PLEASE READ *before commenting*! 1) All comments here are moderated by a third party 2) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome 3) No URLs, racist/sexist remarks or conspiracy theories, please
I have the concept 300, great speaker. The reason for the purchase, it was the speaker my girlfriend thought blended the best with our decor. She liked the stands, very modern looking.
I loved this review. So intelligently(as always) presented. No bullshit...just pure opinion, including positive aspects of the other items. You have a real talent in being approachable while remaining cerebral. Thank you.
You joke about the "pretentious" description, but it actually translated well! I'm not a "pretentious audiophile" but your characterizations of sound always feel well thought, as opposed to the typical jargon. Thank you John 👍
Dear John, I actually never use the comment section but this is a one timer: Great video as always with the usual flavors of sympathy, humor and professionalism. Also liked the ice cream pitch. Much love to Berlin and keep up the fantastic work 👍🏼
I have the older concept 40. They really are a fantastic speaker and think they were an utter bargain. I am a fan of the Q Acoustics sound signature as it is pretty even tempered with a touch of midbass warmth, but the treble is pretty revealing but never in your face. I also have 3020i and a smattering of 20 series speakers. They suit me and are great for extended listening with no harshness (unless the recording is harsh). I stopped typing as I was just repeating John. Oh. Rum and raisin wins everytime.
I own the concept 20's, lovely sounding speakers. I owned B&W 606s2 but had to sell them as the treble gave me a headache, the concept 20 are smooth as silk and pair well with my Roksan Kandy amp.
Another great video (thank you) have never regreted buying my KEF LS50 Metas & KC62 sub, your take on the versitility of standmounts versus towers in a small space was my take as well and one of the deciding factors in retiring my Boston T1000's towers.
The isolation technique Q is being used here comes from the "Seismic Isolation" technology applied to buildings in high seismic areas. We (structural engineer here) have been using this decoupling solution for more than 50 years and I think has good potential for working well with acoustic vibrations as well.
Im happy with the Q Acoustics M 20 powered speakers. It took me awhile to stay away from detailed speakers. I just seem to enjoy the music now, especially with the quality of many of my recordings.
If you haven't listened to them I'd recommend Thievery Corporation. They have a really great catalogue of music that is electronic based with international influences and flavors with hints of dub, afro, reggae, acid jazz and Brazilian. I also highly recommend the New Zealand outfit Fat Freddy's Drop.
How did I miss your review of the speakers I purchased earlier this year. I love them as they are perfectly suited for a smaller home. Driven by an Atol IN100, Canbridge Audio CVN2 music streamer, and a little heft from a REL T9. Going to take them to my friends and hook them up to his Canton and see how the amp influences the speakers. They are awsome for their price range. They need a good subwoofer to round them out. Music is so subjective all I can say is I'm happy with them. I was aiming for the Kef Metas and was pleasantly sidetracked. Wonderful review and just thought I would throw in my 2 cents in. Everyone have a great day and listen.
Hi, you are God sent to me. I like to know something from you. I like good bass punch, clean midrange and crisp treble (but not fatigue]. Would the speaker be able to provide this? will be paired with atoll in00 signature amp which is a bit forward in the upper midrange area. need your experience,Thanks.
This is a super helpful video, ESPECIALLY the side-by-side comparisons. I currently have 2 systems, one is a combo Bluesound Powernode with Q Acoustics 3030is, the other is a KEF LS50 Wireless (#1). Both have a SVS 3000 micro sub. While the KEFs are lovely, I'm not a fan of the occasional tweeter ZING, and their software is a horror. I do like the Bluesound + Q Acoustics Combo, though the mids are a tad muddy at times (the the imagining is far superior). So, I'm delighted to hear that the Concept 30s are lovely. I listen to a LOT of 1950s-1960s Jazz and classical music. So a BALANCED presentation, with fabulous imaging is all. THANKS!!!
This review is actually helpful in deciding how to narrow down my list of speakers to audition to buy. A lot of reviews feel more like just a video about the speaker. This video is about sound, which is the point really.
I enjoy your reviews very much, however I recently had the unusual opportunity to audition the lumina 2 and the Wharfedale Denton 85th anniversary, if I didn't know you were talking about the Q Acoustics I would have sworn it was the Denton you were describing. In fact, the dealer commented these three speakers were his best recommendations at that price level. This takes me to the point of my comment, I feel the Denton is an underappreciated speaker that delivers rich full sound with superb mids and fairly good bass. It does not have the clarity and detail of the Lunima 2 in the upper end, but man, you can listen to it the entire day and no chance of fatigue. So, I understand the limits of not having every possible speaker to do AB comparisons, but some of them should have a place of their own not be left behind for all to be discovered and enjoyed. Thank you!
I've owned Q acoustics and KEF products. All have their own sound signatures as to be expected. If I had a choice I'm going with the Q Acoustics. I'm kind of a bass head, the KEF's have great detail but miss out on some of the great Bass that the Q's have while being relaxed. You probably couldn't go wrong with any of these three. They will give many years of listening happiness.
How do you find that p[airing? I am about to recieve the Technics SU G700 M2 and was considering the Neat Petite Classic? Though I like the thought of a tower and the Concept 50 get great reviews...
