Q Acoustics Concept 30 Loudspeakers: Review

Having invested in five pairs of loudspeakers made by Q Acoustics going back to 2016, my brain convinced itself leading into the review of the Concept 30 loudspeakers that I already knew what to expect.

There is a “house” sound when it comes to the 3000 series and after listening to the 3050i with almost every amplifier I have reviewed for the past few years, it is fair to say that I understand the little shifts in its tonal balance and presentation that makes it a wonderful listen but also one of the most underrated floor standing loudspeakers one can purchase.

You need to approach the Q Acoustics Concept 30 with a different mindset; those considering stand-mounted loudspeakers from KEF, Dynaudio, and Wharfedale in the same price range really need to put these on their radar.

The Concept 30 is in another league when it comes to performance; and that’s not meant to be a slight on the 3050i. The price difference between the two loudspeakers is not that significant so it might surprise some to learn that the stand-mounted Concept 30 sound more coherent and authoritative.

What makes a loudspeaker great?

It is clearly a combination of unique industrial design, solid engineering, and excellent sonic capabilities — but for me it has to go much further.

When you spend most of your time listening to Hi-Fi components, the mind starts to get bored and things do begin to sound the same. You almost have to walk away and experience something else outside of your little cocoon to restart your engine.

We are fortunate to live by the ocean and whilst nobody is very confusing me with Chief Brody, I have been known to partake in some fishing and surfing since our decision to migrate to within blocks of the Atlantic Ocean.

I love the sea. I love the sensation of driving hard into the waves and feeling the icy cold water envelop me. My fishing and surfing routine begins rather early and usually ends at the 7-Eleven across the road warming my toes near the space heater and enjoying some hot coffee.

That moment when the power of the ocean and frigid temperature shakes you out of your mental stupor is an awakening.

Which is how I would describe the Concept 30.

The Q Acoustics Concept 30 are a set of loudspeakers that delivers exceptional sound quality and impressive design. Right out of the box, the speakers make a statement with their sleek, modern appearance. The cabinets are finished in a high-gloss black, white or silver finish with a distinctive curved shape that really catches the eye.

But it’s not just the appearance of the Concept 30 that impresses; it’s the sound quality that really sets these speakers apart. The Gelcore technology used in the cabinet construction helps to reduce unwanted resonance, resulting in a cleaner, more detailed sound. The mid/bass driver and tweeter are also expertly designed and tuned, delivering a balanced and natural sound across a wide frequency range.

Technology

The Q Acoustics Concept 30 speakers use a 125mm (5 inches) mid/bass driver with a cone made of a proprietary material called ‘Aramid Fibre/Paper’ and a 25mm (1 inch) soft dome tweeter with a neodymium magnet system. The mid/bass driver is designed with a dual-layer voice coil and a dual-magnet system for improved power handling and control.

This tweeter is designed to provide a smooth and detailed high-frequency response, and it is integrated with the mid/bass driver using a sophisticated crossover network for optimal integration and coherence between the drivers. The tweeter has a frequency response range of 2.5kHz to 30kHz.

The Concept 30 feature a decoupled isolation base that houses the crossover network; its sole purpose is to minimize or completely eliminate any vibration that might travel through the stands into the chassis of the loudspeakers.

The optional Q FS75 Tensegrity stands screw directly into the lower segment of that isolation base and they proved to be a magnet for Tyrion “I drink from a bowl and know things” White who wanted to know how stable the floating silver cabinets were.

Fortunately, they proved to be stable enough. The assembly process takes some time so don’t get frustrated if you pass the 30-minute mark and you are still not done.

You can use other stands with the Concept 30 if you don’t want to invest $499 in the FS75 which are admittedly rather expensive.

The 87 dB sensitivity rating (6 ohms) is accurate but I would not consider something like the NAD C 316BEE V2 or Rotel A14MII Integrated Amplifiers with the Concept 30. I tried them both. Neither really clicked.

My Cambridge Audio Edge A drove these loudspeakers magnificently; resolving, authoritative, spacious, and with an iron grip on the low end.

The problem is that the Edge A is $6,499 USD. Nobody should be driving these $1,300 USD loudspeakers with that kind of amplifier. It doesn’t make a lot of sense.

The Cambridge CXA81 would make a lot more sense. I am trying to get the Unison Research Triode 25 Integrated Amplifier back because it worked so well with the 3050i and I suspect it would be spectacular with the Concept 30.

The Concept 30 offers bi-wired or single wired configurations; we used both and didn’t find that the bi-wired setup using our QED and Analysis Plus Loudspeakers cables made that large of a difference.

