Audio T Verdict
The QUAD Revela 1 is where QUAD's ribbon loudspeaker technology becomes considerably more ambitious. It is still a relatively manageable standmount, but the 27 x 60mm True Ribbon tweeter, 165mm Reveal bass/mid driver, 17.6-litre cabinet and 40Hz bass extension put it firmly into serious full-size standmount territory.
The ribbon is particularly interesting. QUAD spent four years developing this generation, using an ultra-light aluminium element driven across its complete surface rather than a conventional dome and voice-coil arrangement. It is partnered by an equally unusual bass/mid cone made from wood pulp and artificial fibres including para-aramids, specifically developed to combine rigidity with useful self-damping.
The Revela 1 also deserves a suitably capable amplifier and proper stands. At 86dB sensitivity with impedance falling to 4.1 ohms, it is not an especially difficult loudspeaker, but neither is it something we'd partner purely by looking at the smallest amplifier that falls within the recommended range. Get the amplification and positioning right and this is the sort of standmount that can make you question whether you need a floorstander at all.
QUAD Revela 1 True Ribbon Standmount Speakers
The Revela 1 is the standmount model in QUAD's Revela Series, combining generations of ribbon-driver development with a completely new bass/mid diaphragm, sophisticated crossover network and extensively engineered reflex cabinet.
Although its technology has roots stretching back to QUAD's first loudspeaker, the Corner Ribbon of 1949, Revela is a thoroughly modern design developed under QUAD Director of Acoustic Design Peter Comeau.
- Premium 2-way standmount loudspeaker
- 27 x 60mm QUAD True Ribbon tweeter
- 165mm Reveal advanced-fibre bass/mid driver
- Reveal wood-pulp and artificial-fibre diaphragm
- Para-aramid reinforcement
- Custom rubber driver surround
- High-power bass/mid motor system
- Cast driver chassis
- Phase-compensated Acoustic Butterworth crossover
- 2.9kHz crossover frequency
- Bass-reflex enclosure
- Longitudinally splined reflex port
- Internally braced cabinet
- Radiused cabinet edges
- 86dB sensitivity
- 6-ohm nominal impedance
- 4.1-ohm minimum impedance
- 30 to 120W recommended amplifier power
- 120W peak power handling
- 102dB peak SPL
- 54Hz to 24kHz frequency response at ±3dB
- 40Hz bass extension at -6dB
- 17.6-litre cabinet volume
- Optional dedicated Revela speaker stand
- Piano Walnut with Piano Black detailing or Piano Black finish
More Than 70 Years of QUAD Ribbon Development
Ribbon technology has an unusually long history at QUAD.
The company's first loudspeaker, the Corner Ribbon, appeared in 1949, and the concept has continued to evolve through several generations of QUAD loudspeakers.
The Revela Series represents one of the most extensive developments of that technology to date, with QUAD spending more than four years developing the new high-frequency unit.
27 x 60mm True Ribbon Tweeter
High frequencies are reproduced by a 27 x 60mm True Ribbon.
The term 'True Ribbon' is important because not every flat high-frequency driver operates according to the same principle.
In the Revela design, a very thin conductive aluminium ribbon is suspended within a high-strength magnetic field and the music signal flows through the ribbon itself.
The Diaphragm Is the Conductor
In a conventional dome tweeter, a voice coil is attached to a separate diaphragm.
With the Revela True Ribbon, the ribbon itself carries the music signal and forms the radiating surface.
The entire diaphragm is therefore directly energised rather than being mechanically driven from a separate coil attached around part of its perimeter.
Driven Across the Complete Surface
The ribbon is driven evenly across its radiating area.
QUAD identifies this as one of the key advantages over conventional dome and some other planar high-frequency technologies, where the diaphragm can develop resonant or breakup behaviour as frequency rises.
A Fraction of the Moving Mass
QUAD states that the moving mass of its True Ribbon is typically around one-tenth that of a conventional dome tweeter.
Lower moving mass allows the high-frequency element to accelerate and stop extremely quickly as the music signal changes.
