What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
09 OCT 2006
Quad L2 5.1
A good package with plenty of positives – just make sure you pair it with the right equipment
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There’s lots to enjoy about the current 5.1-channel system based around Quad's smaller L-series speakers. Uncovering plenty of detail, the package delivers the breathless excitement demanded by a movie such as test favourite The Island, while packing plenty of punch and impact.
Integration is excellent, too – the satellites deliver solid surround sound, while the sub merges in well, coming to life when necessary. The package is adept with music, too, boasting refinement and subtlety.
So there’s a wealth of positives, but we do have misgivings. Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering our thoughts on the 11L2 stereo pair, we do find the top end a little bright. A few glass-shattering moments in the War of the Worlds remake saw the test team wincing as one, while other brutal bits of action can find the Quads in a hard and harsh mood. The package needs careful partnering; bright electronics from Rotel or Pioneer should be avoided – Arcam would be much more suitable.
Not quite the all-rounder
It’s a fast, musical, well-integrated sound, but its brightness and consequent need for specific partners means the L2 5.1 can't quite match the iconic status of its predecessor.
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