Specifications

• Bass unit 1 x 125 mm (5.0 in)
• Treble unit 1 x 25 mm (0.9 in)
• Frequency response(-6dB) 54 Hz – 30 kHz
• Nominal impedance 6 Ω
• Minimum impedance 3.9 Ω
• Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1kHz) 87 dB/w/m
• Recommended amplifier power 25-100 W
• Crossover frequency 2.4 kHz
• Distortion (120Hz – 20kHz, @2.83Vrms) <0.2%
• Effective volume 7.0 L
• Dimensions (per loudspeaker / HxWxD) 284 x 180 x 319 mm (11.2 x 7.1 x 12.6 in)
• Weight (per loudspeaker) 7.9 kg (17.4 lbs)

Sound

The mid/bass driver delivers punchy and precise bass with excellent speed and control, without overwhelming or muddying the rest of the frequency range. The midrange is also smooth and detailed, providing clarity and presence with vocals and acoustic instruments.

The high frequencies are clear and detailed, without being overly bright or harsh, allowing for a comfortable listening experience over long listening sessions.

The overall sound signature of the Concept 30 is natural and engaging, with excellent resolution and detail retrieval. The speakers can handle dynamic shifts and complex arrangements with ease, providing a sense of scale and dynamics that is impressive for their size.

I want to focus on three specific parts of its performance that really make the Concept 30 stand out.

We stayed up one night for almost 4 hours (which is unusual when you wake up at 4 a.m. each day to run and get the day started) listening to Depeche Mode, Erasure, Bob Seger, and Nick Cave and the overwhelming consensus was that the Concept 30 don’t gloss over bad recordings, but they are not unduly kind to them either.

The 3050i gloss over bad recordings because the treble is rather restrained and that is one of the reasons why I use them in so many reviews; one can really judge the top end performance of any component with greater accuracy.

The Concept 30 are exceptionally more open sounding and can create a rather wide soundstage depending on the size of your room.

We set them up on the FS75 stands and placed them 36-inches from the wall to begin and never used the supplied bungs because they have never worked well with any of the Q Acoustics loudspeakers in my room in the past. The bass loses definition and I would rather pull the speakers out further into the room.

Our den is 16′ x 13′ x 9′ with two openings into the kitchen and front foyer; the Concept 30’s soundstage extended from one side of the room to other which has not been my experience with other loudspeakers over the years.

I have also never been overly obsessed with imaging; timbre, clarity, and overall presence rank much higher in my playbook.

Listening to Bill Frisell, Donald Byrd, Art Tatum, Jason Isbell, and Ella Fitzgerald through the Concept 30 turned me into somewhat of a convert when it comes to imaging.

The precise nature of its imaging combined with a very firm degree of control in the bottom end and warm midrange overall — kept my attention for hours.

Electronic music pulsated throughout the space and was well defined and spacious; Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream are utterly mesmerizing through these loudspeakers.

Conclusion

Overall, the Q Acoustics Concept 30 are an excellent set of loudspeakers that will appeal to audiophiles and music lovers alike. They deliver exceptional sound quality and are well-designed, making them a stylish addition to any home audio system. While they may be a bit pricey for some, the Concept 30 speakers are a worthwhile investment for those looking for a high-quality set of speakers that can deliver great sound across a wide range of music genres and movies.

When listening to music through the Concept 30, the soundstage is wide and expansive, with instruments and vocals clearly defined and separated. The speakers excel in reproducing acoustic and vocal performances, with a warm and natural sound that makes you feel like you’re right there in the recording studio or concert hall.

The Concept 30 also handles dynamic music genres, such as rock and electronic, with ease. The bass is tight and controlled, without overpowering the other frequencies. The treble is crisp and detailed, without becoming strident with poorly recorded music.

The stands will certainly raise a few eyebrows but they must be considered essential if one wishes to extract everything out of the loudspeakers that they support. The price is certainly a drawback.

What impressed me the most throughout my listening time with them was their incredible presence in my listening space; they may not offer the same degree of transparency as the Magnepan LRS that they replaced — but they offer so much when it comes to resolution, bass impact, and overall dynamics.

Q Acoustics have elevated their game to another level with the Concept 30. If the price doesn’t scare you off and you are willing to spend the time truly listening to what they can do with the right amplification — prepare to open your wallet.

A strong candidate for my “Best Bookshelf/Stand-Mounted Loudspeaker of 2023.”

Where to buy: $1,299/pair at Amazon | qacoustics.com