That is particularly relevant to transient information and the fine harmonic content that helps define the character and spatial position of instruments and voices.
True Ribbon vs Dome Tweeter
The Revela ribbon does not simply use a different material from a conventional dome. Its operating principle is different: the ultra-light conductive ribbon itself carries the signal and radiates the sound. That combination of very low mass and distributed drive is central to why QUAD continues to develop ribbon technology.
Four Years Developing the Ribbon
QUAD describes the Revela high-frequency unit as the result of more than four years of development.
That work builds on earlier S Series and Z Series ribbon designs rather than simply transplanting an existing tweeter into a more expensive cabinet.
The Revela version was developed alongside the new bass/mid driver so the two could be integrated as one system.
The Reveal Bass/Mid Driver
The 165mm bass/mid driver introduces a diaphragm material developed specifically for Revela and appropriately named Reveal.
Rather than relying on a conventional polypropylene, metal or single-fibre cone, QUAD uses a mixture of natural and artificial fibres.
Wood Pulp and Artificial Fibres
The Reveal diaphragm begins with wood pulp and adds synthetic fibres including para-aramids.
The aim is to combine useful stiffness with controlled internal damping.
A cone that is too flexible can deform excessively as frequency rises, while a very rigid but poorly damped material may produce pronounced resonances of its own.
QUAD's composite formulation is intended to balance those competing requirements.
Why Para-Aramid?
The artificial fibres reinforce the pulp diaphragm and increase its damping.
QUAD specifically identifies improved bass control and smoother behaviour through the upper midrange as aims of the Reveal cone formulation.
165mm Bass/Mid Driver
The Revela 1 uses a single 165mm Reveal driver to reproduce bass and the complete midrange up to the 2.9kHz crossover.
This is considerably larger than the bass/mid drivers used in QUAD's smaller S Series standmount speakers and gives the Revela 1 substantially greater radiating area and low-frequency potential.
Cast Driver Chassis
The Reveal driver is built on a cast chassis rather than relying on a simple pressed basket.
The chassis provides a rigid mechanical framework for the motor, suspension and cone, helping maintain accurate alignment as the driver moves.
High-Power Motor System
A high-power magnet and voice-coil system provides the force required to control the relatively large 165mm diaphragm.
The motor was developed together with the cone and suspension rather than simply adapting an existing drive unit for the Revela cabinet.
Custom Rubber Surround
The bass/mid driver also uses a specially developed rubber surround designed to permit greater excursion.
Greater controlled excursion allows the driver to move more air at low frequencies without requiring a larger cabinet or second bass driver.
One Driver Covers Bass and Midrange
Revela 1 is a genuine 2-way loudspeaker.
The same 165mm driver handles everything from the bass through the critical vocal region before handing over to the ribbon tweeter.
This avoids an additional crossover point within the midrange and allows the speaker to preserve a relatively simple two-driver acoustic architecture.
Phase-Compensated Acoustic Butterworth Crossover
The crossover is a phase-compensated Acoustic Butterworth design.
QUAD developed it using computer-aided design alongside extensive listening tests rather than treating the crossover purely as a mathematical electrical filter.
The network has to account for the acoustic behaviour of the actual drivers once mounted in the cabinet, including their frequency response, phase and relative acoustic output.
2.9kHz Crossover
The bass/mid driver hands over to the ribbon at 2.9kHz.
This keeps the ribbon away from the low frequencies that require substantially greater diaphragm excursion while allowing the single Reveal cone to carry the complete vocal region.
17.6-Litre Bass-Reflex Enclosure
The Revela 1 cabinet has a published internal volume of 17.6 litres.
It is a bass-reflex design, using a carefully engineered rear port to extend the useful low-frequency response of the 165mm driver.
40Hz Bass Extension
QUAD specifies bass extension to 40Hz at -6dB.
The primary ±3dB frequency response begins at 54Hz.
That gives the Revela 1 meaningful low-frequency reach for a standmount and means it can operate as a complete two-channel loudspeaker without automatically requiring a subwoofer.
