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Love your channel, these sound like really amazing speakers. Also really interested in the Polk R700 you reviewed recently. Would love to see a review from you on the new Emotiva T3+ for $1899 a pair if at all possible and thanks for all your reviews!
I have two, Island speakers my Goldenear Triton Reference, I own it, I love it! But the speakers that I am lusting for after hearing them at AXPONA, are Perlisten S7 Towers!! The brand as a whole is amazing, but the S7 is something special. I give it the nod over my Tritons because the S7 properly amplified, do not require a powered sub. @Andrew You have to get those in for a review. And one of their subs as well. That said, my Triton Reference pulled away from a wall boundary, with the powered sub dialed in, and HVRT singing, makes for long listening sessions, and makes me agreeable to whatever it is my spouse is talking about.
Wanted to personally thank for your review on the Polk R700. I bought the R600’a and a R400. I absolutely love them but no one gave me any respect saying Polk was old and dated. I told them you would have to hear them to understand. Once your review came out now Polk gets some respect again. So for that I thank you sir.
Polk's Reserve line is (arguably) one of the BEST affordable lines on the market right now and maybe some of the best speakers Polk has ever made! Enjoy 'em and ignore the haters.
I purchased the R200 based on this review after getting ear fatigue from the Jamo S803 line. I've been incredibly happy for months, so I also wanted to thank Andrew and Kristi.
Based on the R700 review I bought L600s and a L400. The R700 would have worked for me, but my wife gave the approval for the L600s because of how they look. They are beautiful speakers and sound incredible. I thought my RTIA7s and 158Mk2 was a great sounding combination, but these L600s are really a totally different level. Everything about the sound is greatly improved, but the midrange and highs are unbelievable.
@@techsamurai11 not OP but I have the R600s and the bass is powerful and sounds great to my ears. Rated the same as the much larger R700s. I love that they’re bottom ported too so easier to place than many other speakers.
I recently had a similar experience of hearing startlingly effortless sound from Paradigm Founder 100b’s. Dying to hear these Concept 50’s now. Great review!
I absolutely love Q Acoustics. I have owned Martin Logans, Revels, Dynaudio, etc. My first taste started with 3050i. I fell in love! I have the Concept 500s and these will never leave me.
I just love the smooth design. Also, what I have tested before… The Concept lineup sound is just so nice. Can't wait to test the Concept 30. Those may be my future end game speakers.
Your passionate affection (from both of you), for these speakers, was so wonderful to watch. I know it comes from the heart, because I - like so many others here - trust you! 😁😁😁 At some point, hopefully in the not too distant future, I'm going to try and audition a pair. Thank you both so much! 😁💛😁
As Kristi correctly pointed out, "you can like more than one thing.." , and also that's my exact issue when it comes to HiFi. I like many things at the same time so there's no settling down with one system 😅
I’ve been watching the channel for about two years and love that non-millionaires are welcome and are being accompanied by Andrew and Kristi in a respectful, educational, and entertaining on their audiophile journey. My listening room is also my living/dining and cooking area; large, high ceilings, odd angles and hard surfaces. After being in the market for a new system for a long time, this review finally made me pull the trigger. I just received my Concept 50 alongside the Lyngdorf TDAI 1120. I’m resuming a PSB Series 300 sub for the time being. Despite the large reverb (700-800ms) in my room, Room Perfect is a doing a surprisingly good job at making the bass sound clear and tight, despite all the room challenges, allowing the Concept 50 to shine with the clarity and wide sound stage, without sounding fatiguing. Yes, my next investing will be room treatment like bass traps and broadband absorbers, but finding something that does not mess with the aesthetics of the room and that can be shipped to AK without breaking the bank is hard. Please keep up the good work!
Had to pull the trigger for these myself. Just wow! For the price i paid, about 1600 us dollars they are Fantastic. They are true to the source but has a little soul aswell. They Play huuge 3D soundstage with great imaging. Never sharp unless recording are real bad. The bass! Incredible in my room. Heft, slam, Deep and tight. Name them all. Movies are fun with these. Bot bust music. Build quality? Just silly good for the price. Amazing work from Q acoustics👍 And great review!
I only have the 3020i bookshelves and they are just as transparent as you mention. I listen to everything from Death Metal to Classical and they just consistently deliver. Their biggest positive is how they just disappear into the room and are completely non fatiguing. I can only imagine the brilliance of these Concept 50's ...
Great review!! I've had my Concept 50s for about 3 weeks now and I absolutely love them. I would have loved to have got the flagship Concept 500s but didn't want to spend quite that much. The 3050is got decent review but I wanted a little higher end than that so I landed on the Concept 50s. I am incredibly happy with my decision. These speakers are outstanding. Agree with everything in your review, but I personally love the look and design. They are a little different than a lot of the other speakers on the market, and that's what makes them awesome, imo. I also had to get speakers that were aesthetically acceptable to my other half, and these hit the mark. Your review just made me even more happy with my decision! Q Acoustics is onto something!
Q Acoustics I feel gets overlooked for more mainstream brands. I have the 500s myself and Andrew was correct is his review of those. They compete with speaks 2-3 times their asking price. Always get good value from any Q lineup.
Thank you Andrew and Kristi for another great review. For many years I have been a fan of this brand, and owned the ‘older’ 3050’s and still have the 3020 bookshelves. So I was very interested in this new line-up, when it came to market last winter. Due to corona I wasn’t able to audition them and I still haven’t done so. Your comment on the speaker makes me curious again, however, I was originally going for the smaller Concept 30 bookshelves, because of my smaller room size of appoximately 10x10 ft. Maybe the Concept 50 is suitable (I listen to B&W705s2 now and they do have some base). Anyway I am definately auditioning them a.s.a.p. It is a shame that there aren’t many reviews of these great speakers on UA-cam, because they deserve the attention when they are that good. Thank you for making us audiophiles aware of these fine loudspeakers!
I believe the 50s will working in smaller spaces same as the bookshelf and perhaps be less hassle due to the 30s having those proprietary tripod stands? Just food for thought.
Just bought the Concept 50s through the above link. Just wanted to give you an idea of your influence on my purchases over the years. I have owned/or do own: Tekton Design Pendragons, Crown XLS amps, Audiolab 6000a Play, and now the Concept 50s based on your (and now, Kristi's) take on these products. It's difficult parsing through the audiophile mumbo-jumbo. You've made it a lot easier. Thanks!
The Concept 50 and Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G are at the top of my audition list. I can hear them both at the same dealer located 15 miles from my house which I will do in the next week of two.
keep me updated, Monitor Silver 500 7G are top of my list as well. Also the KLH Model 5. Let me know how the MA Silver 500 7G battle against these Concept 50, I expect they will have way more authority...but who knows.
@@ManuelMedellin. I went to that dealer yesterday but he didn't have any Monitor Audio speakers in the store so I couldn't compare. The Concept 50's sounded good but I will need to go elsewhere to listen to the Monitor Audios. The dealer told me that he can get me a pair and will give me a discount. I just have to drive about 60 miles to a dealer where I can hear them.
Loved the review! I own a pair of Q Acoustics 3050 and I can only imagine how good the Concept 50s must sound. Also, really sorry the prices are so high in the US.. The Concept 50s are ~1700$ in Romania, which might make them one of the best purchases at around 1500 USD
QOTD: I think.. my Model 5s I own are my desert island speaker. But I can't seem to quit Q Acoustics. 😆 I've owned Klipsch, KEF, Model 5s, and Q Acoustics (3050i) all within the last 5 years. I love the 5s for their dynamic, clear, all around capabilities and I love Q Acoustics for the ability to listen for longer sessions and there's this lush pleasant feeling I get listening to Q Acoustics. I can't quite put my finger on it exactly...but listening to Q Acoustics just feels sonically different, feels more relaxing and maybe the groove? Don't know, I just love them. To my taste, these Concept 50s look sharp as hell! Another great review! Really looking forward to that Technics review.
I think they look real good in white on video and stylistically fit in to your room very nicely. I also think the crescent moon looks good and makes it stand out a little from the mass of speakers that just have largely hidden spikes.