Thank you for this entertaining presentation and excellent comparison. And as so often, there is still much more; plenty of interesting music suggestions and some more knowledge about the benefit of subwoofers to standmounts vs floorstanders. Thank you for your excellent work.
Suprised you use the metal magnetic linking bars...i have piano white gloss Concept 20's & Concept 30's...after swapping out the linking bars with Canare 10cm link cables...both positive & negative use very high grade OCC OFC ,2 wires for both + & -, 2.7mm2 x 2 = 5.4mm2 cross section for positive & negative cable/wire....sounds black & white, cleaner clearer mid-range & treble, more detail retreval yet smoother top end...i use them now on all bi-wireable speakers i use for both stereo hifi & my 7.1.4 AV system...with the Emotiva BasX PT1pre-amp & BasX 2 stereo power amp, Concept 30's & SVS SB1000 Pro subwoofer for music... i am really impressed with these Concept 30's & the 20's when used with the SVS sub...the 30's sound fantastic on Partington Ansa 60 stands or Dynaudio stands both filled with Atabites & expanding foam, 50/50....the 20's on their own designed tripod stands, very good quality all in Piano Gloss White...luv them for all genres of music, very rythmic speakers...good review
Hi, thanks for your detailed description. I like to know something from you. I like good bass punch, clean midrange and crisp treble (but not fatigue]. Would the speaker be able to provide this? will be paired with atoll in00 signature amp which is a bit forward in the upper midrange area. Thanks. 🙏
Why i went for the LSX 2's , no worry about vibration effects on the Crossover...(there isn't one, It's done in DSP), no worry about amp matching or what's the best speaker cable and interconnects to use.
Sometimes I am less concerned about the product and more interested in the the music suggestions. You used to do play lists. I am not sure if you still do but, it would be helpful if you linked to some of them. In today's video it was the Recondite EP the I found great. Thank you. Now to get some ice-cream.
I found the Fila Brazillia quit a good suggestion today and as for Recondite I am listening to them for quit a while. Often I am quite off with John’s suggestions, but today he hit my spot.
Thanks for the review. I was looking forward to this as I was looking for a successor to the Kef LS50W2. I'm also interested in the Powernode Edge shown in the video, it would be an aesthetically perfect partner for these speakers. It would be great to hear your opinion on how speakers of the same class, the Amphion Argon 1, compare to these. Hopefully sometime in the future!
Great review as always! Had a hard time deciding between Concept 30 and Special 40 2 years ago, but went with 40's and no regrets! Haven't heard the Concepts tho. Really like the design aesthetic.
Nailed it. "What's the best flavor of ice cream?" My statement is, we're all picking our favorite color crayon out the box. Great review, very detailed.
Great review ! Really got a good idea now of what "flavour" speaker I would choose. Regardless of that the build quality on the Q's look really impressive !!
Thanks for suggesting Fila Brazillia, am really getting into their albums (and they remind me of Ozric Tentacles). I had hoped to find some suggestions in your EM for Audiophiles vid(s) to my EM taste... I may need to wait for your next one😂. Great channel - always informative and entertaining.
THANKS JOHN 🤗😎 We like this video and the comparisons, but it seems like you had a double espresso in this video 😁 Again we’re going to try your music suggestions 👍😎💚💚💚
Thanks for the review. Love your "comparative" analysis approach. Regarding your thoughts on the effect of volume levels on the sound quality of standmount speakers, maybe it would be a good video idea to recommend standmount speakers that sound very good even with low listening volumes? I usually listen low to moderate volume levels, as Steve Guttenberg :) Love to hear your take on this topic.
Triple Chocolate Whip with Salted Caramel - versus - Vanilla - watch this space next week when Johnnie does 'What's the Best Ice-Cream Bang For The Buck' 😁
I love the way you give the price straight away - I know then if i can (1) afford it, and (2) what to compare it with. Always enjoy your video, thanks!
A thoroughly enjoyable video as always. Still, on the subject of your last one, anyone seeking to explore the stereo imaging of their headphones (or speakers) should listen to Yosi Horikawa's Vapor album and also Martin Gore's 2015 MG. I always take a wonderful trip to superstereoland with these albums.
Two things I tried for the first time, thanks for this video, are the chocolate mint chip ice cream and the concept 30’s. So, the chocolate mint chip is not my thing (I finished the pint though), but boy, I like the sound of concept 30 so much! Thanks for the most precise description ever! 😊
Gel cores on window glass absolutely blocks sound incredibly well, so I am a believer in this technology- Great for keeping unwanted sound out of your space.
In our country, the prices for these speakers are too high. Please compare speakers based on sound quality, not based on price range. In past videos, you said that bookart s400 v2 is better than kef ls meta. Then the standard of sound should be bookart!
That was a really good review, John! Bravissimo!! As a owner of a pair of older Concept 20 paired with a sub, I was looking for this comparison. The analogy to ice cream flavours is spot on I belive. Indeed recently I bought a pair of system audio legend 5 silverback (they are active) and they sound more lively and with a V curve. So somtimes I like one presentation and sometimes the other, just like ice preferences are not fixed in time, ending owning both as proper hi-fi madness. The combo standmount+sub is really flexible also whatching movies at late night if you live in a flat, you can just turn off the sub, with a floorstander you can't get away from bass. Sorry for this poem, all the best
i call my speakers "neutral" or "accurate" when i can take them in my studio and play all my instruments through them and feel like every note is played at the same level as the other notes. Not every speaker can do that, but the LS50 are very good at that and are my current main studio monitors cause they sounded that much better than the few dedicated system i had before even with some being quite more expensive
I love the LS50 and most instruments sound quit natural, but with the piano the higher notes are a bit metallic sounding. I love the sparkling tweeter of the LS50, but for piano it is a downside.