Does the Revela 1 Need a Subwoofer?
No. QUAD designed it as a full-range standmount for conventional stereo listening.
A subwoofer can still be useful if you want greater output in the lowest octave, but the Revela 1's published 40Hz extension already reaches well into the bass region.
If a subwoofer is added, crossover level, phase and positioning should be adjusted carefully so the additional bass extends the Revela rather than drawing attention to itself.
A Reflex Port Designed to Reduce Resonance
The rear port is more sophisticated than a simple open tube.
QUAD optimises its diameter and flare and incorporates longitudinal splines within the port.
These are designed to smooth airflow and reduce longitudinal resonances that might otherwise colour the lower frequencies.
Why Port Design Matters
Air can move quickly through a reflex port when the bass/mid driver is working hard.
Poorly controlled airflow can create turbulence, noise or unwanted resonant behaviour. The Revela port geometry is intended to make the reflex system contribute useful low-frequency output without imposing an obvious character of its own.
Optimally Stressed Cabinet Panels
QUAD describes the Revela enclosure as using optimally stressed and braced panels.
A loudspeaker cabinet is subjected to repeated pressure changes internally and mechanical energy from the drive unit itself.
If the enclosure panels vibrate significantly, they become unintended additional radiators and release energy after the original signal.
Purpose-Engineered Internal Bracing
The internal bracing is connected to the cabinet panels in a way designed to dissipate unwanted vibration while maintaining structural rigidity.
This allows the 165mm driver to work against a more stable mechanical reference.
Radiused Cabinet Edges
The Revela cabinet avoids hard square edges wherever practical.
Its generously radiused profile is designed in part to reduce diffraction effects as sound travels across and around the enclosure.
Diffraction occurs when the sound wave encounters a sharp change in the cabinet boundary, potentially creating delayed secondary radiation that can affect frequency response and imaging.
Furniture-Grade High-Gloss Finish
The Revela enclosure is finished to a considerably higher standard than QUAD's more affordable speaker ranges.
Multiple layers of lacquer provide the deep gloss finish while also contributing additional damping to the outer cabinet surfaces.
Piano Black
The all-black version uses a deep black veneer beneath multiple lacquer coats.
The front baffle, cabinet and surrounding surfaces form a visually continuous high-gloss design.
Piano Walnut and Piano Black
The alternative finish combines lacquered real-wood walnut veneer on the cabinet sides and rear with Piano Black front baffle, top and base sections.
This gives the Revela 1 a more traditional natural-wood appearance without losing the contemporary design of the front fascia.
86dB Sensitivity
Sensitivity is specified at 86dB for 2.83V at 1 metre.
This is moderate rather than exceptionally high, so the Revela 1 benefits from amplification with useful power reserves, particularly where the listening position is some distance from the speakers.
30 to 120W Recommended Amplifier Power
QUAD recommends an amplifier in the range of 30 to 120 watts.
This is a compatibility range rather than a statement that the Revela 1 requires 120W to work properly.
A quality 50W or 60W amplifier may be an excellent partner in many rooms, while greater reserves can become useful where listening distance and required volume increase.
120W Peak Power Handling
Peak power handling is specified at 120W.
This should not be interpreted as a target listening level or an instruction to use a 120W amplifier continuously.
It is one part of the overall loudspeaker specification and needs to be considered alongside amplifier behaviour and listening conditions.
6-Ohm Nominal Impedance
The Revela 1 is specified at 6 ohms nominal impedance.
Its impedance varies with frequency, as it does with all passive loudspeakers.
4.1-Ohm Minimum Impedance
The lowest published impedance is 4.1 ohms.
That is not an exceptionally difficult load for a suitable modern amplifier, but it does reinforce why the amplifier should be chosen for its ability to remain comfortable into lower impedances rather than simply from an 8-ohm wattage figure.
Amplifier Matching
The most useful starting point is an amplifier that falls within QUAD's 30 to 120W recommendation and is comfortable driving loads around 4 ohms. From there, room size, listening distance and preferred volume matter more than chasing the biggest wattage figure.
