QUAD Revela 2 Review
Weighing in at 32 kilograms and standing just under a meter tall, the Quad Revela 2 has a three-way design with four drivers per channel and offers a truly luxurious cabinet. Visually, it makes a big impression, and its sound is powerful as well.
by Alexander Rose-Fehling
The last time the British heritage manufacturer Quad introduced a new speaker was in 2016, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been idle. Peter Comeau, renowned developer and “Director of Acoustics” at Quad, spent four years working on the two Revela models. Now they’re finally here.
Alongside the floorstanding Revela 2 featured here, there’s also a compact speaker (the Revela 1) with an optional matching stand. The Revela 1 sells for $2,150 per pair—exactly half the price of the Revela 2.
Line of Ancestors
Peter Comeau has designed several notable speakers in recent years, such as the Mission 770 and Mission 700, both of which are outstanding large bookshelf models. He is also responsible for the substantial Wharfedale Dovedole. In short, he’s the speaker mastermind of the IAG.
With the Quad Revelas, he aims to bring Quad’s motto—“The Closest Approach To The Original Sound”—to life, meaning he wants to approximate the original recording as closely as possible. Achieving this requires good drivers, high-quality crossover components, a first-rate cabinet, and trained ears.
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The most intriguing driver in the two Revela speakers is likely the tweeter, called the True Ribbon. It’s a ribbon tweeter made of aluminum foil, placed in a strong magnetic field, that vibrates across its entire surface when current flows. This particular design has been around in a similar form for 70 years, but Comeau and his team have refined and improved it significantly over the past four years. One key advantage of this more expensive technology is that the 27 x 60 millimeter driver weighs only about a tenth as much as a typical dome tweeter, which should theoretically provide excellent, clean resolution. Quad also promises smoothness and clear detail—in other words, classic audiophile qualities.
Paper and Synthetic Fibers
Just as much effort went into the midrange and bass drivers (one 15 cm and two 16.5 cm units), whose cones are made from the same material. Called “Reveal,” it is a combination of paper and synthetic fibers. The idea is to use the great sonic characteristics of paper—especially in the midrange—while further damping and stiffening the cone with synthetic fibers for better bass. Compared to pure paper cones, this approach should lower resonances and with the Revelas, Quad aims to get as close as possible to the original recording improve bass control. The newly developed driver suspensions also help.
The elaborate crossover uses the “Acoustical-Butterworth” principle, meaning the crossover and drivers together form a third-order acoustic Butterworth filter. In addition to using modern computer programs, the team spent many hours listening to music to fine-tune the speaker. The crossover frequencies for the midrange and tweeter are 650 Hz and 3.8 kHz, respectively.
Sound Quality
For a floorstanding speaker priced around $4,300, you naturally expect a lot—especially given the strong first impression made by the cabinet. After listening for a few minutes, however, we decided both the speaker and our ears could use another day of break-in, as the initial sound was a bit dull and closed in.
The lacquer finish and curves are flawlessly executed, and the workmanship is outstanding.
The bass reflex ports direct energy to the rear, making it beneficial to give the speakers some free space.
By the second session, the sound had opened up noticeably. We tried several amplifiers and ended up once again with our trusty Exposure 3510. With that amp, the Quad Revela 2 still sounded full and rounded, yet the bass was tighter than with a significantly more expensive Luxman. Sometimes, spending less can really pay off. Alice Cooper’s “Under My Wheels,” in a freshly remastered Rhino release, sounded beautifully authentic through the Revela 2. The E-bass string decay at the beginning was great, and thanks to its hefty bass and mid-bass, the speaker delivered this ’70s classic with punch and energy. Rock fans will feel right at home here.
Few people actually need dual terminals. Better to have one pair of high-quality terminals like these.
Internal and External Damping
The interior of the Revela 2 uses both acoustic foam and “long-hair fibers” in every part of the cabinet to reduce reflections and standing waves. The heavy, solid construction also helps minimize resonances. Quad points out that the thick lacquer coating further protects the cabinet against vibrations.
‘80s pop sounded fantastic on the Quad, too, such as Falco’s “Kommissar,” which took on an unusual rhythmic feel, or “Nur geträumt” by Nena, with those wonderful keyboard parts. Hip-hop (“O.P.P.” by Naughty By Nature) ended up too bass-heavy, though, despite the speaker’s great sense of rhythm.
The Revela 2 has one undeniable strength: It’s enjoyable even at low volume levels.
Jazz pianist McCoy Tyner’s album “Sahara” can be challenging, and we played the MFSL SACD of it on our Technics SL-G700M2. The Revela’s tuning helped tame the album’s more demanding aspects, so there was no harshness or fatigue. The natural-sounding tweeter and the other drivers presented even complex passages in good detail. However, experienced listeners might notice that the speaker doesn’t sound fully open in the mid to high frequencies.
Compared to a Mission 770 we used for reference (and know well), the Revela 2 simply has a bit less energy between 2 and 10 kHz. While that does make the speaker more relaxed in this range, it also means you can listen longer without getting tired. Soundstage and imaging, on the other hand, were spot-on, and the speaker excels at low listening levels. “Red Rabbits” by The Shins produced a large soundstage and a lovely atmosphere, even at a soft volume. If your amplifier has tone controls for bass and treble, you can dial in an extra bit of performance here.
Performance Report
3-way floorstanding speaker with a bass reflex design, crossover points at 650 Hz and 3.8 kHz. Frequency response: very balanced, ripple under ±1 dB, gently sloping by 0.5 dB/octave in the highs, very consistent off-axis response. Measurements taken 10° above (green) and 30° off to the side (blue) nearly match the on-axis response (red). Cutoff frequencies at -3/-6 dB are 44/39 Hz. Distortion is unremarkable except in the deepest bass. Continuous maximum output (30 to 300 Hz): 104 dBspL. The waterfall plot (not shown) reveals no delayed ringing. Required amp power for 100 dBSPL and max bass level: 40W/4 ohms or 140W/3 ohms. Sensitivity: 84 dB/2 V. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms.
Quad Revela 2 Tech Specs
| Model | Quad Revela 2 |
| List Price | $4,300 (approx.) |
| Warranty | 2 Years |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 35 × 107 × 32.5 cm |
| Weight | 32 kg |
| Finish | Veneer / Foil / Lacquer (• / – / •) |
| Colors | Piano Black + Walnut |
| Design Principle | 3-way bass reflex |
| Room Adjustment | – |
| Special Features | Ribbon Tweeter |
Verdict
The Quad Revela 2 is an unusual speaker. First, it’s built exceptionally well. The transitions and curves are simply flawless—better than what you often see even at higher price points. Second, it has a somewhat distinctive sound.
It’s very rich and round, while the presence and treble are a touch restrained, making it perfect for long listening sessions. Tone controls on your amp can help if you want a bit more energy at the top end. Also, not many speakers manage to sound so complete and balanced at very low volumes. If you set them up right, the Quad Revela 2 can be a dream speaker.
| Neutrality (x2) | 167 → 10/10 |
| Detail Accuracy (x2) | 158 → 9/10 |
| Localization | 167 → 10/10 |
| Spatial Imaging | 167 → 10/10 |
| Microdynamics | 158 → 9/10 |
| Maximum Volume | 150 → 8/10 |
| Bass Quality | 158 → 9/10 |
| Bass Depth | 150 → 8/10 |
| Build Quality | Outstanding (≈ 10/10) |
Quad Revela 2 Loudspeaker Review
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