The Article
3050i Floorstanders From Q Acoustics
19th March 2019
Offered at an attractive price, Q Acoustics has released a set of enhanced floorstanding models. Paul Rigby reviews the 3050i speakers
Yes, floorstanding speakers take up space and can be an eyesore to some but their sonic benefits are tempting indeed. Well-designed floorstanders, as opposed to standmounts with a bit of cabinet stuck underneath can, of course, be a boon for those users looking for enhanced lower frequencies but they can also be perfect for those with a great sounding, yet low powered amplifier. These speakers have a 91db sensitivity, for example. Ideal for a relatively low powered valve integrated, if you wish to be adventurous. They can also provide a truly balanced performance that can be attractive and addictive.
To that effect, Q Acoustics hope to have you hooked to your music collection through their 3050i speakers.
Sporting two, coated paper, mid/bass units of 165mm, finished with newly developed, low-hysteresis, rubber surrounds and a soft dome, decoupled 22mm treble unit, the speakers include HPE (Helmholtz Pressure Equalizer) technology designed to, “…convert pressure to velocity and reduce the overall pressure gradient within the speaker enclosure…” said the company. “This technology is perfect for taller loudspeakers that tend to resonate at a single favoured frequency.”
You’ll find enhanced design features over the earlier 3050 model such as extra work on the cabinet in terms of extra bracing, infusing the cabinet with strength. While we’re on the subject of meat, the cabinet baffle has also been bolstered to provide a better foundation for the drivers on the front.
Arriving in Graphite grey, English Walnut, Carbon black or Arctic white with a chrome bezel that frames the drivers to provide visual highlights, the whole lot can be covered, if you wish, by magnetically attached grills. I removed mine for the sound tests.
The speakers use “low profile” binding posts that accept 4mm Banana Plugs. The idea behind that was to avoid terminal cut outs to improve cabinet structural integrity. They worked very well.
Spanning 310 x 1020 x 310mm, each speaker weighs in at 17.8kg.
SOUND QUALITY
I began with vinyl and Public Image Ltd’s This is What you Want…This is What You Get LP (1984) and the track, Bad Life.
First impression from the 3050i speakers was that the sound, in its broadest sense, was impressive. In terms of its overall sonic flavour and how high energy, dynamic music hits you. The music was presented in a big, bold and grand fashion.
Now, with any pair of speakers, you start talking like that and what normally follows is a concurrent lack of finesse but not here. The 3050i speakers provided plenty of that too. Hence, there was a delicate balance with, on one hand, lower frequency strength and, on the other, detail from the upper mids.
Let’s begin with the deep stuff. Bass was big, it was powerful and it delivered with heft but it never swamped the soundstage. Yes, there was punch and mass but it knew its place. It never threatened to invade the space allocated to the midrange. Hence, any air produced by the midrange was allowed to flow, the bass didn’t swamp or mask any of the more fragile aspects of the presentation. It merely sat alongside.
Treble and midrange detail was heard in abundance with subtle sax effects easily tracked amongst the percussion and bass guitar. The measure of midrange insight meant that you always felt in touch with the subtle details, even in a raucous track such as this.
But I wanted to investigate the upper frequencies further, so I loaded a Bing Crosby CD and Let A Smile be Your Umbrella on the album Bing With a Beat (Bluebird).
The beginning of this track begins with a busy series of percussive taps in which everything but drums are hit: the rims of drums, cymbal stands perhaps, coffee pots and flower vases maybe? Whatever they were, they were short and sharp tonal responses from the drum sticks. Oh and Crosby’s voice too. The Q Acoustics handled the lot with aplomb. And this is the thing about the 3050i speakers. Here I am going on about the bass in the text above but here, there was no hint that the upright bass, when it decided to join in, was being pushed forward in the mix, no sign that the lower frequencies were taking control. No, once more, balance reigned with each frequency type maintaining its true position, allowing the soundstage to sound measured and even in tone.
Hence, the percussion had plenty of space to maintain a delicacy during its initial tapping fest with treble in fine evidence while the contrasting Crosby baritone, full of delicate nuances and tiny degrees of emphasis here and there, provided a neat reflection of rough texture that gave the early part of the song a delightful relief.
As the rest of the jazz band launched into the track, I was happy to see enough instrumental separation that allowed even subtle elements of the music to ease through without any apparent effort. Hence the piano, which sat at the back of the mix, took full part of the song. Adding a sense of clarity but also richness to the output.
CONCLUSION
Q Acoustics should be congratulated for providing so many sonic goodies for the price here. The combination of midrange transparency and bass strength is pretty irresistible while all genres of music are treated with a sense of respect by these speakers. They never impose themselves upon the soundstage, they just allow the strengths of that piece of music to venture forth in a natural manner.
The Q Acoustics 3050i speakers look good, they sound good and, by golly, the price is good too. What more could you ask for?
Q ACOUSTIC 3050i FLOORSTANDING SPEAKERS
Price: £649
Tel: 01279 501111
Website: www.qacoustics.co.uk
TO BUY CLICK BELOW:
USA – https://amzn.to/3jKpXk0
EUROPE – https://amzn.to/35ZPxwm
GOOD: airy mids, crafted bass, detail, aesthetics, value for money
BAD: none
RATING: 8
Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Group, The Audiophile Man: Hi-Fi & Music here: www.facebook.com/groups/theaudiophileman for exclusive postings, exclusive editorial and more!]