It’s definitely something I can see some people liking. I think a different material would have been nice but I see your point. Unfortunately the base is made in such a way that you can’t swap it out for spikes or something like isoacoustic feet.
Really enjoyed the review. I bought the 500s based off your and NRDs reviews. Not a single regret. I listen every day and it they still impress me. I demoed a pair of Dynaudio Confidence 20s at $13k the other day and I don’t think I would trade them straight up for my Concepts. After the 500s I have been spoiled with the scale of a speakers presentation and I just cant go back to anything that projects smaller. So I wouldn’t trade mine for these but I TOTALLY get where you are guys coming from with the sound. Bass wise too. I need that satisfying thump of the bass. So much so I have a pair of RELs running with them. Most probably wouldn’t but hey, “the only person who needs to enjoy the sound of your system is you.”
@@andrewrobinsonreviews They really do. Running them with a Hegel H390. Possibly overkill but in the best possible way. ;) Would love to hear your thoughts on Hegel if you guys get the chance to review them one day. I’ll tell you after years of watching the news and getting anxiety over it this hobby has been the best thing for me. Nothing better than tuning out the world and getting caught up in music for an hour or two a day. Your channel played a role in that. So thank you 😊
I just recently bought these speakers and I love them. I went to my hifi shop here in Perth, Western Australia, and after listening to these and a few other brands I chose the Concept 50s because they sounded the best.
Another great Sunday morning 74 degrees, cup of coffee on the deck, Andrew and Kristi dropping yet another great video. If I only didn’t need to mow the yard…….thanks for being the best part of Sunday.
Nice video and I have to say that I'd be interested in these speakers. The Concept 50 must have really impressed you two to be so glowing in your review.
As a current (satisfied) owner of the 3050 (non-i model), what do you think I stand to gain with upgrading to these? You compared to the other Concept 300 & 500, but what about the lower level family of Q? Surprised to hear Kristie thinks the 50’s are better than the 300 & 500! Glad to hear you enjoyed these and thanks for the review!
I used to own the Concept 500’s and they were fantastic loudspeakers! I regret selling them and can’t afford to buy them new again but I could buy the 50’s and based on your review, when I get a chance to hear the 50’s I will be doing just that! They sound amazing.
Having a pair of 3030i's with the matching stands (which are worth every penny) all I can say is besides the "Q" sound. I love the "Q" look....great review. Now to save some money.
I picked up a set of the silver Concept 50. They are well built and look great. They sound stage and imaging is great. Very clear and precise and neutral. In my room (17'x17') the bass they provide is tight and controlled. Overall very pleased with how they sound, but they need a subwoofer. Maybe in a smaller space you can get away without a sub. Amps used are a Wilsenton R8 and Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra.
Great Review as always. Just sold my equipment so my daughter can attend school. Enjoy the window shopping for the future! Will be a tough choice, but you guys seem sold on this Concept 50. Appreciate you taking the time to test these speakers and share this, there is no way I could ever get a full understanding without these videos.
When I saw 'end game' in the title I thought you got your hands on those £50,000 goofy looking monitor audio concept 50 speakers that has 6 mid woofers around the tweeter. Weird as that speaker is, I'm glad your doing affordable/prosumer speakers.
Hey Kristi and Andrew just wanted to give you an update. Not sure if you care but I switched out my SVS SB-3000'S for JLE112's and I'm in heaven. This is what I've been searching for my whole life. Night and day difference. Forte iv +Anthem MRX1140 + JLE112's my unicorn 🦄
Thanks Andrew and Kristi! I've owned the 2030! and the Concept 40. Both have tone and timbre down pat. The 40's are amazing and probably the best speakers I've owned - maybe a tie with the KEF 104.2, but since it's been over 25 years since i've heard the KEFs, I m giving the 40's the benefit of the doubt. In my home, they've bested Martin Logan Motion 40s, Meadowlark Kestrels, Vandersteen 1C and 2Cs, Totem signature and Spica TC 50 and perhaps, even the KEFs.. The 3050is are outstanding for the price - they're excellent within their limits. The weakness for me was movie bass - they couldn't manage it in my room without clouding dialog. With a sub and crossed above maybe 60Hz, they'd be killer. The 40 is so good for $!K (occasional sale price - but even at $1.5K retail, I'd still recommend them) that I'd be hard pressed to bump up to the 50's - but then i haven't heard them yet
Got my Q Concept 50's about 2 weeks ago. Have put about 30 hours of play time. My previous speakers were Q Concept 40's. I feel the same way as you regarding the "wow" factor the 40's gave me. The bass response in the 40's is much more "concise" and "forward" whereas the bass in the 50's is much more "rounded off" and less defined to my ears. Some say you need "80 hours" of break in time before the 50's really start to shine. I hope so as I spent over $3,000.00 plus trade in for these speakers. No doubt to me that the tweeter in the 50's is way smoother and the sound stage is wider but I miss my 40's at this moment.
Bought the concept 30 and I love them! I am quickly realizing I need more power than my BlueNode can offer. Also, I agree with Kristi. The voice and clarity when watching TV is amazing!
Hey Andrew and Kristi, Thanks so much for making this video. I finally found a speaker to replace my Dahlquist DQ 20i’s I bought back in 1988. Yours and Kristi opinion of this speaker persuaded me to give it a try. I have tried a few times in 34 years to replace my Dahlquist but always sent them back. The Dahlquist are very musical, very wide sound stage and always a pleasure to listen to. Because of that and the fact I’ve had them for so long it was very hard to be happy with something else but I’m very happy with the Concept 50s and they continue to get better the more I break them in. Several reviews talk about the top end a little rolled off but I don’t fell that way at all. Midrange is excellent like every one says and for me the bass being a little weak is perfect because I have a very large room, 18x38, so I have 2 subwoofers and cross them over at 90hz. A little tricky on placement for the speakers and the subs but once I got them dialed in they are just amazing. Thanks again! NB
Great review. Need a pair. I think the styling is becoming iconic. Kef? B&W, Sonus Faber, Martin Logan, Klipsch. All have recognizable style. Q Acoustics does too
Wow guys. That's some serious thumbs up to these speakers. At the price range, I will have to keep them in consideration when the itch comes back... (Scratching right now.. eye twitching .. )
They're so pretty in white but then, like so many manufacturers who, to their credit, are trying some new designs and colors rather than defaulting to the ever present black rectangles, but then they spoil it with the dark, black grill. I can't help but think of Triangle who have also taken chances with the grills and how good a white, or gray grill would have looked on these. Nonetheless they're beautiful and I hope I too get to experience them some day. I have a set of Q Acoustics 3050's btw and they're very, very good "for the price". Or perhaps I should say, despite the price. Thank you both for presenting them very nicely.
R11 Metas all day long for me. I compared R7s and 500s back to back. Preferred the R7 in every respect. A little more bass and treble, better sound stage. The 500s felt very polite to me.
How sharp are the highs? All cool technical stuff aside, for a dedicated room, how would you compare the sound of these to the Kef Q950? Not that I'm in love with them, it's just the best that I can afford and that my Denon x3800h would drive and that I could actually listen to them before I buying because it was on display in the showroom. How would you compare this to the Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series (the best sound in that showroom)? It's taking a big leap of faith to buy speakers that I haven't listened to first, so i'm really trusting you. Thanks. Great channel.
Agree with Kristi about the chrome base: I could live with the shape but Q should have invested a few more dollars into color-matching it with the cabinet. As for desert island speaker; Well, desert island by definition means wide, open space so I'll go the the latest Jubilee from Klipsch.
Looks wise these would have been better 100 percent without the stands, that anchor at the back is not a good look personally for me. I would have liked them all white, rather than the grey block, but I’ve always got a sort of toy design feeling from their speakers that has put me off. I had some q acoustics 3020is and whilst they had a great soundstage I wasn’t a fan overall of their sound and neither was my partner, we ended up opting for kef at the time which was leaps better in my opinion. Great review as always, best audio channel on UA-cam hands down!