There is one ice cream flavor that stands above all the others in terms of popularity. That is vanilla. So, it is possible that one of these speakers is more vanilla than the other two. And from your descriptions that would seem to be the Q acoustic.
There's also vanilla ice cream and vanilla ice cream. The massed produced stuff - all a bit meh. Or the type that's lovingly made with proper vanilla pods, decent milk etc etc. That can't be beaten!
In the UK, the Concept 30 are £700ish, whereas the KEF hovers above £950 most of the time, depending on the choice of finish. If that helps swing it one way or the other...
Owning the LS50 and QC50 I do find the similar but LS50 has more sparkle and QC50 is more clear but I miss the sparkle at times. Was hopping to find a system with the best of both.
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q The H160 or H120 will do just as well, but yeah the LS50 is demanding. You talking about Mr. Chibs and I talked about it with him. He said he wanted some headroom power wise. As long you have a solid 100 watts or more and a 4 ohm rating you should be good power wise. Leaves you figuring out what amp pairing you prefer sound wise. Also using a sub can help to lift the burden from the main amp. Btw, Mr Chibs is using the equipment in a huge room (home theatre setup). A large room like that also adds to the need of power.
If interested in the Q 300 maybe checkout the Elac Solano BS 283, same Price-Range as the Qs, also very stylish (especially in white glossy with matching black stands Elac LS 50). They sound really amazing and are created and built in Germany (not assembled in China). Built quality is excellent, with Jet5 tweeters and unbelievable massive bass. Seems like nearly no one knows these little magic Boxes because of Elac's lack of marketing / advertising...
Hi John, I own a pair of Lumina II and I love them. They are fun speaker to listen to and could only be fatiguing if listening to bad recordings or at a very loud volume for a long time. BTW, I'm discovering some fantastic music in your videos, some I thought I would never like. This time Colors of Illusion. It sounds fantastic, just as last week's Ava Low, on my Totem Tribe Towers (they have a very tight and deep bass, you would love them for electronic music). Also, what happened to the bloopers at the end?. Cheers.
@@robertmarshall7712 Hi, I've never heard Triangle so can't comment on the comp. I moved the Luminas to a desktop setup with a PS Audio Sprout and it sounds great. In this setup I tend to listen to mellow music at low levels, with some indie here and there. It works great. I guess we all have different tolerance and tastes. My Totem are more neutral with a powefull bass, while I also own Maggies, which I prefer for vocal Jazz due to their great scale and sweet midrange/trebble. Each speaker for a different purpose.
I don’t buy this kind of relatively expensive speakers preferring to experiment with older speakers happy to re-cap and build things like exciter driven polystyrene panels and chop and change with Chinese class D amps, Different DACs like the iFi Zen to a $79 KGUSS and more recently a NAD 757 7.1 AVR to try different setups with a lot of different speakers. That said I find your discussions of how you experience sound. I notice some equipment is tiring, some easier to live with, so you’re approach is really helpful.
Excellent review. I think most audiophiles will feel the way you do with your conclusions. But unfortunately, most will never be able to thoroughly audition multiple pairs of speakers for weeks on end. They taste one flavor and just have to assume it's the best for them. I'm lucky enough to own 4 flavors I can sample between 😋. Kef (Ls50 Metas & R3s), Sonus Faber (Lumina II), Arendal 1961s, Ascend Acoustic Sierra-2EX. The flavor I enjoy most is based on the mood I'm in. Every speaker is, of course, backed by a rotation of subs: kc62, Martin Logan BF212, and Rythmik F12SE. Because ice cream deserves toppings!
Hey John! Quick question; in the past you've talked about consistency in parts of your system such as cables and stands, this is of course very important. However, I've noticed when reviewing standmount speakers that have matching stands, you often use the matching stands which come in at a much higher price than your go-to stands. How do you choose when it's appropriate to use a different stand? and do you ever try speakers with their matching stands as well as your go-to stands to see if there's any difference? Love the show, keep up the ridiculous analogies!
I think it’s kind of logical to test speakers with stands made for them. What kind of stands would he have to test with? To many third party stands to choose from? I guess if you want to go cheap on stands you have to figure it out yourself or pay a little more and get stands that are appropriate for that speaker because it was designed for it.
Hey John, it would be a cool Video, if you compared the sound quality in the typical Berlin Techno Clubs (assuming you have visited them). Gewölbe in Cologne and Robert Johnson in Frankfurt would also be interesting!
The analogy to ice-cream is brilliant. I'd like to introduce a new term to your lexicon as well. "Happy-Fi". Does YOUR system make YOUR toes tap and the corners of your mouth curl up in a joyous fashion? Then be happy with what you have. I'm not saying you shouldn't try and build the best system that you can afford. At some point though we become more obsessed with the mechanism of playback more than with what we're playing back. Personally, I've achieved everything that I want with, relative to the greater hi-fi community, a modest system. At some point in chasing the ne plus ultra of audio aren't we just tilting at windmills purely out of self-doubt?
