Quad S1 Standmount Speakers

The Quad S1 is a compact standmount loudspeaker that sets a new standard for resolution, tonal accuracy and musical coherence in its class — a two-way design engineered from first principles to honour Quad's unbroken commitment to accuracy of reproduction, and to deliver a listening experience of extraordinary refinement from a cabinet whose modest dimensions belie the scale and authority of its performance. The S1 is the entry point to Quad's S Series loudspeaker range — a range designed to partner Quad's own electronics with the same precision and musical intelligence that has defined Quad's engineering philosophy since Peter Walker founded the company in 1936.

Ribbon Tweeter

The defining technology of the Quad S1 is its ribbon tweeter — a transducer of extraordinary lightness, speed and resolution that replaces the conventional dome tweeter found in the vast majority of loudspeakers at this price point with a design of fundamentally superior performance. The ribbon tweeter's diaphragm is a single corrugated aluminium foil suspended between the poles of a powerful magnet array — a moving mass so low that the ribbon responds to the finest transient detail in the musical signal with a speed and accuracy that no conventional dome tweeter can approach. The result is a high-frequency presentation of exceptional openness, air and three-dimensional imaging — a top end that resolves the finest spatial and textural detail from high-resolution recordings with a naturalness and lack of grain that immediately distinguishes the S1 from every conventional two-way standmount in its class.

Kevlar Bass/Midrange Driver

The bass/midrange driver of the Quad S1 employs a woven Kevlar cone — a material whose combination of stiffness, lightness and internal damping makes it ideally suited to the exacting demands of a loudspeaker designed for accuracy rather than flattery. Kevlar's high specific stiffness suppresses the cone breakup modes that colour the midrange reproduction of conventional paper or polypropylene cones, ensuring that voices, instruments and the complex harmonic textures of acoustic music are reproduced with the purity and lack of colouration that Quad's engineering philosophy demands. The crossover network uniting the ribbon tweeter and Kevlar bass/midrange driver is designed with the same precision — ensuring that the two drivers integrate seamlessly across the crossover frequency, producing a coherent and phase-accurate soundstage of genuine width and depth.

Cabinet Design

The S1's cabinet is engineered to complement rather than compromise the performance of its drive units — a compact, well-braced enclosure whose internal volume and port tuning are optimised to deliver a bass extension and dynamic authority that consistently surprises those encountering the S1 for the first time. Available in a choice of finishes, the S1's elegant and understated aesthetic is entirely in keeping with Quad's design tradition — a loudspeaker that is as visually refined as it is technically accomplished.

Who Is It For?

The Quad S1 is an outstanding partner for Quad's own electronics. The Quad Artera Stereo integrated amplifier provides a natural and synergistic match — a combination of Quad's Current Dumping amplification and ribbon tweeter resolution that produces a complete system of extraordinary coherence. Those preferring an all-in-one solution will find the Quad Artera Solus an ideal partner, while the Quad Artera Play+ provides a complete digital source of the highest quality to anchor a wider system around the S1.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind. The Quad S1 is available to hear in our Norwich showroom — speak to Dave or Chris to arrange a demonstration with Quad's own amplification or your existing system.

Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.