I just picked up a very lightly used pair of Concept 30 speakers from a friend. Instrument separation is a highlight of the speaker. I'm really enjoying them.
I had a pair for a in home demo and couldn’t get rid of them fast enough. They also had a pair of PSB Imagine T3s on trade in and there is ZERO comparison between the two. Much happier now with PSB in front of me.
Wow! Thanks for this review. Your room always looks terrific! The speakers look great in your space. You guys should think of running a consulting service for creating great looking and sounding spaces!
I have some old Linn Ninkas, I think Linn’s last infinite baffle speakers. I still love them because I never tire listening to them. But I’m sure newer speakers, like the Concepts, will smash my love affair with my Linn’s.
If you relish the JBLs then do it absolutely. I have a vintage Sansui receiver from 1972 when you could get a hand-built piece of electronics for fair money. I had every aspect of the receiver rebuilt using modern-day caps, resistors etc. The radio tuning was done using a string to move up and down the dial, how cool is that! It is simply awesome. The original design pathway was done by recording and electrical engineers and stands up easily today. Do it.
I get mine this week. Your review convinced me to pull the trigger. Matching it up with my Technics SU - G 700 M2 that I also purchased after your review of the original Technics 700. Keep up the good work.
Most, if not all, on axis measurements show a shelved down treble on these which kinda correlates to your in room measurements. Some measurements also show a peak in the upper midrange which is mostly responsible for the great dialogue as mentioned in this review. Always nice to have objective data and subjective experience correlate.
The tweeter definitely rolls off and there is the slightest of midrange bumps (which you can see in our graph) but the kicker is the absolute lack of energy build up throughout the frequency response (which we measure but don't show) that makes these so damn transparent!
Got my C50s yesterday. So far I like them, I am impressed. Not sure I am blown away yet. Voices are very clear (Louis Armstrong sounds the most real life I ever heard) and the sound is pretty balanced, sound stage is better than what I heard in my house before, I do miss bass sometimes. Will probably add a sub soon. I'm not sure I am getting the wow factor from some songs I listen to. Example. Whitney Houston's "I will always love you" wounds amazing but it does not seem to have that magic I feel with it sometimes. I will try different positioning/power/preamps and see how it does. I will compare side by side with my LS50 and see how it does. I do really like them, just want to get a little more magic out of them.
@@DearSX I'm interested to read your comparison to the LS50. Do you have the Meta or original? Are you using a sub with the LS50s? Are you hearing the treble roll off on these speakers that appears in the measurements? Thanks
@@tapp8442 Original LS50. I did a shootout with 3 other listeners with the LS50 vs Large DIY 3 way and QC50. QC50 won, all 4 of us same conclusion. QC50 was just more clear and clean then the rest. LS50 tied for second place. I think I do hear the roll off of the QC50 yes, at least compared to the LS50. The QC50 sound more clear than the LS50 and with a bigger sound stage and more bass. I am not using a sub for either. LS50 does have a little more sparkle and I think some songs sound more fun to listen to on the LS50. Need to listen more to both. Issue I have with QC50 is that so far I am not emotionally attached to them. LS50 has brought out more emotion on songs. I will need to play around some more and see if I can get them to sing. My room is less than ideal.
@@DearSX Cool. Maybe more hours on the Q's will open them up. I've been told they need about 80hrs to really shine. Thanks for the comparison. IMO, LS50's need a sub/subs to really sound their best.
@@tapp8442 YW! One thing that helped for me just turning up the volume also. They rock out pretty well with 80s music which I like. I got an SVS 3000 Micro :) on the way.
Love the videos that you both do. I just bought the Lumina V’s last week after looking / listening to speakers in 3 states. Can’t wait to hear your review on those. REALLY like when you include suggestions and comments that include AV receivers. I would wager that many of your loyal fans that are buying bookshelf speakers or towers under $3-4k /pr could also use your guidance on receivers. Keep up the honest and entertaining reviews…
I know this video is several years old now but if you HAD to chose just one set of speakers and your options were the Concept 50's or the Klipsch La Scala alV's, which would you pick??? I know the relative differences and have had La Scala's, a pair of K Horns and still have my original 1979, HIGHLY MODIFIED Hersey's. Just a side note but having both you and Kristie on camera in the videos would be very nice. Nothing against your mug but Kristie has the more dynamic face, excellent sensitivity and pleases the appearance spectrum without coloration .... LOL
Beautiful. I would want these if I had a bigger space. I might even still want them. QOTD: I don't even know what they are but my DI speakers are the speakers I grew up with. My dad had a system I remember fondly and we foolishly gave them away during a move. Great work y'all!
I'd be curious to hear how these compare to the Totem Acoustic Tribe tower. I remember Paul Klipsch once saying that 90% of a speaker's sound was due to the cabinet and yet because of the expense, speaker construction is usually an afterthought.
Really appreciate you and Kristi, thanks for creating a great channel! Sold on the Q50, but trying to pick the best integrated to match. Care most about sound quality / phono stage (will add a streamer separate) - Audiolab 7000 or 9000 - Marantz 40n - Musical Fidelity m5si Probably no wrong way, but you know all these components very very well.....anything would be helpful.
Hi Andrew thanks for the review of the concept 50s. I’m 65 and have the IOTAVX SA3 and PA3 stack running A pair of Martin Logan Motion 40s. I Would love to get your thoughts , would the concept 50s with the IOTAVX be a pretty good combo for a system upgrade or would I need to an amplifier upgrade to really get close to a practical sound and (cost wise) end game system? Thanks for all the time you and kristy put into your reviews. Thanks Bart
I like the way these speakers look in your room. As for my desert island speaker, it would have to work on a small desert island, as I've downsized. Over time, I've enjoyed speakers from KLH, Advent, Magnepan, B&W, and Paradigm. Neither B&W nor Magnepan would fit, so I'd first look into upper-level bookshelf speakers from Paradigm than the Monitor SE Atoms I am currently enjoying (courtesy of both of you, via your review of the 686 s2 and your placing the Atom on a top ten of all time list). HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!
Thanks so much for this review. I've had the Q Acoustics Concept 50 on my "birthday list" ever since they came out. They're a stretch financially, but I think these might be perfect for my large, open concept living room. I currently own the 3030i's as a 2nd set up, and they are really fabulous--some days I like them more than my KEF LS50 wireless (ver. 1), which is the main set up. The 3030i's just don't have the KEF ZING that you can get. Anyway, thanks for the info--you've got me ruminating quite a bit.
You might get the best of all world's by adding one or two Kef's revolutionary small K62 subwoofers designed for LS50's, huge sound, deep quality bass with the Kef ZING...just saying
@@catherinelugg4321 The LS50 were originally designed as a small run of a few hundred pairs to celebrate 50 years of Kef. They were put in the same category as their top of the line Muon and Blades! Their aim was to emulate what the legendary LS3/5a speakers achieved for a small loudspeaker but reimagined for the modern world with new advanced technologies. And just like the LS3/5a’s they are notoriously open to showing weaknesses in partnering equipment as they were designed to be totally transparent. Due to their relative low price and great reviews at the outset from reviewers who partnered them with the right high end equipment meant they unfortunately ended up being used with lesser equipment of a similar or cheaper price which can result in the speaker telling you what it’s being given where some complain of brightness. They are a true monitor quality speaker and when put with the right equipment they are amazing with no zing but many partner them with lesser equipment than they demand where they have used price as the guide as you typically would. I think Kef shot themselves in the foot in making such a remarkable speaker and then failing to show reviewers and people what was expected to make to them work. My son has a pair with some extremely good Linn equipment and they sound unbelievable, more like a speaker 3X it’s price.
Seems like they built on all the great design ideas in the other Concept series speakers. They don't need esoteric cabinet & driver materials when they get the design right and they used one of the best designers in the business, Karl Heinz Fink. Although gelcore is a neat idea for cabinet wall damping and maybe a bit esoteric 😁 His own Fink Team speakers are prohibitively expensive so the Concept series is a way of getting a lot of that design know how at an affordable price in a mass (ish) market product.
