From our standpoint, Q Acoustics seems to be a prisoner of its personal success. The model burst onto the scene again in 2006 with a terrific vary of funds audio system and every new technology of that authentic vary has bolstered the corporate’s popularity as a funds speaker maestro. The truckload of five-star evaluations and awards gained over that point have helped too.
The difficulty with such success at lower cost factors is that it has led to a scarcity of appreciation for the model’s extra upmarket merchandise. The £3599 / $6999 / AU$7999 Idea 500 floorstanders are an excellent instance. These are actually glorious audio system for the cash, in some ways higher than options that value 1000’s extra, however within the UK a minimum of, the retail worth is decrease now than what it was on launch in 2017. Given how a lot costs have risen throughout the board over the past six years that tells its personal story.
The brand new 5000 sequence fills the hole between the funds 3000 fashions and the extra premium Idea vary. On launch, it consists of two standmounters, two floorstanders, a devoted centre speaker and a subwoofer. The Q Acoustics 5040 is the smaller of the 2 towers and at 97cm excessive and simply 18cm vast is the correct of measurement to slide into most rooms with out being obtrusive.
Design
These floorstanders use the corporate’s favoured twin mid/bass driver with a tweeter within the center format, which has produced good outcomes when it comes to dispersion and integration in earlier fashions. Nevertheless, within the 5040 these mid/bass drivers are a model new design that makes use of what Q Acoustics calls a Steady Curved Cone. This new driver has a geometry that’s claimed to marry the rigidity benefits of an ordinary conical cone profile with the high-frequency break-up traits of a extra flared design.
Q Acoustics 5040 tech specs
Kind Floorstanders
Drive items 25mm comfortable dome tweeter, 12.5cm mid/bass x 2
Ported? Sure (rear)
By-wire? No
Impedance 6 ohms
Sensitivity 91.5dB
Dimensions (hwd) 97 x 18 x 28cm
Weight 18.0kg
Finishes x3 (black, white, oak, rosewood)
The cone materials is the corporate’s favoured impregnated paper and the diaphragm’s diameter is a reasonably slim 125mm. In our conferences with the engineers it turns into evident that they’re actually happy with this design, so don’t be stunned to search out it carried out in future fashions.
The tweeter follows firm traditions by being a 25mm comfortable dome that’s decoupled from the entrance baffle to cut back any distortions brought on by structural vibrations. The three drive items are linked by a comparatively easy second-order crossover community that makes use of metallized polyester movie capacitors, air core inductors and high-power wire wound resistors. The result’s a speaker that’s rated at simply over 91dB/W/m sensitivity and has a claimed nominal impedance of 6 ohms. That impedance dips to a minimal of three ohms, which means that partnering the 5040s with a muscular amplifier just like the Cambridge Audio CXA81 is sensible.
Construct high quality
We’ve got no complaints in regards to the 5040’s construct and end. Q Acoustics tends to do such issues effectively and the story hasn’t modified right here. The cupboard feels inflexible because of the 25mm thick HDF entrance baffle and the fastidiously thought of inside bracing employed. The opposite panels are all 20mm thick MDF. When you get the audio system out of the field it’s worthwhile to screw on their aluminium outriggers on the again finish of the bottom, however past including the spikes there may be little extra to do.
Speaker positioning isn’t an excessive amount of of a difficulty. The 5040 sound tonally balanced when positioned round 40cm away from the rear wall in our 3 x 7 x 5m (hwd) listening room. It’s attainable to place them even nearer when you use the equipped foam bungs to dam the rear-firing ports, although the speaker’s presentation loses a bit of fluidity this fashion. We get probably the most convincing stereo imaging with the 5040 barely angled in direction of the listening place, aimed in order that they cross a bit of behind our listening place.
Compatibility
We use our reference system of Naim ND555/555 PS DR music streamer and Burmester 088/911 MKIII amplifier for a few of the testing but additionally use extra price-compatible amplification equivalent to Naim’s Nait XS3 and Cambridge’s CXA81 to see how the 5040 react.
Historically, Q Acoustics merchandise have at all times proved easy-going and unfussy in terms of system matching. We don’t suppose that’s the case any extra. The front-footed 5040 are impressively clear for the cash and that signifies that they’re faster to point out up any shortcomings additional up the audio chain. In case your supply or amplifier is liable to aggression or brightness these audio system will depart you in little doubt of that. Accomplice them with refined electronics and also you received’t go far unsuitable.
Sound
When you get it proper, these audio system serve-up a superb sound for the cash. We begin with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and the 5040 waste no time in impressing. They sound splendidly clear and exact with the main edges of notes crisply outlined and rendered with none extra harshness. There’s loads of element right here from lush instrumental textures to the refined clues that go into defining the acoustic area of the recording venue.
Tonally, these floorstanders sit simply on the lean facet of impartial, however not as far as to trigger points. This presentation helps to present the audio system loads of agility and grip. Low-frequency notes come and go along with little overhang but lack nothing in terms of punch and authority. We like the way in which these towers at all times sound composed and managed, and that sense of organisation doesn’t falter when the music turns into demanding.
The symphony’s punishing crescendoes are thumped out with enthusiasm, and the 5040 keep composed whilst the amount ranges rise. Stereo imaging is equally spectacular. As soon as the 5040 are positioned with care, they paint a spacious, targeted and properly layered soundstage. With eyes closed, we will simply find the precise positions of the orchestra’s numerous sections. That soundstage stays secure too, no matter musical complexity.
We change to Drake’s Below Floor Kings and the 5040s proceed to impress. They convey the music’s momentum with conviction whereas permitting us to trace each phrase of his distinctive drawl. These towers sound quick and enjoyable. There’s loads of assault however sufficient in the way in which of solidity and refinement to keep away from accusations of aggression.
This impression of a properly-rounded performer is bolstered as we work our manner by our music assortment. We spend a day transferring from Publish Malone to Nitin Sawhney after which ending with Miles Davis’s Sketches Of Spainand by no means do these audio system sound out of their consolation zone.
Verdict
The Q Acoustics 5040 are even-handed performers that merely step out of the way in which of the music and let it shine. When partnered with care they ship a splendidly expressive and insightful efficiency that’s class-leading at this stage. So, is that this speaker adequate to ascertain Q Acoustics as a drive at extra premium worth factors? Judged on capability we actually hope so.
SCORES
- Sound 5
- Construct 5
- Compatibility 4
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