2016 has been a good year for new ranges surfacing after a quiet spell from their respective brands. This time it’s the wonderful Quad’s turn to prick up our ears, turn our heads and make us go “ooh”. Quad haven’t exactly been quiet, but this new release is the first at this particular level for a while! This is a higher alternative to Quad’s excellent value range – the S Series – which replaced the Classic range. It’s high, it’s pretty and it’s called…
… the Quad Z Series!
Beautifully designed with stunning piano laquer cabinets, these are a small but satisfying range of high-end speakers that are guaranteed to please. We saw them for the first time at the Bristol Hi-fi Show (2016) where they were released and we’ve basically been waiting for the news that they’re coming to us ever since. We didn’t get to listen to them much (there was a lot to see and do that day!), but what we heard, we liked.
Well, they’re finally here.
One of the reasons we’re excited about this particular range is the difference in sound that has become synonymous with Quad. They have everything that you would expect from Quad (that warm, full bodied Quad sound!) but they have an extra level of clarity that was somewhat absent from previous models, and a vastly improved soundstage! This is due to new ribbon tweeters, which fill out the traditional Quad sound for something familiar… yet improved!
There are four models in the range:
Z-1
The starting point in the range and the baby bookshelf in the family. A lovely smaller bookshelf!
Z-2
When you want a bookshelf… but something a little bigger! A step up from the S-2 from the S series.
Z-3
The first and smaller floorstander in the range… (and probably our favourite model in it! There’s something about this size that just works!)
Z-4
The flagship and the largest floorstander in the series. A gorgeous pair of speakers that embody what the whole range is all about!
All four are available in three piano lacquer finishes: black, rosewood and white.
When it comes to its competitors, ProAc and KEF (R Series) are the closest. And it’s no secret that we adore both of those brands. Although, even though we have yet to listen to the Z series extensively, from what we heard at the Bristol Hi-fi show this is a brand, and a series, to pay some very close attention to moving forward.
They’re not cheap, but with speakers at this level you very much get what you pay for! If you want to try out that newly evolved traditional Quad sound, this would be a good time. If you want to spread out the cost, they’re available on 0% finance.
Check out the full specs here and see what you think. They’ll be available for demos soon too!