Concept 30s are on my comparison list for £1k - £1.5k stand mounts, alongside the Dali Opticons and the Sonus Fabers. Surprised you found sonus faber a bit harsh. I personally didn’t get on with LS50s at all, sounded incredibly harsh to me. Obvs others have different views.
I apologise for being off topic here: I am an architectural modernist, with a leaning toward Noguchi Nakamisha and Nelson in a low minimal space. I would like to use all or most my gear without the visual noise. I have been considering laying out things on floor platforms. Thoughts?
They look great with those stands,. I haven't heard Global Communication for years and stumbled upon them again last night, now they get mentioned here, the simulation is winking at me. I wonder what would be a good pair of speakers or headphones for Autechre and Pan Sonic.
Hi John. Love your channel and your general attitude towards listening. I have a question. When comparing various speakers/ electronics, do you use the same cables for each product? Thank you. Keep up the good work
Mr D. Try out markaudio sota cesti MBR. 45hz to22khz, full range driver. Hdf piano finish cabinets. These are seriously good. Checkout tnt and hifi choice reviews.
@Darko Audio Thanks for the detailed, side by side comparison! Maybe you can answer my 2 questions: 1. What speaker would you recommend for a hip hop head like myself? Kef LS50 or the q acoustics concept 30? 2. For smallish room like you have, would you rather have floor-standing speaker with subwoofer or stand mounting speaker? Regardless of price. Thanks again anyway! ❤
Not your music I know but try and get a listen to "waiting for the crash" from the Interstellar soundtrack...this is a fantastic bass test as the gong hit bleeds into a proper bass pipe from a church organ and as a bonus its a fantastic recording with a huge dynamic range.
Dear John, descriptive and entertaining review. Communicative. Question for you. Are there any smallish all-in-one that you recommend? I've a Marantz MCR 610 (CD, FM DAB radio, internet radio, music server) and it's good but you're an expert so I was wondering what you might suggest I consider? I have it paired with Q Acoustic Concept 20 speakers. When you mention the music you're using would it be ok to play a short sample in the background as you're talking or when you stop talking to fully play a sample? Looking forward to watching more of your ice cream reviews :-)
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q That will only give a consensus that they are good speakers. I love the LS50, but taste differ and every speaker has flaws. The best is only the speaker that fits your taste and that’s subjective.
theatre 2 ep recondite Humid Green Haze (track three ) has lots of sub sonics energy. the Q ACOUSTICS' Concept 30 cannot reproduce those sub sonics. A sub is needed for sure.
With these speakers now at £499 and the KEF LS50 Meta back up to >£1000 - does it make it a no-brainer to get the Qs? Is there a substantial difference which justifies the >£500 to get the KEFs?
The problem with ice cream is this: vanilla is the best flavor, but most vanilla ice cream is complete rubbish. But the good vanilla ice cream is really frekkin good!
@@aayotechnology I do. But it's a locally made brand that is only available in a few shops in Belgium: Ponet. I have yet to find a brand that is widely available that comes anywhere near it with regards to refined taste. Most of them are too sweet and taste a bit... unrefined.
PLEASE READ *before commenting*!
1) All comments here are moderated by a third party
2) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome
3) No URLs, racist/sexist remarks or conspiracy theories, please
I have the concept 300, great speaker. The reason for the purchase, it was the speaker my girlfriend thought blended the best with our decor. She liked the stands, very modern looking.
I loved this review. So intelligently(as always) presented. No bullshit...just pure opinion, including positive aspects of the other items. You have a real talent in being approachable while remaining cerebral. Thank you.
You joke about the "pretentious" description, but it actually translated well! I'm not a "pretentious audiophile" but your characterizations of sound always feel well thought, as opposed to the typical jargon. Thank you John 👍
Dear John, I actually never use the comment section but this is a one timer:
Great video as always with the usual flavors of sympathy, humor and professionalism. Also liked the ice cream pitch. Much love to Berlin and keep up the fantastic work 👍🏼
Really cool review, thank you so much…
But we are all waiting for the Buchardt A700 review 🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️
I have the older concept 40. They really are a fantastic speaker and think they were an utter bargain. I am a fan of the Q Acoustics sound signature as it is pretty even tempered with a touch of midbass warmth, but the treble is pretty revealing but never in your face.
I also have 3020i and a smattering of 20 series speakers. They suit me and are great for extended listening with no harshness (unless the recording is harsh).
I stopped typing as I was just repeating John.
Oh. Rum and raisin wins everytime.
Thank you for showcasing multiple flavors of sound in a very popular price range for audiophiles!
I own the concept 20's, lovely sounding speakers. I owned B&W 606s2 but had to sell them as the treble gave me a headache, the concept 20 are smooth as silk and pair well with my Roksan Kandy amp.
I love my Concept 20’s and have zero desire to “upgrade”
Another great video (thank you) have never regreted buying my KEF LS50 Metas & KC62 sub, your take on the versitility of standmounts versus towers in a small space was my take as well and one of the deciding factors in retiring my Boston T1000's towers.
The isolation technique Q is being used here comes from the "Seismic Isolation" technology applied to buildings in high seismic areas. We (structural engineer here) have been using this decoupling solution for more than 50 years and I think has good potential for working well with acoustic vibrations as well.
