Q Acoustics 5040 Floorstanding Speaker Review.

Written review/data can be found here:
(coming soon)

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All of my tests are conducted using KLIPPEL Hardware and Software. KLIPPEL is an innovative leader in providing unique test equipment for electro-acoustical transducers and audio systems. Founded in 1997 by Dr. Wolfgang Klippel, the novel techniques developed for control and measurement systems of loudspeakers and other transducers are the result of over 30 years of fundamental research. This provides more accurate physical models of loudspeakers, micro-speakers and headphones valid for both small and large amplitudes. The focus is on revealing the root causes of signal distortion and defects and giving practical indications for improvements in design and manufacturing of audio products. For information on KLIPPEL products, please visit their site below:

[dentman]

So funny. This review is the complete opposite from other reviewers. This is such a fun hobby.

[vgfjr]

As a scientist, measurements don’t lie especially because the human ear is different from person to person and limited in sensitivity, so a common base measurement is the best way to find an unbiased opinion.

Way to go!!! Definitely adding your channel.

[paulgyro]

You are more generous with your comments on this speaker then I would have been based on the data. You of course heard the speaker where I have not

Q Acoustics: "Deep bass dynamics are also claimed to be improved, with tighter, better-damped low-end response allowing more flexibility in the placement of speakers near the wall boundaries of the listening room".

I guess it's kinda tuned that way..

I also noticed that many reviews blaim 'bright sounding sources or gear' for the speakers to sound sibilant and edgy at times. This is a good example why measurement come in handy, before swapping out gear to mitigate some brightness.

[Arthax]

I asked for this review a couple of days ago. Man, you are the best! ❤

[Bob.martens]

This is my subjective, personal impression after a year of ownership.
I really love my 5040's. I live small, but my room is centered around that system. Not the other way around. The width and depth of the soundstage they produce is objectively impressive, but only in the middle of my sofa. That is with them standing five feet apart and at 7 feet listening distance My aging ears like bright speakers, and I call them detailed. I know the difference. They look great too.
They're compact, but in silhouette only. Their true footprint is in reality far from compact: the rounded bottom corners necessitate the wide 'stabilisers'.
Square undersides, Q! Everybody knows these 'wings' are effing ugly:) I know it's a cost thing: all corners rounded is symmetrical and symmetrical is cheaper.

The aberrant (mid)bass response never bothered me. Even placed three feet from the walls. The bass extension is however objectively unspectacular for a floorstander, even small ones like these. My sub fills the lower octave, when I feel lke it. I've used APO EQ (and just my ears) to 'flatten' their response, but have always returned to no EQ. I'm not a mastering engineer, living in a studio control room... Audio chain is now HDD (or CD) to DAC (as preamp) - Purifi poweramp - speakers.
I had Lintons before these, and standing in about the same spot (small room, little choice) they were just too boomy. And a little too dark. Great speakers, not suited for me and my room.


I've been a sound-o-phile since childhood, thanks dad:). It was always was more about musical enjoyment than pure fidelity. Aged 10, I was a handed down a JVC component system and KEF speakers. Compact systems have come a long way, but I'm a snob when it comes to audiosystems: components or nothing. I like the modularity. On the go I never had less than upper-midrange Walkmen (Minidisc) but always with big cans to match. The cause of my tinnitus is no mystery.

[allenbrixey]

Everyone else seems to love these. I've had a pair of 3030i's and they had great bass for a bookshelf and weren't bright. I'm kind of a Kef fan right now.

[Kami]

I’d like to see a review of the concept 50

[kramsniggah]

Wow thanks Erin. I listened to the 5040's in a showroom in a fast comparison to a few pairs of speakers in the £1000 to £1500 (UK) region. I seriously thought the 5040's were incorrecty wired, they sounded broken. I asked the assistant if I could experirmt with placement and the improvements were marginal at best - it ticks all the 'narrow boxes are the modern sound'. Not for me..

[eddiemogambo]

Hi Erin, enjoy your cool yet objective style you institute, while reviewing speakers. Could you please consider doing a review for the SVS ultra towers? All the very best to you. Cheers!

