The arrival of the new 5000 range marks something of a new dawn for Q Acoustics. It signals a determination to make more of an impact at premium price points and, perhaps more surprisingly, a shift in sonic signature.
Until we reviewed the Award-winning Q Acoustics 5040 floorstanders late last year, every stereo speaker we had heard from the company displayed a remarkable consistency of sonic character: refined, insightful and undemanding to match. These were the very qualities that made them so recommendable. Against the very best they could also be accused of playing things a little safe, reining back the drama in the music just a touch in exchange for an easier listen.
The 5040 floorstanders, and subsequent experience with the rest of the 5000 series, shows that things have changed. There has been a notable shift in emphasis, with dynamism, clarity and agility now more prominent, though at the cost of some loss of natural warmth.
But what happens if you take this award-winning recipe and scale it up a bit? The result is the range-topping Q Acoustics 5050 we have on test here. The most significant changes between the two models are as follows: the 5050’s twin mid/bass drivers are bigger (15cm vs 12.5cm) as is the cabinet (internal volume of 39.7 vs 27 litres). Visually, the new floorstanders look more dominating and certainly will benefit from being used in larger spaces.
The best of both worlds
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 2024 من What Hi-Fi UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 2024 من What Hi-Fi UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Yamaha True X
An enjoyable, energetic sound from a small package
Sennheiser Momentum Sport
Sport-friendly tech abounds, but what about the sound?
How to set up a turntable and get the best sound
Make the most of your shiny new record player
Meze Audio Empyrean II
In a relatively short time, Meze Audio has made quite some impact on the world of headphones.
System of the month
For our vinyl special, an affordable turntable set-up brought right up-to-date with streaming smarts
From voice to vinyl how records get their groove
Ever wondered how music actually gets onto your vinyl records? Let us take you now on a journey into sound…
STAGE RIGHT
Our pick of the best phono stages that will help your records bring the house down
Q Acoustics 5050
Grace and power at a really competitive price
Sony ULT Wear
Sony breaks from its winning wireless formula... with very mixed results
Denon AVC-X6800H
Denon delivers yet another feature-rich and powerful-sounding flagship AVR