Quad Elegan speakers feature next gen Kevlar drivers

QUAD has announced two new loudspeakers, the Elegan 1 standmount and Elegan 2 floorstander, designed as an accessible entry point into the brand’s high‑end catalogue.

Both models follow a deliberately simple design brief, echoing the spirit of the early‑2000s L Series, but feature advanced Kevlar drivers.

The speakers come in two finishes, deep matt black or walnut.

Designed under the direction of QUAD's longstanding Director of Acoustic Design, Peter Comeau, the range is built around QUAD’s latest woven Kevlar driver technology, refined over more than two decades. QUAD has made speaker cones from Kevlar since the trailblazing 11L and 12L speakers, launched in 2002. This latest generation is formed from lattice-woven Kevlar, impregnated with a self-damping resin to further minimise distortion.

The Elegan 1 uses a 165mm Kevlar mid/bass unit and a 25mm fabric‑dome tweeter in a two‑way configuration suited to smaller rooms.

The Elegan 2 adopts a three‑way layout with dual 165mm bass drivers, a dedicated 125mm midrange unit in its own chamber, and the same tweeter, extending performance for larger spaces. Both models employ a profiled waveguide for controlled dispersion and custom‑designed crossovers using Linkwitz‑Riley acoustic topology.

Cabinet engineering plays a central role, with carefully calculated internal volumes, high‑density walls, internal bracing and QUAD’s Airflow port system to minimise resonance and improve low‑frequency control. The Elegan 1 weighs 8.9kg per speaker, while the Elegan 2 comes in at 27.8kg, reflecting their robust construction.

“The Elegan 1 and Elegan 2 are a ground-up re-evaluation of what entry-point QUAD loudspeakers should be, in a thoroughly modern context. Today’s listeners expect performance that integrates seamlessly into both the system and the living environment – acoustically, visually and practically,” said Comeau.

“The industrial design is controlled, understated and purposeful. Proportions are carefully considered, surfaces are clean, and visual complexity is deliberately minimised. Key elements are familiar – the use of Kevlar cones, for example, but here they are engineered to an elevated level. The result is loudspeakers that integrate naturally into contemporary spaces without drawing unnecessary attention to themselves. Minimalism does not imply compromise, quite the opposite.”

The speakers retail at £749 per pair for the Elegan 1 and £1,499 per pair for the Elegan 2.