Im happy with the Q Acoustics M 20 powered speakers. It took me awhile to stay away from detailed speakers.
I just seem to enjoy the music now, especially with the quality of many of my recordings.
If you haven't listened to them I'd recommend Thievery Corporation. They have a really great catalogue of music that is electronic based with international influences and flavors with hints of dub, afro, reggae, acid jazz and Brazilian. I also highly recommend the New Zealand outfit Fat Freddy's Drop.
I second that, especially Thievery Corporation
How did I miss your review of the speakers I purchased earlier this year. I love them as they are perfectly suited for a smaller home. Driven by an Atol IN100, Canbridge Audio CVN2 music streamer, and a little heft from a REL T9. Going to take them to my friends and hook them up to his Canton and see how the amp influences the speakers. They are awsome for their price range. They need a good subwoofer to round them out. Music is so subjective all I can say is I'm happy with them. I was aiming for the Kef Metas and was pleasantly sidetracked. Wonderful review and just thought I would throw in my 2 cents in. Everyone have a great day and listen.
Hi, you are God sent to me. I like to know something from you. I like good bass punch, clean midrange and crisp treble (but not fatigue]. Would the speaker be able to provide this? will be paired with atoll in00 signature amp which is a bit forward in the upper midrange area. need your experience,Thanks.
This is a super helpful video, ESPECIALLY the side-by-side comparisons. I currently have 2 systems, one is a combo Bluesound Powernode with Q Acoustics 3030is, the other is a KEF LS50 Wireless (#1). Both have a SVS 3000 micro sub. While the KEFs are lovely, I'm not a fan of the occasional tweeter ZING, and their software is a horror. I do like the Bluesound + Q Acoustics Combo, though the mids are a tad muddy at times (the the imagining is far superior). So, I'm delighted to hear that the Concept 30s are lovely. I listen to a LOT of 1950s-1960s Jazz and classical music. So a BALANCED presentation, with fabulous imaging is all. THANKS!!!
This review is actually helpful in deciding how to narrow down my list of speakers to audition to buy. A lot of reviews feel more like just a video about the speaker. This video is about sound, which is the point really.
Thank you .. honest and importantly very clear
I enjoy your reviews very much, however I recently had the unusual opportunity to audition the lumina 2 and the Wharfedale Denton 85th anniversary, if I didn't know you were talking about the Q Acoustics I would have sworn it was the Denton you were describing. In fact, the dealer commented these three speakers were his best recommendations at that price level. This takes me to the point of my comment, I feel the Denton is an underappreciated speaker that delivers rich full sound with superb mids and fairly good bass. It does not have the clarity and detail of the Lunima 2 in the upper end, but man, you can listen to it the entire day and no chance of fatigue. So, I understand the limits of not having every possible speaker to do AB comparisons, but some of them should have a place of their own not be left behind for all to be discovered and enjoyed. Thank you!
Love vintage amps with loudness setting. Full range even at low volume 😍
For those of us that prefer a more relaxed treble, the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 is a good option in that price range.
I've owned Q acoustics and KEF products. All have their own sound signatures as to be expected. If I had a choice I'm going with the Q Acoustics. I'm kind of a bass head, the KEF's have great detail but miss out on some of the great Bass that the Q's have while being relaxed. You probably couldn't go wrong with any of these three. They will give many years of listening happiness.
On Bass u got opposite conclusion to this review
I went with the concept 50’s . I have them connected to my Technics SU -G 700 M2 integrated. Very happy with the paring.
Was just thinking about this exact pairing lol hmmmm
How do you find that p[airing? I am about to recieve the Technics SU G700 M2 and was considering the Neat Petite Classic? Though I like the thought of a tower and the Concept 50 get great reviews...
I would love to see your take on Project’s Speaker Box 5 S2 or DS2!
Thanks for the review. As a Q C50 owner, like to see the difference in options!
Thank you for this entertaining presentation and excellent comparison. And as so often, there is still much more; plenty of interesting music suggestions and some more knowledge about the benefit of subwoofers to standmounts vs floorstanders. Thank you for your excellent work.
QLN Speakers Gothenburg-Sweden, have used a similair technique as the "gelcore" since the mid 1970,s.
No vanilla, no chocolate ice cream, only salt caramel! Thank you John, great review (as always….)
Suprised you use the metal magnetic linking bars...i have piano white gloss Concept 20's & Concept 30's...after swapping out the linking bars with Canare 10cm link cables...both positive & negative use very high grade OCC OFC ,2 wires for both + & -, 2.7mm2 x 2 = 5.4mm2 cross section for positive & negative cable/wire....sounds black & white, cleaner clearer mid-range & treble, more detail retreval yet smoother top end...i use them now on all bi-wireable speakers i use for both stereo hifi & my 7.1.4 AV system...with the Emotiva BasX PT1pre-amp & BasX 2 stereo power amp, Concept 30's & SVS SB1000 Pro subwoofer for music... i am really impressed with these Concept 30's & the 20's when used with the SVS sub...the 30's sound fantastic on Partington Ansa 60 stands or Dynaudio stands both filled with Atabites & expanding foam, 50/50....the 20's on their own designed tripod stands, very good quality all in Piano Gloss White...luv them for all genres of music, very rythmic speakers...good review
Hi, thanks for your detailed description. I like to know something from you. I like good bass punch, clean midrange and crisp treble (but not fatigue]. Would the speaker be able to provide this? will be paired with atoll in00 signature amp which is a bit forward in the upper midrange area. Thanks. 🙏
Why i went for the LSX 2's , no worry about vibration effects on the Crossover...(there isn't one, It's done in DSP), no worry about amp matching or what's the best speaker cable and interconnects to use.
