In this article, we will review the new Q Acoustics 5050 floorstanding loudspeakers (or tower speakers). Two years ago, Q Acoustics changed the game with their 5040 speakers, and they have upscaled the 5040s to give us the new 5050s. These loudspeakers retail for $2000 per pair, and they are very impressive for this price, with only a few minor quirks.
Q Acoustics 5050 Specs
| Dimensions (per loudspeaker / H X W X D) | 1017 x 366 x 336 mm |
| Frequency Response (-6 dB) | 37 Hz – 30 kHz |
| Nominal Impedance | 6 Ω |
| Minimum Impedance | 3 Ω |
| Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1kHz) | 91.8 dB/w/m |
| Recommended Amplifier Power | 25 – 150W |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.7 kHz |
| Bass Unit | 2 x 150mm |
| Treble Unit | 1 x 25mm |
| Effective Volume | 39.7 L |
| Weight (per loudspeaker) | 21.6 kg |
Q Acoustic 5050 Review
The Q Acoustic 5050 floorstanding loudspeakers come in four finishes: Satin Black, Satin White, Santos Rosewood, and Holme Oak. They are a little shorter than your average floorstanding loudspeaker, but they compensate for this with more cabinet depth.
The grilles are magnetic, and they can be taken off if you want to change the look, and the speakers come with spikes so that you can set them perfectly in your room. The spikes and the grilles feel like they should belong on a $300 speaker, as they don’t feel that great, and the spikes destroy the entire look of the $2000 Q Acoustics 5050 loudspeakers.
There is a 1cm soft dome tweeter sealed and mechanically isolated between the drivers, and there are two bass units and one treble unit. On the back of each 5050 speaker, there is a pair of binding posts and a bass reflex port.
The driver design was taken from the Q Acoustics Concept series, and they are housed in a new enclosure. This new housing supports P2P (Point to Point) Bracing, which supports parts of the enclosure that need to be stiffened, making them rigid and increasing the accuracy of the soundstage.
The drivers of the Q Acoustics 5050 speakers have a C3 Continuous Curved Cone profile. This design combines the bass performance benefits of a traditional straight conic cone with the high/mid-range frequency control of a flared cone. This cone profile gives your drivers smoother integration with the tweeter and improves deep bass dynamics.
Inside the cabinet of the Q Acoustics 5050 loudspeakers, there are some Helmholtz Pressure Equalizers. These equalizers help reduce standing waves inside the cabinet and reduce cabinet resonance.
Q Acoustics made the 5050 floorstanding loudspeakers rear-ported, and this was a wise choice. In some large rooms, the bass buildup of these speakers might feel too much, and that is where these rear ports come in. You get two foam port bungs in the box, and you can close off your ports, which will make the bass roll off at a higher frequency (56 Hz).
If you are connecting an amplifier to the 5050s, make sure it has more than 25 watts per channel, and you’ll be good to go. I used the Musical Fidelity NuVista 600.2 (which is overkill) integrated amplifier, and the combination was perfect. As the NuVista 600.2 is an analogue amplifier, I needed a streamer as well, and I used the Bluesound Node Icon, which allowed me to use music streaming services like Tidal and Qobuz.
Let’s talk about the sound quality of the Q Acoustics 5050s. The sound feels weighty, and the low end and bass are fantastic without compromising any midrange clarity. The bass was deep and punchy, and you won’t feel the need for a subwoofer with these loudspeakers. If you slightly tilt the 5050s towards your listening position, you will get a better soundstage that is perfectly layered.
The treble was a bit sharp, but you can overcome this if you use an amplifier. The dynamics of the Q Acoustics 5050 loudspeakers were amazing; they can go from 0 to 100 effortlessly, and each note is perfectly separated and detailed. The midrange lacks a natural touch, but you won’t notice this with most tracks.
Verdict
Q Acoustics did their job with the 5050 floorstanding loudspeakers. They are better than their smaller 5040 counterparts and add a touch of control in every manner. If you have the space and the money, then you should get the Q Acoustics 5050 floorstanding loudspeakers.