102dB Peak SPL
QUAD specifies a maximum peak sound-pressure level of 102dB.
That gives useful dynamic capability from a single-driver standmount while also providing a realistic indication of why the Revela 2 exists for customers wanting still greater output and scale.
54Hz to 24kHz Frequency Response
The main published frequency response is 54Hz to 24kHz at ±3dB.
The 24kHz upper limit reflects the extended high-frequency bandwidth available from the new True Ribbon design.
Optional Dedicated Revela Stand
QUAD developed a dedicated stand specifically for the Revela 1 rather than treating stand choice as an afterthought.
The optional stand is finished to complement the speaker and provides a purpose-designed platform at the correct general listening height.
QUAD's published stand dimensions are:
- Height: 590mm
- Top platform: 159 x 196mm
- Base: 350 x 280mm
- Finish: Piano Black
The stand is supplied as a pair.
Why Use a Dedicated Stand?
A substantial stand does three important things:
- Places the ribbon at an appropriate listening height
- Provides a stable mechanical platform for the 17.6-litre cabinet
- Allows the speaker to be positioned independently of shelves and furniture
The last point is particularly useful with a rear-ported speaker, because distance from the wall behind it can be adjusted freely.
Positioning the Revela 1
The Revela 1 should be treated as a serious standmount rather than pushed against a wall simply because its enclosure is relatively compact.
Its rear reflex port means bass balance will change according to the speaker's distance from the rear boundary.
We recommend beginning with the speakers clearly away from the wall, listening for bass definition and stereo depth, then making relatively small adjustments until the room and speaker work together.
Use Toe-In to Tune the Stereo Image
The optimum amount of toe-in depends on listening distance, speaker spacing and room acoustics.
Begin with the speakers angled gently towards the listening position. Increasing toe-in typically strengthens centre-image focus, while reducing it can broaden the apparent soundstage.
The final position should be chosen by listening rather than assuming one universal angle.
Keep the Ribbon Near Seated Ear Height
Like most carefully controlled high-frequency drivers, the Revela ribbon benefits from being positioned at a sensible height relative to the listener.
A properly proportioned stand allows the high-frequency unit to sit close to seated ear level and maintains consistent left/right geometry.
QUAD 3 as an Amplifier Partner
The QUAD 3 Integrated Amplifier delivers 65W per channel into 8 ohms and 100W into 4 ohms.
Those figures sit comfortably inside the Revela 1's published 30 to 120W amplifier recommendation and make it an obvious QUAD combination to audition.
As always, suitability also depends on room size and required listening level.
QUAD 303 as a Separate-Amplifier Option
The QUAD 303 Power Amplifier provides 50W per channel into 8 ohms and 70W into 4 ohms in normal stereo operation.
That also places it inside QUAD's recommended power range for the Revela 1 and makes the current 33/303 combination another system worth hearing.
Revela 1 or S-2?
Both are QUAD ribbon standmounts, but Revela represents a significant step in driver, crossover and cabinet engineering.
QUAD S-2
- 125mm woven Kevlar bass/mid driver
- 45 x 12mm S Series True Ribbon
- 87dB sensitivity
- 8-ohm nominal impedance
- 37Hz bass extension
- 10.3-litre cabinet
- More compact and affordable
QUAD Revela 1
- 165mm Reveal advanced-fibre driver
- 27 x 60mm latest-generation True Ribbon
- 86dB sensitivity
- 6-ohm nominal impedance
- 40Hz bass extension
- 17.6-litre cabinet
- More advanced crossover and cabinet engineering
The S-2 actually publishes slightly deeper -6dB bass extension, so the Revela 1 should not be thought of simply as an S-2 with more bass. The step up is about the complete loudspeaker: larger Reveal driver, newer ribbon technology, more sophisticated crossover, heavier cabinet construction and substantially more ambitious finish.
Revela 1 or Revela 2?
The Revela 2 takes the same core technologies into a substantially larger three-way floorstanding design.