Sometimes I am less concerned about the product and more interested in the the music suggestions. You used to do play lists. I am not sure if you still do but, it would be helpful if you linked to some of them. In today's video it was the Recondite EP the I found great. Thank you. Now to get some ice-cream.
And what flavor of ice cream🍨 did you choose today 🤔😋😁
In the description I see that all music IDS can be found on his patreon.
Patreon.
I found the Fila Brazillia quit a good suggestion today and as for Recondite I am listening to them for quit a while. Often I am quite off with John’s suggestions, but today he hit my spot.
Coffee ice cream. It's so smooth!
Thanks for the review. I was looking forward to this as I was looking for a successor to the Kef LS50W2. I'm also interested in the Powernode Edge shown in the video, it would be an aesthetically perfect partner for these speakers. It would be great to hear your opinion on how speakers of the same class, the Amphion Argon 1, compare to these. Hopefully sometime in the future!
Great review as always! Had a hard time deciding between Concept 30 and Special 40 2 years ago, but went with 40's and no regrets! Haven't heard the Concepts tho. Really like the design aesthetic.
I’m a budget guy, not by choice, but I got the 3030i’s and I’ve had so much fun listening to my iodine favorites. I’ll buy more q products.
Nailed it. "What's the best flavor of ice cream?" My statement is, we're all picking our favorite color crayon out the box. Great review, very detailed.
Great review ! Really got a good idea now of what "flavour" speaker I would choose. Regardless of that the build quality on the Q's look really impressive !!
Thanks for Power Clown...absolute fun-chill funk!
Ι am enjoying my q3030i ,, this one is my next Dream!!!!!!
Thanks for suggesting Fila Brazillia, am really getting into their albums (and they remind me of Ozric Tentacles). I had hoped to find some suggestions in your EM for Audiophiles vid(s) to my EM taste... I may need to wait for your next one😂. Great channel - always informative and entertaining.
I loved the video but the visual teases of the powernode edge just has me wondering about when that video will come out!
THANKS JOHN 🤗😎 We like this video and the comparisons, but it seems like you had a double espresso in this video 😁
Again we’re going to try your music suggestions 👍😎💚💚💚
Thanks, Darko, another well structured and detailed review.
The concept 40 are £500 new currently which seems like a very nice deal
Thanks for the review. Love your "comparative" analysis approach. Regarding your thoughts on the effect of volume levels on the sound quality of standmount speakers, maybe it would be a good video idea to recommend standmount speakers that sound very good even with low listening volumes? I usually listen low to moderate volume levels, as Steve Guttenberg :) Love to hear your take on this topic.
Triple Chocolate Whip with Salted Caramel - versus - Vanilla - watch this space next week when Johnnie does 'What's the Best Ice-Cream Bang For The Buck' 😁
I love the way you give the price straight away - I know then if i can (1) afford it, and (2) what to compare it with. Always enjoy your video, thanks!
A thoroughly enjoyable video as always. Still, on the subject of your last one, anyone seeking to explore the stereo imaging of their headphones (or speakers) should listen to Yosi Horikawa's Vapor album and also Martin Gore's 2015 MG. I always take a wonderful trip to superstereoland with these albums.
Two things I tried for the first time, thanks for this video, are the chocolate mint chip ice cream and the concept 30’s. So, the chocolate mint chip is not my thing (I finished the pint though), but boy, I like the sound of concept 30 so much! Thanks for the most precise description ever! 😊
I've got a pair of Dynaudio Evoke 10s. Seems like the Q Acoustics has a similar sound to them....
Gel cores on window glass absolutely blocks sound incredibly well, so I am a believer in this technology- Great for keeping unwanted sound out of your space.
In our country, the prices for these speakers are too high. Please compare speakers based on sound quality, not based on price range. In past videos, you said that bookart s400 v2 is better than kef ls meta. Then the standard of sound should be bookart!
That was a really good review, John! Bravissimo!! As a owner of a pair of older Concept 20 paired with a sub, I was looking for this comparison. The analogy to ice cream flavours is spot on I belive. Indeed recently I bought a pair of system audio legend 5 silverback (they are active) and they sound more lively and with a V curve. So somtimes I like one presentation and sometimes the other, just like ice preferences are not fixed in time, ending owning both as proper hi-fi madness. The combo standmount+sub is really flexible also whatching movies at late night if you live in a flat, you can just turn off the sub, with a floorstander you can't get away from bass. Sorry for this poem, all the best
*ice cream
@@lucapapi5994 Let them have the ice cream ! per noi e Gelato !
BOC! Played them last night from CD through my HifiMan Anandas. Total spacegasm.
I have the concept 20’s, while using a subwoofer, try putting in the foam plugs in the speaker ports, sounds better to me, at least in my room.
... Is that the Bluesound Powernode Edge I see??? Have you reviewed it yet??? ...
