Quad Revela 1

[What Hi-Fi?]

The smooth, fluid-sounding Revela 1 are an undemanding listen, but their inability to cut loose is a major issue.

Quad Revela 1 : Read more

 

[Rui]

for years i don´t no nothing about QUAD a called audiophile brand that made a lot of audiophiles buy electrostaic speakers but none was happy with them allthough they refer to them as the future of speakers but almost no bass ,so i wouldn´t want them but this new ones seem like quality speakers but i read the pros and cos and the cos win by a lot and same as in early 80´s when tested this also to say that in 20 years they seem made by the cheapest materials and look very old but only from early 80´s, some people i know spent fortunes in Quad systems but none seems good today ,it can be restored but they will look old and burned

 

[manicm]

This is the first negative review I've read about the Revela 1.

 

[dangerousdaveferrari]

This is the first negative review I've read about the Revela 1.

Likewise, seems at odds with all other reviews that I have seen for these speakers. This opinion is quite well at odds with a review I saw from Ken Kessler, earlier in the year. I forget the publication but that one was far more substantiated with data, may I add.
I will form my own subjective opinion before purchase but this is a strange but interesting contrast to everything else I have seen regarding these speakers.

 

[rogg]

Do get back to us with your impressions post demo. I’m interested in a set, but a demo would involve a ten hour drive or possibly even a flight.

 

[Doctor Britain]

What- Hi Fi appear to be a major outlier for this review. No other reviewer seems to have had the same issues, including respected journalist such as Mike Evans and Dave Price. Was there a system issue, were they not positioned properly? I have shortlisted these, but it is difficult to find a dealer here in Canada that's remotely close. Should What-Hi Fi take another listen, seems odd.

 

[nopiano]

Likewise, seems at odds with all other reviews that I have seen for these speakers. This opinion is quite well at odds with a review I saw from Ken Kessler, earlier in the year. I forget the publication but that one was far more substantiated with data, may I add.
I will form my own subjective opinion before purchase but this is a strange but interesting contrast to everything else I have seen regarding these speakers.

That’ll be the review in Hifi News, where KK proclaimed it was his product of 2024, with 9 months still to go!

At the moment, our hosts here are the only dissenting voice. 🤔

 

[curveTheory]

As others have mentioned, this review is in sharp contrast to everything else I've read and experienced. I heard them, pre-release, at Audio Advice Live in Raleigh last year. They sounded amazing and were a standout of the event. The demo room always had a full crowd and return visits, including from me and my friend. I suggest that maybe What Hi-Fi didn't set these up properly are have favorable kit attached. I've heard what these speakers can do and what you describe is not it. My least expensive system speakers are the KEF LS50 Anniversary models, so I have excellent references for great sounding speakers.

 

[AudioFreak72]

This completely baffles me... I've owned (and thoroughly loved) the Revela 1's for 4+ months now and I can't get behind this review.
I purchased them after an extensive auditioning process against contenders such as KEF, B&W, Neat & Ophidian. The Quads were levels above the aforementioned. Texture, detail, bass response and overall musicality - other speakers may have had the upper hand in certain aspects, but overall the Quads made music more fun and a more enjoyable experience over extended periods. The same can't be said for other speakers you've compared the Quad's too where a break is needed after a while for my ears to settle down.
I know its 'horses for courses', but this seems to be the only negative review i've seen online.... which is strange!

 

[curveTheory]

This completely baffles me... I've owned (and thoroughly loved) the Revela 1's for 4+ months now and I can't get behind this review.
I purchased them after an extensive auditioning process against contenders such as KEF, B&W, Neat & Ophidian. The Quads were levels above the aforementioned. Texture, detail, bass response and overall musicality - other speakers may have had the upper hand in certain aspects, but overall the Quads made music more fun and a more enjoyable experience over extended periods. The same can't be said for other speakers you've compared the Quad's too where a break is needed after a while for my ears to settle down.
I know its 'horses for courses', but this seems to be the only negative review i've seen online.... which is strange!

It’s as if they reviewed completely different speakers.