Revela 1
- 2-way standmount
- 1 x 165mm bass/mid driver
- 27 x 60mm True Ribbon
- 86dB sensitivity
- 102dB peak SPL
- 40Hz bass extension
- 17.6-litre cabinet
Revela 2
- 3-way floorstander
- 2 x 165mm bass drivers
- 150mm dedicated midrange
- 27 x 60mm True Ribbon
- 89dB sensitivity
- 110dB peak SPL
- 35Hz bass extension
Choose the Revela 1 where room size, standmount flexibility and a smaller visual footprint are important. The Revela 2 becomes relevant where greater scale, efficiency, maximum output and dedicated three-way driver architecture justify the larger enclosure.
Who Is the Revela 1 For?
The Revela 1 makes particular sense if you want:
- A premium full-size standmount loudspeaker
- QUAD's latest-generation True Ribbon technology
- A large 165mm bass/mid driver
- A sophisticated 2-way rather than 3-way architecture
- Strong bass extension without a floorstander
- A loudspeaker for small to medium-sized listening rooms
- A speaker that responds to careful stand and room positioning
- Furniture-quality lacquered cabinet finishes
- A matching dedicated stand option
- A substantial upgrade over QUAD's S Series standmounts
Key Features
- QUAD Revela 1
- Premium 2-way standmount
- 27 x 60mm True Ribbon tweeter
- Four-year ribbon development programme
- Ultra-light aluminium ribbon
- Full-surface ribbon drive
- 165mm Reveal bass/mid driver
- Wood-pulp and artificial-fibre cone
- Para-aramid fibre reinforcement
- Custom rubber surround
- High-power motor system
- Cast driver chassis
- Phase-compensated Acoustic Butterworth crossover
- 2.9kHz crossover frequency
- Rear bass-reflex port
- Longitudinally splined port design
- Optimally stressed cabinet panels
- Purpose-engineered internal bracing
- Radiused cabinet edges
- 86dB sensitivity
- 6-ohm nominal impedance
- 4.1-ohm minimum impedance
- 30 to 120W recommended amplifier power
- 120W peak power handling
- 102dB peak SPL
- 54Hz - 24kHz frequency response
- 40Hz bass extension
- 17.6-litre enclosure
- 395mm height
- 246mm width
- 312mm depth including grille and terminals
- Optional 590mm dedicated Revela stand
- Piano Walnut with Piano Black detailing
- Piano Black finish
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the QUAD Revela 1 current?
Yes. Revela remains part of QUAD's current passive loudspeaker range.
Is the Revela 1 a standmount or bookshelf speaker?
QUAD's technical table categorises it as a bookshelf design, while the manufacturer describes it throughout the current range as a bookshelf/stand-mount monitor. For serious Hi-Fi use, a suitable speaker stand is the preferred installation.
Is it a 2-way loudspeaker?
Yes. One 165mm bass/mid driver is partnered by one True Ribbon tweeter.
What size is the tweeter?
27 x 60mm.
Is it a genuine ribbon tweeter?
Yes. QUAD specifically describes it as a True Ribbon design.
What makes a True Ribbon different?
The conductive aluminium ribbon itself carries the amplifier signal and radiates the sound, rather than using a separate voice coil attached to a conventional dome.
How heavy is the ribbon compared with a dome?
QUAD states that its moving mass is typically around one-tenth that of a conventional dome tweeter.
How long did QUAD develop the Revela ribbon?
More than four years.
What is the bass/mid cone made from?
QUAD's Reveal material combines wood pulp with artificial fibres, including para-aramids.
Why mix different fibres?
QUAD uses the mixture to increase diaphragm strength and internal damping, helping control bass while smoothing resonant behaviour through the upper midrange.
What size is the bass/mid driver?
165mm.
Does it use a cast driver chassis?
Yes.
What is the crossover type?
A phase-compensated Acoustic Butterworth crossover.
What is the crossover frequency?
2.9kHz.
Is the Revela 1 ported?