REFERENCE
Pro-Ject RPM3 turntable
Spendor A1 speakers
Tellurium Q cables
Blue Horizon Professional Rack System
Harmonic Resolution Systems Noise Reduction Components
All vinyl was cleaned using an Audio Desk’s Ultrasonic Pro Vinyl Cleaner
Thank you Paul.Alors pour le cable de modulation RCA moins de 400 euros
cable haut-Parleur moins de 400 euros
Je regarderais les c√¢bles d’enceintes Tellurium Q Black II: https://telluriumq.com/black-speaker-cable/
Et les interconnexions Tellurium Q Ultrac Black II: https://telluriumq.com/ultra-black-rca-cable/
thank you very much Paul..et pour finir dans un budget raisonnable Quel cable alimentaton secteur pour Audiolab 6000A et lecteur Marantz cd 6006 please?
Voil√† donc deux c√¢bles – quel est le budget total pour ceux-ci?
alors pour l’ampli Audiolab 600A moins de 300 euros et pour le cd Marantz cd 6006 moins de 300 euros √©galement..bref tout en √©tant raisonnable vu la valeur de ces 2 produits; Merci Paul;sympa de votre part.
Essayez le Helios de Titan: https://theaudiophileman.com/elektra-eros-helios-titan-review/
Merci Paul mais..aie..aie..aie…ce sont des connecteurs USA mais chez moi je n’ai que des prises pour Schuko.;Quelle solution pouvez-vous m’apporter svp?
Contactez les entreprises individuelles et demandez-leur les terminaisons correctes
Merci beaucoup Paul..Sympa de votre part pour vos conseils.Bonne continuation et merci de faire partager votre amour pour la Haute Fidélité.
My pleasure
Hi Paul, many thanks for all your great reviews!
Would you match the Q Acoustics 3050i to the Naim Atom or are they too ‘budget’ for the expensive Atom?
thanks!
Not at all, David – they would be a good fit.
Hi John would my 100w Onkyo amp be enough to power these 3050i’s ?
As John seems to be indisposed 🙂 I’ll answer instead. Yes, you should be fine there.
Thank you very much
Hi Paul
Fantastic review and I found it very useful, detailed and informative.
I have been considering these speakers for a while now, I’m looking to upgrade to some floor standers.
What would be your thoughts on adding these to my amp below, and would they be worth upgrading from my current speakers.
Yamaha R-N803 Network steaming amplifier.
Chord C- Screen speaker cable
Focal Aria 906
Keep up the good work on the site.
Many thanks
Daren
Hi Daren – yes, you have decent speakers there but the 3050i speakers would be a nice addition but I would consider upping the budget a touch to see some more improvement over what you already have and looking at these: https://theaudiophileman.com/monitor-audio-silver-300-speakers-review/
Next? Consider a separate audiophile amplifier with a separate streamer to enhance the front end. The new speakers will also appreciate that upgrade.
Hi Paul
Thanks for the reply.
I do have the Monitor audio silver 300 in my list but was thinking that they might be too good for the Yamaha steaming amp I currently have.
If I was to plump for the silver 300’s what sperate music streamer and amplifier would you recommend?
I listen mainly to MQ tracks and albums from Tidal and the occasional CD.
I also listen to net radio for back ground music if I’m busy doing chores.
I’m happy to spend up to ¬£1,500 or possibly stretch to ¬£2,000 at a push for the Streamer and amp once I sell the Yamaha.
And then potentially get the MA silver 300’s
which I can pick up for around £1,250
What would you recommend?
Many thanks.
You’re right – but I could say that about the Q Acoustics too. I assumed you were attached to your Yamaha. Some people get very possessive about their kit 🙂 If you’re more open minded then I would put the speaker upgrades on hold and upgrade your source first. I’d look at a Bluesound 2i for streaming and the like, for around ¬£500. For an amp? Maybe the Cambridge CXA81, Rega Elicit-R, Leema Elements or a pre/power combo of Schiit Freya pre and Edge power amp.
Hi Paul terrific review as always. I’ve had my eye on these a while now but they are ridiculously underpriced for what they do, especially now being a ¬£100 cheaper!
My question is, and I don’t mind asking you this as I’m sure you’re more than familiar with my speakers; they’re 26 years old and owned from the very start and still performing well. I give you the Castle Howard’s and their renowned sonics especially that bass. Would these Q Acoustic speakers knock them of their precarious throne in this technology advanced 21st century? Obviously they seem to be forgiving of less than perfect recordings and well balanced too so I’m sure the tweeter gets out of the way as it should without losing the important detail. But….what about the bass? Has it got heft and richness. My room size is 13×13.5×10.
Thanks in advance…..
Hi Dermot – it’s a tough call to compare the two to be honest. Firstly, because I have never given the Castles a proper test although I have heard them at a friend’s house and they sounded very rich and warm in his system. I would guess – and it is a guess I’m afraid – that the 3050i speakers would be more neutral in presentation. Bass is good for the price, it won’t be as controlled or as focused as a pair of ¬£1k speakers, sure. But they’re a good choice if you want a floor stander at a low price.
Thanks Paul! I’ve actually come up with another idea which I’m terrified of carrying out. I have two systems in the same room and I’m thinking of using a second pair of speakers with the other system when the mood takes me. All the better if the sound is ‘different’ but not necessarily better than my ‘main’ system. I can be a kid again with the Q Acoustics and more grown up with the Howard’s üòä
Hi Dermot – two systems in one room is fine and, if they represent a different tonal approach, a sensible one. I’ve thought about alternative systems too. In my case, the other systems wouldn’t be based on sound quality but, well, fun. Stuff I know is sonically compromised but, hey, who cares because I’d just enjoy using it. Time and space have put me off so far. Oh, cash too. I’ll get there, though. I keep looking at about 7 cassette decks… I’m in a tape mood.
In short, don’t worry about it. Enjoy it.