Bought a couple of the small bookshelves for the living room. This is not my “listening room” so my criteria was just something decent, with good neutral, blend-into- the-background looks, and let’s face it, a great price point, and that could be happy being driven by a cheapy Denon AVR. It exceeds my low bar, and aided by a vintage Rel, they actually sound great, with no listening fatigue, (I find myself leaving them on for hours) Makes me think your recommendation may be spot on to replace my Maggies in the other room. Thanks for this!
Hello Andrew & Kristi, Another FUN review for your audience! Haha, Desert Island Speaker. 😀 love it! Wow, such an exciting speaker and review (only $1000 over the Polk R700's for a pair)! I enjoyed how you were both almost struggling for words! SOOO guys ... For "spoken word challenged people," what would you use for a Center Channel, and also... what Subwoofers (a pair of SVS 1000's or SVS 3000 micro's, ...) for a mid-to-large dedicated theater room of 19'x19'? Cheers, Eric
The best center speaker I've heard to date is the Elysian Center from Wharfedale, but I don't expect folks to rush out and buy one as it is large and expensive. I thought the matching Polk Center was good and am now curious about the Concept Center given the performance of the 50s. As for subs, I am team smaller subs when going with multiple subwoofers as they can be easier to place properly in your space. So two 3000 Micros would get my vote. Thanks for the support Eric!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I Really look forward to your review of that Q Acoustics Concept Center Channel Speaker ... vice the Polk Audio Reserve R400 Center. Especially Kristi's ear input 😉 Cheers, Eric
This is from 2022 .. fast forward to today world.. Would you say these still rank as stated in this review vs anything to come along since these were reviewed, on what you've heard/reviewed?
Australian company called VAF my dad brought their VAF DC-X gen 4 speakers about 16 years ago and when i heard them I never heard anything so amazing same style setup with the tweeters in the middle but it had 2x instead of one with 2x 6 1/2 inch kevlar woofers just amazing but very hard to find a pair 2nd hand
Great review! I love these speakers too because I have these! Haha! These are super good for its price. I think the diminshing returns of getting a more expensive speaker just isn't worth it.
I recently added a NAD C298 to my NAD 758v3 to drive my new concept 50's and the sound is unbelievable. I apparently purchased the last pair in the U.S. Could you review the C298? Thanks again for the review.
I was very impressed by your review of tbe Concept 50s. I bought Focal Chota 826 D speakers on close out based on your review. How could I not upgrade to a speaker that compares to a $10,000 speaker. My Qs arrived Monday. I unboxed one and just attached its stabilising bar. I hooked it up to my Yamaha R N1000A receiver as right b. I toggled back and forth to No Sugar Tonight by the Guess Who. The Focal is more open. There is better separation. It takes less volume to drive it. Percussion with the Focal is separated and amazing. I am giving the Qs to a friend. I'm just glad I got the Qs for $2k. My desert island speakers are the Focal Chora 826 Ds.
This is great to hear. I have the Focal 826D as well and I absolutely love them. I can't imagine there are speakers that sound better than they do for the price. And they were about half the price @ $1,490 for the pair. Thanks for saving me time and headache. I hear the KLH5s are the best speakers under 3k from just about every single person who has tried them out. I'm going to buy them and find out. I'll report back if you want. Cheers mate!
nice video...love the details of the amps you trialed and the speaker comparisons...one evolution of the channel would be to create a chart guide of all the speakers, etc you've reviewed and rank them in performance variables/cost and overall value to customers....your note of the smaller speakers...i wonder if that's why some actually really enjoy the rp5000f value proposition relative to other klipsch floorstanders within that tier?
Thank you for review. I went ahead and ordered these. So many good speakers right now but I want an end game speaker at a good price. R700, Linton and Lumina V were top of my list. We'll see how these do when I get them. If these work I will become a super fan.
I have the Polk R700’s, love ‘em, but make sure you use high quality jumpers, the difference was dramatic with my recently purchased Italian made jumpers by Ricable. Approx. $200.
how do you think the Concept 50 5.1 Home Theater System would perform? This would be my first home theatre system built and looking to get something great in performance and beautiful in aesthetic. Also thinking of pairing it with anthem receiver, thoughts?
Thank you for the video. I have the Q Acoustic Concept 300 and 30 (in a home cinema setup). My opinion: The 300 need more attention on the amp than the 30. The 30‘s are more „forgiving“. If the amp fits, the 300 are better. If I would go back I would fit my hole home cinema with Concept 30 at all channels (having an Auro 11.1 setup) with Concept 90 center.
You answered my question. I am running them in a theater system with a dedicated sub and crossed over at 80hz. So the small stand mounts should do the job with that 90 center
Hello Andrew, this is a fantastic review. Your’s and Christie’s comments have convinced me that I have to have the concept 50’s. One comment that I don’t agree with is to me the speakers look really cool. Cheers
Since there is not a huge bass presence, would these work in a small room like a bedroom? My integrated has bass management so I could high pass them and set a sub somewhere in the room.
I am always harping on this since it is my "jam" but curious if you had played any big symphonic music - Mahler etc or classical vocal music on these? I know you and Kristi may not listen to these and that is totally cool, but just wondering. I just find that these types of music (my main personal but not only faves) tend to be the deciding factor in whether I am drawn to this vs. that speaker... more than any other genre of music. Thank you for a great review.
I'm going to demo these, because if my ears fall in love with them it may be enough to forgive their understated/uninspired styling. Currently own a set of Yamaha NS-1000 in ebony finish. They are big, somewhat obtrusive but their rather gorgeous looks, timbre, speed and accuracy are what makes me keep them around. I've got AMT monitors as well, so I'm very curious to see if these Concept 50s have a similar effortless presentation. If they do, I may very well buy a pair.
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Q Acoustics Concept 20 - High End Audio for a budget price!
Pleasd to hear you both acknowledging that sub woofers are not ideal with some speakers. ases.
Love your channel, these sound like really amazing speakers. Also really interested in the Polk R700 you reviewed recently. Would love to see a review from you on the new Emotiva T3+ for $1899 a pair if at all possible and thanks for all your reviews!
I have two, Island speakers my Goldenear Triton Reference, I own it, I love it! But the speakers that I am lusting for after hearing them at AXPONA, are Perlisten S7 Towers!! The brand as a whole is amazing, but the S7 is something special. I give it the nod over my Tritons because the S7 properly amplified, do not require a powered sub. @Andrew You have to get those in for a review. And one of their subs as well. That said, my Triton Reference pulled away from a wall boundary, with the powered sub dialed in, and HVRT singing, makes for long listening sessions, and makes me agreeable to whatever it is my spouse is talking about.
Klipsch La Scala, assuming the island is big enough.
Wanted to personally thank for your review on the Polk R700. I bought the R600’a and a R400. I absolutely love them but no one gave me any respect saying Polk was old and dated. I told them you would have to hear them to understand. Once your review came out now Polk gets some respect again. So for that I thank you sir.
Polk's Reserve line is (arguably) one of the BEST affordable lines on the market right now and maybe some of the best speakers Polk has ever made! Enjoy 'em and ignore the haters.
I purchased the R200 based on this review after getting ear fatigue from the Jamo S803 line. I've been incredibly happy for months, so I also wanted to thank Andrew and Kristi.
Based on the R700 review I bought L600s and a L400. The R700 would have worked for me, but my wife gave the approval for the L600s because of how they look. They are beautiful speakers and sound incredible. I thought my RTIA7s and 158Mk2 was a great sounding combination, but these L600s are really a totally different level. Everything about the sound is greatly improved, but the midrange and highs are unbelievable.
How is the bass on the R600?
@@techsamurai11 not OP but I have the R600s and the bass is powerful and sounds great to my ears. Rated the same as the much larger R700s. I love that they’re bottom ported too so easier to place than many other speakers.
I recently had a similar experience of hearing startlingly effortless sound from Paradigm Founder 100b’s. Dying to hear these Concept 50’s now. Great review!