Yes. It is a bass-reflex design with a rear port.
What is unusual about the port?
QUAD uses optimised diameter and flaring together with longitudinal splines designed to smooth airflow and reduce resonant coloration.
What is the sensitivity?
86dB for 2.83V at 1 metre.
What amplifier power does QUAD recommend?
30 to 120W.
Does that mean I need a 120W amplifier?
No. A suitable amplifier can fall anywhere within the published range. Room size, listening distance, speaker load capability and preferred level determine how much useful power is required.
What is the nominal impedance?
6 ohms.
What is the minimum impedance?
4.1 ohms.
Is the Revela 1 difficult to drive?
The 4.1-ohm minimum is not extreme, but the speaker benefits from an amplifier comfortable with lower-impedance loads and with sufficient reserves for its 86dB sensitivity.
What is the peak power handling?
120W.
What is the peak SPL?
102dB.
What is the frequency response?
54Hz to 24kHz at ±3dB.
How deep does the bass go?
QUAD specifies 40Hz at -6dB.
Does it require a subwoofer?
No. It is designed to operate as a complete stereo loudspeaker. A subwoofer remains an optional addition where greater output in the lowest octave is required.
What is the cabinet volume?
17.6 litres.
What are the dimensions?
QUAD's current dedicated product specification gives 395mm high, 246mm wide and 312mm deep including the grille and terminals.
How much does each speaker weigh?
QUAD's current specification publishes a net carton weight of 24.6kg rather than a separate per-speaker figure, so Audio T does not derive or invent an individual loudspeaker weight.
Does QUAD make a dedicated stand?
Yes. A custom Revela stand is available specifically for the Revela 1.
How high is the dedicated stand?
590mm.
What size is the stand base?
350 x 280mm.
What size is the stand top?
159 x 196mm.
What finishes are available?
Piano Black and a Piano Walnut/Piano Black combination using walnut veneer on the cabinet sides and rear with black lacquered front, top and base sections.
How does the Revela 1 compare with the S-2?
The Revela 1 uses a larger 165mm Reveal driver, QUAD's newer 27 x 60mm True Ribbon, a larger and more sophisticated cabinet and phase-compensated Acoustic Butterworth crossover. The S-2 remains the smaller and more affordable model.
Does the Revela 1 have deeper published bass than the S-2?
No. Interestingly, the S-2 publishes a 37Hz -6dB bass-extension figure compared with 40Hz for Revela 1. Revela's step up is about the complete driver, ribbon, crossover, cabinet and finish engineering rather than one isolated bass figure.
What is the difference between Revela 1 and Revela 2?
Revela 1 is a 2-way standmount using one 165mm bass/mid driver. Revela 2 is a 3-way floorstander with two 165mm bass drivers, a dedicated 150mm midrange and the same 27 x 60mm True Ribbon concept.
Related QUAD Products
Why Buy the QUAD Revela 1 From Audio T?
A premium standmount should be chosen as part of a complete system rather than simply from its driver technology or frequency-response figures. The Revela 1's 86dB sensitivity, 4.1-ohm minimum impedance, rear reflex port and ribbon tweeter all make amplifier choice, stand height and room positioning genuinely important.
Audio T can demonstrate the Revela 1 with suitably capable amplification, compare it with smaller QUAD models and help establish whether the standmount Revela 1 or larger floorstanding Revela 2 makes more sense for your room.
- In-store demonstrations
- Amplifier matching
- 4.1-ohm minimum-impedance guidance
- Speaker sensitivity advice
- QUAD amplifier demonstrations
- Speaker-stand selection
- Dedicated Revela Stand advice
- Ribbon-height setup
- Rear-wall positioning guidance
- Toe-in and stereo-image setup
- Room-size assessment
- Revela 1 versus Revela 2 comparison
- Revela 1 versus S-2 comparison
- Speaker-cable and termination advice
- Subwoofer integration where appropriate
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store to arrange a demonstration or discuss whether the QUAD Revela 1 is the right premium standmount for your amplifier, room and listening preferences.