S Series released
last year, the new Z Series combines
advanced Kevlar-coned bass and
midrange drivers with a specially
designed ribbon tweeter. The new
lineup comprises two standmount
models and two floorstanders. The
Z-1 standmount (£1,200) – pictured
right – is 383mm tall and utilises a
150mm mid/bass driver, while its
larger Z-2 standmount sibling
(£1,500) uses a 175mm mid/bass
driver. Both floorstanders utilise a
three-way configuration, coupling a
150mm midrange driver with two
175mm bass drivers in the Z-3
(£2,500), and three 165mm drivers
in the Z-4 (£3,200), pictured above.
Each Z Series model sports a
bespoke 90 x 12mm ribbon tweeter
design by Quad's parent company
IAG. Like the ribbon unit developed
for its S Series, the composite
sandwich construction of the Z Series
ribbon ensures it is robust enough to
handle high-powered amplifiers,
delivering greater sensitivity and
bandwidth for even better dynamics
and smoother integration with
midrange frequencies, says Quad.
Bass and midrange drive units
throughout the series feature a unique
double-roll Kevlar cone surround said
to enhance accuracy and transparency.
Commenting on the Z Series, Peter
Comeau, director of acoustic design
6 MAY 2016