A smallisch room of 6x5 meters? ooooh. Average living rooms in Germany are really big🙂
In a modern UK house you wouldn't find a single room that was as big as 6x5m 😭
Great review. Thx!
@13:10 Class D amplifiers tend to be sensitive concerning non-linear impedance speakers resulting in “harsh” sound.
Guess I need to go put on that David Byrne album now. Haven’t listened to that in years!
as to the gelcore...
im still waiting for a temperature measurement.. to check if hey get warmer ;-)
i call my speakers "neutral" or "accurate" when i can take them in my studio and play all my instruments through them and feel like every note is played at the same level as the other notes. Not every speaker can do that, but the LS50 are very good at that and are my current main studio monitors cause they sounded that much better than the few dedicated system i had before even with some being quite more expensive
I love the LS50 and most instruments sound quit natural, but with the piano the higher notes are a bit metallic sounding. I love the sparkling tweeter of the LS50, but for piano it is a downside.
There is one ice cream flavor that stands above all the others in terms of popularity. That is vanilla. So, it is possible that one of these speakers is more vanilla than the other two. And from your descriptions that would seem to be the Q acoustic.
There's also vanilla ice cream and vanilla ice cream. The massed produced stuff - all a bit meh. Or the type that's lovingly made with proper vanilla pods, decent milk etc etc. That can't be beaten!
In the UK, the Concept 30 are £700ish, whereas the KEF hovers above £950 most of the time, depending on the choice of finish. If that helps swing it one way or the other...
Owning the LS50 and QC50 I do find the similar but LS50 has more sparkle and QC50 is more clear but I miss the sparkle at times. Was hopping to find a system with the best of both.
Rega Brio r sounded great with LS50 in store. I may test one in the future. Can be found under $700 used.
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q The H160 or H120 will do just as well, but yeah the LS50 is demanding. You talking about Mr. Chibs and I talked about it with him. He said he wanted some headroom power wise. As long you have a solid 100 watts or more and a 4 ohm rating you should be good power wise. Leaves you figuring out what amp pairing you prefer sound wise. Also using a sub can help to lift the burden from the main amp. Btw, Mr Chibs is using the equipment in a huge room (home theatre setup). A large room like that also adds to the need of power.
If interested in the Q 300 maybe checkout the Elac Solano BS 283, same Price-Range as the Qs, also very stylish (especially in white glossy with matching black stands Elac LS 50). They sound really amazing and are created and built in Germany (not assembled in China). Built quality is excellent, with Jet5 tweeters and unbelievable massive bass. Seems like nearly no one knows these little magic Boxes because of Elac's lack of marketing / advertising...
Hi John, I own a pair of Lumina II and I love them. They are fun speaker to listen to and could only be fatiguing if listening to bad recordings or at a very loud volume for a long time. BTW, I'm discovering some fantastic music in your videos, some I thought I would never like. This time Colors of Illusion. It sounds fantastic, just as last week's Ava Low, on my Totem Tribe Towers (they have a very tight and deep bass, you would love them for electronic music). Also, what happened to the bloopers at the end?. Cheers.
@@robertmarshall7712 Hi, I've never heard Triangle so can't comment on the comp. I moved the Luminas to a desktop setup with a PS Audio Sprout and it sounds great. In this setup I tend to listen to mellow music at low levels, with some indie here and there. It works great. I guess we all have different tolerance and tastes. My Totem are more neutral with a powefull bass, while I also own Maggies, which I prefer for vocal Jazz due to their great scale and sweet midrange/trebble. Each speaker for a different purpose.
Nice review! I think these are great looking speakers. Did I see a Bluesound Powernode Edge in the video?
I know that you may not have rec'd as many "hits" on this subject but it does have value to consumers
I don’t buy this kind of relatively expensive speakers preferring to experiment with older speakers happy to re-cap and build things like exciter driven polystyrene panels and chop and change with Chinese class D amps, Different DACs like the iFi Zen to a $79 KGUSS and more recently a NAD 757 7.1 AVR to try different setups with a lot of different speakers. That said I find your discussions of how you experience sound. I notice some equipment is tiring, some easier to live with, so you’re approach is really helpful.
Excellent review. I think most audiophiles will feel the way you do with your conclusions. But unfortunately, most will never be able to thoroughly audition multiple pairs of speakers for weeks on end. They taste one flavor and just have to assume it's the best for them.
I'm lucky enough to own 4 flavors I can sample between 😋.
Kef (Ls50 Metas & R3s), Sonus Faber (Lumina II), Arendal 1961s, Ascend Acoustic Sierra-2EX. The flavor I enjoy most is based on the mood I'm in.
Every speaker is, of course, backed by a rotation of subs: kc62, Martin Logan BF212, and Rythmik F12SE.
Because ice cream deserves toppings!
Can you please describe the “flavor” of Lumina II ?
Hey John! Quick question; in the past you've talked about consistency in parts of your system such as cables and stands, this is of course very important. However, I've noticed when reviewing standmount speakers that have matching stands, you often use the matching stands which come in at a much higher price than your go-to stands. How do you choose when it's appropriate to use a different stand? and do you ever try speakers with their matching stands as well as your go-to stands to see if there's any difference? Love the show, keep up the ridiculous analogies!
