Mis à jour le 24 May 2022.
The Q Acoustics Concept 30 bookshelf speaker and Q Acoustics Concept 50 floorstanding speaker are 100W and 150W 2-way bass-reflex models. Staying true to the British brand’s philosophy, they feature exclusive technologies designed to drastically reduce cabinet resonance. Q Acoustics claims to deliver a distortion-free, coloration-free listening experience, with accurate sound and a holographic soundstage. The guarantee that the listener can enjoy music in all its original purity.
Inspired by the gorgeous Q Acoustics Concept 500 and Q Acoustics Concept 300, which have received numerous awards from the press, they are a new demonstration of the brand’s expertise and its quest to create a perfectly neutral and accurate acoustic speaker. Available for €1,199 and €2,599 respectively, do the Q Acoustics Concept 30 and Concept 50 speakers keep their promises?
Q Acoustics Concept 30 and Concept 50: packaging & accessories
A synthetic cover protects the speakers, which are held in place inside their box using blocks of polystyrene. Each speaker comes with a pair of magnetic acoustic fabric grilles.
A metal support base and the equipment to mount it are also included with each Q Acoustics Concept 50 speaker. The user can then choose to screw in decoupling spikes or ball-end feet.
Q Acoustics Concept 30 and Concept 50: presentation
The Q Acoustics Concept 30 bookshelf speakers and Q Acoustics Concept 50 floorstanding speakers are 2-way bass-reflex models. These speakers can be used for both hi-fi and home theater installations. For home theater, the manufacturer also offers the Q Acoustics Concept 90 center speaker, which uses the same technologies and drivers.
Exclusive drivers
The Q Acoustics Concept drivers are designed as an integral part of the speaker’s mechanical structure. The 5” midbass driver is mounted on a rigid 3mm thick aluminum baffle and then fitted into the cabinet. This ensures a good acoustic seal, dampens vibrations and minimizes structural coupling.
The driver cone combines a high degree of rigidity with low mass to maximize responsiveness. The long-throw surround allows a large volume of air to be moved and optimizes the bass response. The driver also features a large 30.5mm voice coil for high power handling.
The 1” tweeter is hermetically sealed and mechanically isolated from the baffle by a floating design. This results in lower distortion and a lower crossover frequency, allowing a more seamless integration with the midrange, a frequency range to which the human ear is particularly sensitive.
Vibration reduction
The chassis of the Q Acoustics Concept 30 and Concept 50 speakers uses Gelcore technology. To eliminate any coloration, a non-setting gel is sandwiched between two separate layers of MDF. It dissipates high-frequency vibrations generated by the moving drivers into heat.
The structure of the Q Acoustics speakers also benefits from internal bracing that connects the left and right side of the speaker at several precise points. This reinforces the structure of the cabinet to eliminate vibrations at low frequencies.
Lastly, the base of these speakers features a suspension system that very effectively isolates the cabinet from interference due to external vibrations. This results in a more accurate stereo image, while providing greater depth to the soundstage.
Double terminals, high power capacity
The Q Acoustics Concept 30 and Concept 50 speakers have two pairs of screw terminals for bi-wiring and bi-amping. This makes it possible to separate high-frequency signals from midrange and low-frequency signals. This in turn minimizes the intermodulation distortion caused by the interaction between these two frequency ranges, resulting in more clarity in the midrange.
The Q Acoustics Concept 30 speaker has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms and a sensitivity of 87 dB. It can therefore be connected to any amplifier with a power output between 25 and 100 watts.
The Q Acoustics Concept 50 speaker has the same impedance and a sensitivity of 90.5 dB. The manufacturer recommends an amplifier power between 25 and 150 watts.
Q Acoustics Concept 30 and Concept 50: key specifications
- Type: 2-way
- Enclosure: bass-reflex
- Double layer structure with GelCore
- 5” midbass driver
- 1” tweeter
- Concept 30 frequency response: 54Hz to 30kHz
- Concept 50 frequency response: 42Hz to 30kHz
- Nominal impedance: 6Ω
- Recommended amplifier power: 25 to 100W (Concept 30)/25 to 150W (Concept 50)
Q Acoustics Concept 30 and Concept 50: listening conditions
We tested the Q Acoustics Concept speakers in the auditorium of the Son-Vidéo.com Nantes store. We paired them with the Cambridge EVO 150 connected amplifier and then the Marantz Model 40n amplifier using Viard Audio Silver HD12 speaker cables. We were able to listen to several streaming services, including Qobuz and Tidal.
Q Acoustics Concept 30 and Concept 50: listening impressions
The Q Acoustics Concept 30 speakers impressed us right off the bat with their clarity and ability to reveal a wealth of micro details. From the singer’s breathing, to fingers sliding across the frets and the musician’s breath in the reed. All this subtle information was revealed to the listener and enriched the musical experience.
The outlining and the spatialization of the various elements of the soundstage were exceptionally precise. The feeling of space was characterized by a wonderful magnitude, with a remarkable openness and a palpable depth between the different levels. All this was articulated in a smooth and natural way, with an obvious sense of timing.
The balance between the different frequency ranges was perfect, even at high volume and with complex acoustic messages. The highs were precise and direct, without any harshness. The mids were delivered with conviction, and were beautifully full without being ostentatious. The lows were energetic and intense without overflow and with a perfect sense of timing. However, those who like very deep bass will benefit from adding a subwoofer.
During our listening session, we enjoyed a feeling of naturalness and musical clarity, the kind you can only experience with the best speakers.
All of these qualities were also found on the Q Acoustics Concept 50 floorstanding speaker, which offered even more energy and conviction. Without being abyssal, the bass gained depth and especially intensity. The midrange seemed even richer and more dense. The soundstage was wider and more spacious.
Q Acoustics Concept 30: compared to…
Sonus Faber Lumina II
The wood and leather finish of the Sonus faber speaker reflects its more voluptuous character and its ability to evoke emotion in the listener. The Italian speaker is also more tolerant of lower quality audio files than the more demanding British speaker. However, the Concept 30 is superior at extracting the smallest details from a recording and delivering the soundstage with great precision.
Q Acoustics Concept 50: compared to…
Davis Acoustics Courbet N°4
The French speaker, with its more understated aesthetic, is less sophisticated in its design and is highly musical. It is a little less rigorous and precise than the British model, and covers a slightly narrower frequency range, but its generosity and spontaneity hit the spot. However, the Concept 50 is more efficient in spatializing the sound in a holographic way.
Q Acoustics Concept 30 and Concept 50: who are they for?
These slim, elegant and modern speakers will impress with both their looks and their acoustic qualities. They are ideal for those looking to enjoy all the richness of their favorite music by means of a precise and detailed sound, without any coloration. Expressive and nuanced, they enchant both with their ability to unfold a vast soundstage and their luxurious yet discreet finish.
Q Acoustics Concept 30 and Concept 50: conclusion
With the Q Acoustics Concept 30 and Concept 50, the British manufacturer delivers two speakers with an incredibly pure sound signature. The technologies implemented contribute in providing an extremely realistic and lively musical experience. Accurate and detailed, but not too analytical, they are rigorous without being boring. Be careful, however, to select carefully made recordings, ideally in high resolution or studio quality. The pairing with the Marantz Model 40n amplifier proved to be particularly enthralling. Its very high current capacity allows it to fully harness all the qualities of these very beautiful speakers.
We liked
- The impeccable build quality
- The clear and rich sound
- The smooth and natural listening experience
We would have liked
- Deeper bass