[mattholland]

This looks to be a well engineered speaker, albeit not one that’s measurements will appeal to the typically well informed subscribers to this channel.

My assumption is that this speaker is designed for small rooms hence the bass shelf to suit close wall positioning. The wide horizontal dispersion will help it sound “big” in small rooms.

The predicted in-room response shows a very typical treble boost which I think manufacturers deliberately include through fear of losing a short showroom demo to a competitor that delivers more superficial detail.

The poor vertical directivity could be avoided if this was a 2.5 way design but that would sacrifice midrange efficiency.

It looks great and the brand has a great reputation. I doubt this speaker will harm that.

[foxgamingyt]

Hi Erin, apologies again for another off topic comment, as this is the only place where I can directly communicate with you, but I'd like to ask, have you ever had interest in measuring the Partybox lineup by JBL? It's very unconventional relative to what you usually measure and review, but the deep bass response is one that really catches my attention. Frankly, I do not expect FR to be that good, with all sorts of funky lobing between the tweeters and woofers due to the orientation they're all in, and the tweeters themselves being massive and therefore likely beaming and have break up modes screwing with the upper treble FR, but I'm mainly curious if FR is still half decent, and how the compression test, THD and multitone distortion look like. I actually have a pair at home, and maybe it's due to my untrained ears, but I personally find them an alright set haha. But of course, nothing beats having actual anechoic data 😉

[crisgrant]

Erin, finally bought a pair of these on final production batch deal in Australia. I havent un-packed them yet due to waiting for apartment to be built. In the meantime I have a question re toe in and toe out. If I were to use the 38% room rule then these would be straight at my centre seating position (of my TV viewing couch) about 8 feet from from each speaker - which is toed in about 20 deg. Now teh question is - is toe in toe out relative the listener or relative the room? For example, I have them 'square' in the room this means they are actually toed out about 20 deg from the optimal listening postion. Am I wrong? C

[AbsoluteFidelity]

No wonder they sounded so darn thin everytime I hear them, and I have heard them in at least 5 different rooms, 2 of them with the speakers really near the back wall. Still thin. That lower end response is just crazy, enhancing clarity and I always ask myself why does this speaker sound so clear and 'sparkly', almost Focal-like. No upper bass and tipped up treble + wide dispersion = airy crystal clear sound. A response like this is just unacceptable.

[RedBeardedRabbit]

For the price these really should have been 2.5 way to avoid the vertical directivity issues.

Thanks Erin!

[dedge]

Interesting. Picked a pair of these up in an open box/returns clearance sale discounted to £700 recently. Haven't noticed any siblilence at all except from one Adele CD (21) where the vocals sound wierdly processed to me. By chance I've positioned them pretty much in the sweet spot, according to Erin's review, at 18" from the rear wall. They're also accompanied by a sub, which does help..

For me these were a massive upgrade from a pair of 80/90s Monitor Audio stand mounted monitors both as a part of a 5.1 system and for general listening, to the extent I'm relistening to a bunch of music and rewatching movies. I don't know what that says apart from a lot of this is subjective and I don't have audiophile ears.

[razmspiele]

Thank you for putting a review out for these. I was very close to pulling the trigger before your review came out, but wanted to wait to hear what you had to say. My ideal HT setup is going to be 5.1.2, but I also want to be able to stream and enjoy lossless music. I've narrowed my choices down to the SVS Prime Pinnacle Speaker, Paradigm Premier 800F, or the Polk Audio Reserve R700. Do you have any plans to review these or have a potential preference?

[ibakedit]

Erin, I am learning so much your channel. Thank you. And have you ever heard Audiovector QR3 or any QR series speakers in their product range?

[RobbyP]

Will you ever test the concept 50’s really interested to see how they shape up. There’s lots of positive reviews on them but nothing backed up with the data…

[upperfootball_]

Hey Erin! Do you have any favorite bookshelf speaker recommendations at the $750-$1000 price point? Thanks!