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Quad 12L Bookshelf Loudspeakers Quad 12L bookshelf speakers Lovely gloss timber finishComes with original box for transport$300 ono Condition: Very Good Payment Method: EFT or cash on pick up Region/State: (WA) Western Australia/Australia By benjoza 0 Comments AUD $300 Date: January 2Jan 2
Slightly ambitious at AUD 300—fairly priced comps for used Quad 12L speakers recently sit in a tight AUD 284-292 band (median AUD 288 from two solid local listings), so you'd be paying a small premium without clear condition details.
Buyers should prioritise verifying driver integrity, as the iconic 12L's transmission line can suffer foam rot or cone degradation after decades; gently test all four drivers for even response and no rattling. Confirm original grilles, stands if mentioned, and serial numbers match (pre-1980s builds are gold but need reconning). Pass if seals look suspect.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Quad, the venerable British hi-fi brand, traces its origins to 1936 in London, when engineer Peter J. Walker founded S.P. Fidelity Sound Systems, soon renamed the Acoustical Manufacturing Company. Relocating to Huntingdon in 1941 after wartime bombing, the firm shifted from public address gear to domestic audio amid post-war demand for superior sound reproduction. Walker's pioneering ethos—prioritizing "the closest approach to the original sound"—defined Quad from its early QA12 amplifiers, adopted by the BBC, to the iconic Quad I of 1953.
The brand excels in amplifiers and electrostatic loudspeakers, revolutionizing both categories. The Quad II power amplifier of 1953 introduced cathode coupling for vanishingly low distortion, while the 1956 ESL 57 delivered the world's first full-range electrostatic speaker, employing a massless film diaphragm for unparalleled transparency and transient speed. Quad advanced into solid-state with the 1967 303 and transistor designs featuring innovative "Triples" output stages, later expanding to integrated amps like the 99 series, moving-coil speakers, and modern electrostatic models such as the ESL 988 and 989.
Today, under the International Audio Group since 1997, Quad holds a prestigious position in the high-end market, revered by audiophiles for its unyielding pursuit of accuracy over trends. Its heritage components command vintage collector status, yet contemporary offerings maintain a niche boutique appeal among discerning buyers seeking refined, distortion-free reproduction that honors Walker's legacy.
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