I absolutely love Q Acoustics. I have owned Martin Logans, Revels, Dynaudio, etc.
My first taste started with 3050i. I fell in love!
I have the Concept 500s and these will never leave me.
The 500s are GREAT and very much under appreciated in the high-end space.
Nice review! We are truly living in a "Golden Age" of speakers. They used to be the "weak link" in the system but no more.
I just love the smooth design. Also, what I have tested before… The Concept lineup sound is just so nice. Can't wait to test the Concept 30. Those may be my future end game speakers.
Your passionate affection (from both of you), for these speakers, was so wonderful to watch. I know it comes from the heart, because I - like so many others here - trust you! 😁😁😁
At some point, hopefully in the not too distant future, I'm going to try and audition a pair. Thank you both so much! 😁💛😁
As Kristi correctly pointed out, "you can like more than one thing.." , and also that's my exact issue when it comes to HiFi. I like many things at the same time so there's no settling down with one system 😅
I’ve been watching the channel for about two years and love that non-millionaires are welcome and are being accompanied by Andrew and Kristi in a respectful, educational, and entertaining on their audiophile journey. My listening room is also my living/dining and cooking area; large, high ceilings, odd angles and hard surfaces. After being in the market for a new system for a long time, this review finally made me pull the trigger. I just received my Concept 50 alongside the Lyngdorf TDAI 1120. I’m resuming a PSB Series 300 sub for the time being. Despite the large reverb (700-800ms) in my room, Room Perfect is a doing a surprisingly good job at making the bass sound clear and tight, despite all the room challenges, allowing the Concept 50 to shine with the clarity and wide sound stage, without sounding fatiguing. Yes, my next investing will be room treatment like bass traps and broadband absorbers, but finding something that does not mess with the aesthetics of the room and that can be shipped to AK without breaking the bank is hard. Please keep up the good work!
A very entertaining and compelling review of the Q Acoustics Concept 50 loudspeaker. I always enjoy and learn from Kristi's point of view.
Had to pull the trigger for these myself. Just wow!
For the price i paid, about 1600 us dollars they are Fantastic.
They are true to the source but has a little soul aswell.
They Play huuge 3D soundstage with great imaging. Never sharp unless recording are real bad.
The bass! Incredible in my room. Heft, slam, Deep and tight. Name them all.
Movies are fun with these. Bot bust music.
Build quality? Just silly good for the price.
Amazing work from Q acoustics👍
And great review!
I only have the 3020i bookshelves and they are just as transparent as you mention. I listen to everything from Death Metal to Classical and they just consistently deliver. Their biggest positive is how they just disappear into the room and are completely non fatiguing. I can only imagine the brilliance of these Concept 50's ...
I never heard you two ever agree on anything THAT strongly now if I can pull it off I am going to get a pair.
Great review!! I've had my Concept 50s for about 3 weeks now and I absolutely love them. I would have loved to have got the flagship Concept 500s but didn't want to spend quite that much. The 3050is got decent review but I wanted a little higher end than that so I landed on the Concept 50s.
I am incredibly happy with my decision. These speakers are outstanding. Agree with everything in your review, but I personally love the look and design. They are a little different than a lot of the other speakers on the market, and that's what makes them awesome, imo. I also had to get speakers that were aesthetically acceptable to my other half, and these hit the mark.
Your review just made me even more happy with my decision! Q Acoustics is onto something!
Q Acoustics I feel gets overlooked for more mainstream brands. I have the 500s myself and Andrew was correct is his review of those. They compete with speaks 2-3 times their asking price. Always get good value from any Q lineup.
Thank you Andrew and Kristi for another great review. For many years I have been a fan of this brand, and owned the ‘older’ 3050’s and still have the 3020 bookshelves. So I was very interested in this new line-up, when it came to market last winter. Due to corona I wasn’t able to audition them and I still haven’t done so. Your comment on the speaker makes me curious again, however, I was originally going for the smaller Concept 30 bookshelves, because of my smaller room size of appoximately 10x10 ft. Maybe the Concept 50 is suitable (I listen to B&W705s2 now and they do have some base). Anyway I am definately auditioning them a.s.a.p.
It is a shame that there aren’t many reviews of these great speakers on UA-cam, because they deserve the attention when they are that good.
Thank you for making us audiophiles aware of these fine loudspeakers!
I believe the 50s will working in smaller spaces same as the bookshelf and perhaps be less hassle due to the 30s having those proprietary tripod stands? Just food for thought.
Every time you make a video about "end game speakers" I buy them and now I have a room full of speakers that are worth more than my house.
🤣
Just bought the Concept 50s through the above link. Just wanted to give you an idea of your influence on my purchases over the years. I have owned/or do own: Tekton Design Pendragons, Crown XLS amps, Audiolab 6000a Play, and now the Concept 50s based on your (and now, Kristi's) take on these products. It's difficult parsing through the audiophile mumbo-jumbo. You've made it a lot easier. Thanks!
We really appreciate you using the link to make your purchase! We hope that you find as much enjoyment with them as we do.
The Concept 50 and Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G are at the top of my audition list. I can hear them both at the same dealer located 15 miles from my house which I will do in the next week of two.
keep me updated, Monitor Silver 500 7G are top of my list as well. Also the KLH Model 5.
Let me know how the MA Silver 500 7G battle against these Concept 50, I expect they will have way more authority...but who knows.
@@ManuelMedellin. I went to that dealer yesterday but he didn't have any Monitor Audio speakers in the store so I couldn't compare. The Concept 50's sounded good but I will need to go elsewhere to listen to the Monitor Audios. The dealer told me that he can get me a pair and will give me a discount. I just have to drive about 60 miles to a dealer where I can hear them.
Loved the review! I own a pair of Q Acoustics 3050 and I can only imagine how good the Concept 50s must sound.
Also, really sorry the prices are so high in the US.. The Concept 50s are ~1700$ in Romania, which might make them one of the best purchases at around 1500 USD
QOTD: I think.. my Model 5s I own are my desert island speaker. But I can't seem to quit Q Acoustics. 😆 I've owned Klipsch, KEF, Model 5s, and Q Acoustics (3050i) all within the last 5 years. I love the 5s for their dynamic, clear, all around capabilities and I love Q Acoustics for the ability to listen for longer sessions and there's this lush pleasant feeling I get listening to Q Acoustics. I can't quite put my finger on it exactly...but listening to Q Acoustics just feels sonically different, feels more relaxing and maybe the groove? Don't know, I just love them. To my taste, these Concept 50s look sharp as hell! Another great review! Really looking forward to that Technics review.
What do you think of the 50s vs 3050i?
I think they look real good in white on video and stylistically fit in to your room very nicely. I also think the crescent moon looks good and makes it stand out a little from the mass of speakers that just have largely hidden spikes.
It’s definitely something I can see some people liking. I think a different material would have been nice but I see your point. Unfortunately the base is made in such a way that you can’t swap it out for spikes or something like isoacoustic feet.
Really enjoyed the review. I bought the 500s based off your and NRDs reviews. Not a single regret. I listen every day and it they still impress me. I demoed a pair of Dynaudio Confidence 20s at $13k the other day and I don’t think I would trade them straight up for my Concepts. After the 500s I have been spoiled with the scale of a speakers presentation and I just cant go back to anything that projects smaller. So I wouldn’t trade mine for these but I TOTALLY get where you are guys coming from with the sound. Bass wise too. I need that satisfying thump of the bass. So much so I have a pair of RELs running with them. Most probably wouldn’t but hey, “the only person who needs to enjoy the sound of your system is you.”
I bet the 500's slay in your system! You bought a great speaker!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews They really do. Running them with a Hegel H390. Possibly overkill but in the best possible way. ;)
Would love to hear your thoughts on Hegel if you guys get the chance to review them one day.
I’ll tell you after years of watching the news and getting anxiety over it this hobby has been the best thing for me. Nothing better than tuning out the world and getting caught up in music for an hour or two a day. Your channel played a role in that. So thank you 😊
I just recently bought these speakers and I love them. I went to my hifi shop here in Perth, Western Australia, and after listening to these and a few other brands I chose the Concept 50s because they sounded the best.
