Q Acoustics 5050

Grace and power at a really competitive price

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