What Hi-Fi? Verdict
A good package with plenty of positives – just make sure you pair it with the right equipment
Pros
- +
Fast, agile sound
- +
good integration
- +
musical, detailed delivery
- +
smart finish for a package at this price
Cons
- -
The bright top-end means the right environment and electronics are required
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
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.