They're really good aren't they!
How many AUD did they set you back?
Do these still compare favourably with more recent offerings as they are now £1199 in the UK? Thanks.
Another great Sunday morning 74 degrees, cup of coffee on the deck, Andrew and Kristi dropping yet another great video. If I only didn’t need to mow the yard…….thanks for being the best part of Sunday.
Nice video and I have to say that I'd be interested in these speakers. The Concept 50 must have really impressed you two to be so glowing in your review.
As a current (satisfied) owner of the 3050 (non-i model), what do you think I stand to gain with upgrading to these? You compared to the other Concept 300 & 500, but what about the lower level family of Q? Surprised to hear Kristie thinks the 50’s are better than the 300 & 500! Glad to hear you enjoyed these and thanks for the review!
I used to own the Concept 500’s and they were fantastic loudspeakers! I regret selling them and can’t afford to buy them new again but I could buy the 50’s and based on your review, when I get a chance to hear the 50’s I will be doing just that! They sound amazing.
Great review, which amp sounded best with them?
“They’re just good. Period.” Thank you for boldly stating your conclusions. You got me interested in stereo again. All the best to you two !
Having a pair of 3030i's with the matching stands (which are worth every penny) all I can say is besides the "Q" sound. I love the "Q" look....great review. Now to save some money.
Traded my Kef R11 for the Q acoustics 500, best thing I ever done!
Tell us more! What are you getting from the 500's that the R11's lacked?
I picked up a set of the silver Concept 50. They are well built and look great. They sound stage and imaging is great. Very clear and precise and neutral. In my room (17'x17') the bass they provide is tight and controlled. Overall very pleased with how they sound, but they need a subwoofer. Maybe in a smaller space you can get away without a sub. Amps used are a Wilsenton R8 and Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra.
Wilson Audio Puppies were the very first speakers that blew my mind 30+ years ago.
I am totally happy with my Concept 500s.
Great Review as always. Just sold my equipment so my daughter can attend school. Enjoy the window shopping for the future! Will be a tough choice, but you guys seem sold on this Concept 50. Appreciate you taking the time to test these speakers and share this, there is no way I could ever get a full understanding without these videos.
When I saw 'end game' in the title I thought you got your hands on those £50,000 goofy looking monitor audio concept 50 speakers that has 6 mid woofers around the tweeter. Weird as that speaker is, I'm glad your doing affordable/prosumer speakers.
Hey Kristi and Andrew just wanted to give you an update. Not sure if you care but I switched out my SVS SB-3000'S for JLE112's and I'm in heaven. This is what I've been searching for my whole life. Night and day difference. Forte iv +Anthem MRX1140 + JLE112's my unicorn 🦄
🙌
@@KristiWright I love you both forever!
JL subwoofers are next level, you do pay quite a bit more for them though
Thanks Andrew and Kristi! I've owned the 2030! and the Concept 40. Both have tone and timbre down pat. The 40's are amazing and probably the best speakers I've owned - maybe a tie with the KEF 104.2, but since it's been over 25 years since i've heard the KEFs, I m giving the 40's the benefit of the doubt. In my home, they've bested Martin Logan Motion 40s, Meadowlark Kestrels, Vandersteen 1C and 2Cs, Totem signature and Spica TC 50 and perhaps, even the KEFs..
The 3050is are outstanding for the price - they're excellent within their limits. The weakness for me was movie bass - they couldn't manage it in my room without clouding dialog. With a sub and crossed above maybe 60Hz, they'd be killer.
The 40 is so good for $!K (occasional sale price - but even at $1.5K retail, I'd still recommend them) that I'd be hard pressed to bump up to the 50's - but then i haven't heard them yet
Got my Q Concept 50's about 2 weeks ago. Have put about 30 hours of play time. My previous speakers were Q Concept 40's. I feel the same way as you regarding the "wow" factor the 40's gave me. The bass response in the 40's is much more "concise" and "forward" whereas the bass in the 50's is much more "rounded off" and less defined to my ears. Some say you need "80 hours" of break in time before the 50's really start to shine. I hope so as I spent over $3,000.00 plus trade in for these speakers. No doubt to me that the tweeter in the 50's is way smoother and the sound stage is wider but I miss my 40's at this moment.
Interesting. Didn’t expect such an amazing review. Definitely would love to hear these.
Bought the concept 30 and I love them! I am quickly realizing I need more power than my BlueNode can offer.
Also, I agree with Kristi. The voice and clarity when watching TV is amazing!
Hey Andrew and Kristi,
Thanks so much for making this video. I finally found a speaker to replace my Dahlquist DQ 20i’s I bought back in 1988.
Yours and Kristi opinion of this speaker persuaded me to give it a try. I have tried a few times in 34 years to replace my Dahlquist but always sent them back. The Dahlquist are very musical, very wide sound stage and always a pleasure to listen to. Because of that and the fact I’ve had them for so long it was very hard to be happy with something else but I’m very happy with the Concept 50s and they continue to get better the more I break them in.
Several reviews talk about the top end a little rolled off but I don’t fell that way at all. Midrange is excellent like every one says and for me the bass being a little weak is perfect because I have a very large room, 18x38, so I have 2 subwoofers and cross them over at 90hz. A little tricky on placement for the speakers and the subs but once I got them dialed in they are just amazing.
Thanks again!
NB
Great review. Need a pair. I think the styling is becoming iconic. Kef? B&W, Sonus Faber, Martin Logan, Klipsch. All have recognizable style. Q Acoustics does too
This is extremely high praise. Well done q acoustics.
They look great to me! I love the tall, narrow, deep, form factor.
Glad you like them!
I prefer their size and form myself!
Wow guys. That's some serious thumbs up to these speakers. At the price range, I will have to keep them in consideration when the itch comes back...
(Scratching right now.. eye twitching .. )
They're so pretty in white but then, like so many manufacturers who, to their credit, are trying some new designs and colors rather than defaulting to the ever present black rectangles, but then they spoil it with the dark, black grill. I can't help but think of Triangle who have also taken chances with the grills and how good a white, or gray grill would have looked on these. Nonetheless they're beautiful and I hope I too get to experience them some day. I have a set of Q Acoustics 3050's btw and they're very, very good "for the price". Or perhaps I should say, despite the price. Thank you both for presenting them very nicely.
Andrew i have Focal Chora 826 and Rega Brio !Would you suggest upgrading Chora 826 to Concept 50, and would it be upgrade at all?
R11 Metas all day long for me. I compared R7s and 500s back to back. Preferred the R7 in every respect. A little more bass and treble, better sound stage. The 500s felt very polite to me.
How sharp are the highs? All cool technical stuff aside, for a dedicated room, how would you compare the sound of these to the Kef Q950? Not that I'm in love with them, it's just the best that I can afford and that my Denon x3800h would drive and that I could actually listen to them before I buying because it was on display in the showroom. How would you compare this to the Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series (the best sound in that showroom)? It's taking a big leap of faith to buy speakers that I haven't listened to first, so i'm really trusting you. Thanks. Great channel.
Agree with Kristi about the chrome base: I could live with the shape but Q should have invested a few more dollars into color-matching it with the cabinet. As for desert island speaker; Well, desert island by definition means wide, open space so I'll go the the latest Jubilee from Klipsch.
Looks wise these would have been better 100 percent without the stands, that anchor at the back is not a good look personally for me. I would have liked them all white, rather than the grey block, but I’ve always got a sort of toy design feeling from their speakers that has put me off.
I had some q acoustics 3020is and whilst they had a great soundstage I wasn’t a fan overall of their sound and neither was my partner, we ended up opting for kef at the time which was leaps better in my opinion. Great review as always, best audio channel on UA-cam hands down!
I just picked up a very lightly used pair of Concept 30 speakers from a friend. Instrument separation is a highlight of the speaker. I'm really enjoying them.
I had a pair for a in home demo and couldn’t get rid of them fast enough. They also had a pair of PSB Imagine T3s on trade in and there is ZERO comparison between the two. Much happier now with PSB in front of me.
Wow! Thanks for this review. Your room always looks terrific! The speakers look great in your space. You guys should think of running a consulting service for creating great looking and sounding spaces!
Wonder how they would compare to Q Acoustics 3050i ? Huge price difference where I am not sure if it's justified.
I have some old Linn Ninkas, I think Linn’s last infinite baffle speakers. I still love them because I never tire listening to them. But I’m sure newer speakers, like the Concepts, will smash my love affair with my Linn’s.
Thank you so much for supporting the channel!!
Your review was great and the reason I got them.
My favorite speaker of all time JBL L100 circa 1973 still have them and they work perfectly. I have thought of upgrading the crossover. Your thoughts?
If you relish the JBLs then do it absolutely. I have a vintage Sansui receiver from 1972 when you could get a hand-built piece of electronics for fair money. I had every aspect of the receiver rebuilt using modern-day caps, resistors etc. The radio tuning was done using a string to move up and down the dial, how cool is that! It is simply awesome. The original design pathway was done by recording and electrical engineers and stands up easily today. Do it.
I get mine this week. Your review convinced me to pull the trigger. Matching it up with my Technics SU - G 700 M2 that I also purchased after your review of the original Technics 700. Keep up the good work.
Funny thing is I like the way these look. Very clean without grills in white.
I want to hear the Wharfedale Lintons before any more speaker purchases. I have a feeling they have the sound signature & tone that moves me.
Most, if not all, on axis measurements show a shelved down treble on these which kinda correlates to your in room measurements. Some measurements also show a peak in the upper midrange which is mostly responsible for the great dialogue as mentioned in this review. Always nice to have objective data and subjective experience correlate.
The tweeter definitely rolls off and there is the slightest of midrange bumps (which you can see in our graph) but the kicker is the absolute lack of energy build up throughout the frequency response (which we measure but don't show) that makes these so damn transparent!
Got my C50s yesterday. So far I like them, I am impressed. Not sure I am blown away yet. Voices are very clear (Louis Armstrong sounds the most real life I ever heard) and the sound is pretty balanced, sound stage is better than what I heard in my house before, I do miss bass sometimes. Will probably add a sub soon. I'm not sure I am getting the wow factor from some songs I listen to. Example. Whitney Houston's "I will always love you" wounds amazing but it does not seem to have that magic I feel with it sometimes. I will try different positioning/power/preamps and see how it does. I will compare side by side with my LS50 and see how it does. I do really like them, just want to get a little more magic out of them.
Move speakers closer together and used 1990s Luxman amp. Now music sounds like I remember in the 90s lol. Which is a good thing.
@@DearSX I'm interested to read your comparison to the LS50. Do you have the Meta or original? Are you using a sub with the LS50s? Are you hearing the treble roll off on these speakers that appears in the measurements? Thanks
@@tapp8442 Original LS50. I did a shootout with 3 other listeners with the LS50 vs Large DIY 3 way and QC50. QC50 won, all 4 of us same conclusion. QC50 was just more clear and clean then the rest. LS50 tied for second place. I think I do hear the roll off of the QC50 yes, at least compared to the LS50. The QC50 sound more clear than the LS50 and with a bigger sound stage and more bass. I am not using a sub for either. LS50 does have a little more sparkle and I think some songs sound more fun to listen to on the LS50. Need to listen more to both. Issue I have with QC50 is that so far I am not emotionally attached to them. LS50 has brought out more emotion on songs. I will need to play around some more and see if I can get them to sing. My room is less than ideal.
@@DearSX Cool. Maybe more hours on the Q's will open them up. I've been told they need about 80hrs to really shine. Thanks for the comparison. IMO, LS50's need a sub/subs to really sound their best.
@@tapp8442 YW! One thing that helped for me just turning up the volume also. They rock out pretty well with 80s music which I like. I got an SVS 3000 Micro :) on the way.
My desert island speaker? Klipsch Jubilees. They can double as a 2 bedroom apartment when not listening to music. ;)
Great review! I have MA Silver 8s and I’ll have to add these 50s to my short list of possible upgrades.
Love the videos that you both do. I just bought the Lumina V’s last week after looking / listening to speakers in 3 states. Can’t wait to hear your review on those.
REALLY like when you include suggestions and comments that include AV receivers. I would wager that many of your loyal fans that are buying bookshelf speakers or towers under $3-4k /pr could also use your guidance on receivers. Keep up the honest and entertaining reviews…
Lovely finish and craft, too bright for my Liking though
I know this video is several years old now but if you HAD to chose just one set of speakers and your options were the Concept 50's or the Klipsch La Scala alV's, which would you pick??? I know the relative differences and have had La Scala's, a pair of K Horns and still have my original 1979, HIGHLY MODIFIED Hersey's.
Just a side note but having both you and Kristie on camera in the videos would be very nice. Nothing against your mug but Kristie has the more dynamic face, excellent sensitivity and pleases the appearance spectrum without coloration .... LOL
Beautiful. I would want these if I had a bigger space. I might even still want them. QOTD: I don't even know what they are but my DI speakers are the speakers I grew up with. My dad had a system I remember fondly and we foolishly gave them away during a move. Great work y'all!
I'd be curious to hear how these compare to the Totem Acoustic Tribe tower. I remember Paul Klipsch once saying that 90% of a speaker's sound was due to the cabinet and yet because of the expense, speaker construction is usually an afterthought.
Really appreciate you and Kristi, thanks for creating a great channel!
Sold on the Q50, but trying to pick the best integrated to match. Care most about sound quality / phono stage (will add a streamer separate)
- Audiolab 7000 or 9000
- Marantz 40n
- Musical Fidelity m5si
Probably no wrong way, but you know all these components very very well.....anything would be helpful.
Thanks once again for another great review...I wonder how these might sound in a home theatre set-up ?
Great!!
Hello Andrew. That's is good amplifier for that speakers.?
Hi Andrew thanks for the review of the concept 50s. I’m 65 and have the IOTAVX SA3 and PA3 stack running A pair of Martin Logan Motion 40s. I Would love to get your thoughts , would the concept 50s with the IOTAVX be a pretty good combo for a system upgrade or would I need to an amplifier upgrade to really get close to a practical sound and (cost wise) end game system?
Thanks for all the time you and kristy put into your reviews. Thanks Bart
So are you going to trade in your Klipsch Cornwall IVs for these? You seem a lot more enthusiastic about these than the Cornwalls.
I like the way these speakers look in your room.
As for my desert island speaker, it would have to work on a small desert island, as I've downsized. Over time, I've enjoyed speakers from KLH, Advent, Magnepan, B&W, and Paradigm. Neither B&W nor Magnepan would fit, so I'd first look into upper-level bookshelf speakers from Paradigm than the Monitor SE Atoms I am currently enjoying (courtesy of both of you, via your review of the 686 s2 and your placing the Atom on a top ten of all time list).
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!
Thanks so much for this review. I've had the Q Acoustics Concept 50 on my "birthday list" ever since they came out. They're a stretch financially, but I think these might be perfect for my large, open concept living room. I currently own the 3030i's as a 2nd set up, and they are really fabulous--some days I like them more than my KEF LS50 wireless (ver. 1), which is the main set up. The 3030i's just don't have the KEF ZING that you can get. Anyway, thanks for the info--you've got me ruminating quite a bit.
You might get the best of all world's by adding one or two Kef's revolutionary small K62 subwoofers designed for LS50's, huge sound, deep quality bass with the Kef ZING...just saying
@@neilgaydon5430 Alas, I was unclear. I find the KEF Zing annoying!
Our room is large and open concept if that helps you in your ultimate decision.
@@catherinelugg4321 The LS50 were originally designed as a small run of a few hundred pairs to celebrate 50 years of Kef. They were put in the same category as their top of the line Muon and Blades!
Their aim was to emulate what the legendary LS3/5a speakers achieved for a small loudspeaker but reimagined for the modern world with new advanced technologies. And just like the LS3/5a’s they are notoriously open to showing weaknesses in partnering equipment as they were designed to be totally transparent.
Due to their relative low price and great reviews at the outset from reviewers who partnered them with the right high end equipment meant they unfortunately ended up being used with lesser equipment of a similar or cheaper price which can result in the speaker telling you what it’s being given where some complain of brightness.
They are a true monitor quality speaker and when put with the right equipment they are amazing with no zing but many partner them with lesser equipment than they demand where they have used price as the guide as you typically would.
I think Kef shot themselves in the foot in making such a remarkable speaker and then failing to show reviewers and people what was expected to make to them work.
My son has a pair with some extremely good Linn equipment and they sound unbelievable, more like a speaker 3X it’s price.
@@KristiWright Thanks so much. That's SUPER helpful.
It would be interesting how the Concept 50 compared to the Concept 30. Such a comparison would be similar to your comparison to the Lumina 5 and 2.
Seems like they built on all the great design ideas in the other Concept series speakers. They don't need esoteric cabinet & driver materials when they get the design right and they used one of the best designers in the business, Karl Heinz Fink. Although gelcore is a neat idea for cabinet wall damping and maybe a bit esoteric 😁
His own Fink Team speakers are prohibitively expensive so the Concept series is a way of getting a lot of that design know how at an affordable price in a mass (ish) market product.
Bought a couple of the small bookshelves for the living room. This is not my “listening room” so my criteria was just something decent, with good neutral, blend-into- the-background looks, and let’s face it, a great price point, and that could be happy being driven by a cheapy Denon AVR. It exceeds my low bar, and aided by a vintage Rel, they actually sound great, with no listening fatigue, (I find myself leaving them on for hours) Makes me think your recommendation may be spot on to replace my Maggies in the other room. Thanks for this!
Hey Q acoustics, please send Andrew the Concept 30 or even the 20, I'd love to see a real review of those.
Hello Andrew & Kristi,
Another FUN review for your audience! Haha, Desert Island Speaker. 😀 love it!
Wow, such an exciting speaker and review (only $1000 over the Polk R700's for a pair)! I enjoyed how you were both almost struggling for words!
SOOO guys ... For "spoken word challenged people," what would you use for a Center Channel, and also... what Subwoofers (a pair of SVS 1000's or SVS 3000 micro's, ...) for a mid-to-large dedicated theater room of 19'x19'?
Cheers, Eric
The best center speaker I've heard to date is the Elysian Center from Wharfedale, but I don't expect folks to rush out and buy one as it is large and expensive. I thought the matching Polk Center was good and am now curious about the Concept Center given the performance of the 50s. As for subs, I am team smaller subs when going with multiple subwoofers as they can be easier to place properly in your space. So two 3000 Micros would get my vote. Thanks for the support Eric!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks again. Such enjoyable content from you both! 👍
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I Really look forward to your review of that Q Acoustics Concept Center Channel Speaker ... vice the Polk Audio Reserve R400 Center.
Especially Kristi's ear input 😉
Cheers, Eric
This is from 2022 .. fast forward to today world.. Would you say these still rank as stated in this review vs anything to come along since these were reviewed, on what you've heard/reviewed?
Australian company called VAF my dad brought their VAF DC-X gen 4 speakers about 16 years ago and when i heard them I never heard anything so amazing same style setup with the tweeters in the middle but it had 2x instead of one with 2x 6 1/2 inch kevlar woofers just amazing but very hard to find a pair 2nd hand
Great review! I love these speakers too because I have these! Haha! These are super good for its price. I think the diminshing returns of getting a more expensive speaker just isn't worth it.
I recently added a NAD C298 to my NAD 758v3 to drive my new concept 50's and the sound is unbelievable. I apparently purchased the last pair in the U.S. Could you review the C298? Thanks again for the review.
Hmmm. I might have to save for these ones. I actually like the looks. I can get the feet powder coated. Great review! Happy Sunday!!
I was very impressed by your review of tbe Concept 50s. I bought Focal Chota 826 D speakers on close out based on your review. How could I not upgrade to a speaker that compares to a $10,000 speaker. My Qs arrived Monday. I unboxed one and just attached its stabilising bar. I hooked it up to my Yamaha R N1000A receiver as right b. I toggled back and forth to No Sugar Tonight by the Guess Who. The Focal is more open. There is better separation. It takes less volume to drive it. Percussion with the Focal is separated and amazing. I am giving the Qs to a friend. I'm just glad I got the Qs for $2k. My desert island speakers are the Focal Chora 826 Ds.
This is great to hear. I have the Focal 826D as well and I absolutely love them. I can't imagine there are speakers that sound better than they do for the price. And they were about half the price @ $1,490 for the pair. Thanks for saving me time and headache. I hear the KLH5s are the best speakers under 3k from just about every single person who has tried them out. I'm going to buy them and find out. I'll report back if you want. Cheers mate!
nice video...love the details of the amps you trialed and the speaker comparisons...one evolution of the channel would be to create a chart guide of all the speakers, etc you've reviewed and rank them in performance variables/cost and overall value to customers....your note of the smaller speakers...i wonder if that's why some actually really enjoy the rp5000f value proposition relative to other klipsch floorstanders within that tier?
Thank you for review. I went ahead and ordered these. So many good speakers right now but I want an end game speaker at a good price. R700, Linton and Lumina V were top of my list. We'll see how these do when I get them. If these work I will become a super fan.
I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thank you!
I have the Polk R700’s, love ‘em, but make sure you use high quality jumpers, the difference was dramatic with my recently purchased Italian made jumpers by Ricable. Approx. $200.
I have the concept 20s and they are by far my favorites
Would these be much better than the whaferdale evo 4.2 or side upgrade being twice the cost?
I own the Technics SU G 700 M2, I ordered the Q Concept 50 today. Will my new Rel T 9x be a good sub to match up with the concept 50’s?
Can you compare this to polk es60? thanks for a good review
how do you think the Concept 50 5.1 Home Theater System would perform? This would be my first home theatre system built and looking to get something great in performance and beautiful in aesthetic. Also thinking of pairing it with anthem receiver, thoughts?
If you get this please review it, if you'd like to. I'm interested in seeing it and your thoughts.
I puchased a used pair of dali helicon 800s in 2005, still love them and will never let them go. These new speakers are tempting to try, though.
Thank you for the video. I have the Q Acoustic Concept 300 and 30 (in a home cinema setup). My opinion: The 300 need more attention on the amp than the 30. The 30‘s are more „forgiving“. If the amp fits, the 300 are better. If I would go back I would fit my hole home cinema with Concept 30 at all channels (having an Auro 11.1 setup) with Concept 90 center.
You answered my question. I am running them in a theater system with a dedicated sub and crossed over at 80hz. So the small stand mounts should do the job with that 90 center
Hello Andrew, this is a fantastic review. Your’s and Christie’s comments have convinced me that I have to have the concept 50’s. One comment that I don’t agree with is to me the speakers look really cool. Cheers
@@Nick-sk1qp I also really like the look of these, would love put them up against my Kef R5 none Metz.
thinking for home theater system, how would Concept 50 5.1 perform in your opinion compared to other 5.1 system
Since there is not a huge bass presence, would these work in a small room like a bedroom? My integrated has bass management so I could high pass them and set a sub somewhere in the room.
I am always harping on this since it is my "jam" but curious if you had played any big symphonic music - Mahler etc or classical vocal music on these? I know you and Kristi may not listen to these and that is totally cool, but just wondering. I just find that these types of music (my main personal but not only faves) tend to be the deciding factor in whether I am drawn to this vs. that speaker... more than any other genre of music. Thank you for a great review.
I'm going to demo these, because if my ears fall in love with them it may be enough to forgive their understated/uninspired styling.
Currently own a set of Yamaha NS-1000 in ebony finish. They are big, somewhat obtrusive but their rather gorgeous looks, timbre, speed and accuracy are what makes me keep them around.
I've got AMT monitors as well, so I'm very curious to see if these Concept 50s have a similar effortless presentation.
If they do, I may very well buy a pair.