I think it’s kind of logical to test speakers with stands made for them. What kind of stands would he have to test with? To many third party stands to choose from? I guess if you want to go cheap on stands you have to figure it out yourself or pay a little more and get stands that are appropriate for that speaker because it was designed for it.
Hey John, it would be a cool Video, if you compared the sound quality in the typical Berlin Techno Clubs (assuming you have visited them). Gewölbe in Cologne and Robert Johnson in Frankfurt would also be interesting!
The analogy to ice-cream is brilliant. I'd like to introduce a new term to your lexicon as well. "Happy-Fi". Does YOUR system make YOUR toes tap and the corners of your mouth curl up in a joyous fashion? Then be happy with what you have. I'm not saying you shouldn't try and build the best system that you can afford. At some point though we become more obsessed with the mechanism of playback more than with what we're playing back. Personally, I've achieved everything that I want with, relative to the greater hi-fi community, a modest system. At some point in chasing the ne plus ultra of audio aren't we just tilting at windmills purely out of self-doubt?
You nailed it on the head.
Well it is pistachio
🤗👍 A very good choice
Mad you listening to fila there from my city. There early vinyl was always among the early 90s rave tunes. Nice guys though
The concept 50 have a weird base. The tensegrity thingy on the concept 30 bring a lightness to the room.
Fantastic episode. Great content. The Metas are solid.
Concept 30s are on my comparison list for £1k - £1.5k stand mounts, alongside the Dali Opticons and the Sonus Fabers. Surprised you found sonus faber a bit harsh.
I personally didn’t get on with LS50s at all, sounded incredibly harsh to me. Obvs others have different views.
Buy a better used speaker
In his original review on the Lumina II he said it’s not harsh at all! Here he just said it on a specific song when he is listening hours and hours!
If that flavour of ice cream is either Tutti Frutti or Rum n Raisin then I'd never even acknowledge their presence.
The burning question is how Concept 30 + KC62 + Powernode Edge setup compares to other $3500 setups.
I apologise for being off topic here: I am an architectural modernist, with a leaning toward Noguchi Nakamisha and Nelson in a low minimal space. I would like to use all or most my gear without the visual noise. I have been considering laying out things on floor platforms. Thoughts?
Oh damn...that coffee analogy; it's exactly what I use around my friends and always thought no one understands it.
Glad to hear it.
6 x 5 metres = "smallish room"?!
haha, i also think of that as a large room.
my room in tiny in comparisons.
They look great with those stands,. I haven't heard Global Communication for years and stumbled upon them again last night, now they get mentioned here, the simulation is winking at me. I wonder what would be a good pair of speakers or headphones for Autechre and Pan Sonic.
Hi John. Love your channel and your general attitude towards listening. I have a question. When comparing various speakers/ electronics, do you use the same cables for each product?
Thank you. Keep up the good work
I’d also like to know what is that poster in the bottom left corner in yellow, white and black. “Ah, pennies from heaven…”
How do these compare to the concept 20 or 40s?
Mr D. Try out markaudio sota cesti MBR. 45hz to22khz, full range driver. Hdf piano finish cabinets. These are seriously good. Checkout tnt and hifi choice reviews.
@Darko Audio
Thanks for the detailed, side by side comparison!
Maybe you can answer my 2 questions:
1. What speaker would you recommend for a hip hop head like myself? Kef LS50 or the q acoustics concept 30?
2. For smallish room like you have, would you rather have floor-standing speaker with subwoofer or stand mounting speaker? Regardless of price.
Thanks again anyway! ❤
Not your music I know but try and get a listen to "waiting for the crash" from the Interstellar soundtrack...this is a fantastic bass test as the gong hit bleeds into a proper bass pipe from a church organ and as a bonus its a fantastic recording with a huge dynamic range.
I am using my smart TV to stream Spotify into my integrated amp. Can you recommend a DAC at around $500.Budget.
Thank you and keep up the amazing work
Whats wrong with using an amplifier with good old tone controls like the Michi X3 and X5
Dear John, descriptive and entertaining review. Communicative.
Question for you. Are there any smallish all-in-one that you recommend?
I've a Marantz MCR 610 (CD, FM DAB radio, internet radio, music server) and it's good but you're an expert so I was wondering what you might suggest I consider?
I have it paired with Q Acoustic Concept 20 speakers.
When you mention the music you're using would it be ok to play a short sample in the background as you're talking or when you stop talking to fully play a sample?
Looking forward to watching more of your ice cream reviews :-)
7:27 Boards Of Canada is great, you've got decent taste
The age old question.. “which is best?” No speaker is perfect so there can never really be a best.
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q That will only give a consensus that they are good speakers. I love the LS50, but taste differ and every speaker has flaws. The best is only the speaker that fits your taste and that’s subjective.
theatre 2 ep recondite Humid Green Haze (track three ) has lots of sub sonics energy. the Q ACOUSTICS' Concept 30 cannot reproduce those sub sonics. A sub is needed for sure.
With these speakers now at £499 and the KEF LS50 Meta back up to >£1000 - does it make it a no-brainer to get the Qs? Is there a substantial difference which justifies the >£500 to get the KEFs?
Was thinking exactly the same, will go for the Concept 30 i reckon. Super bargain at £499
We appreciate WYSIWYG 😁 AND YOUR MUSIC SUGGESTIONS 🤗💚 the wife 👩🏻🦰 not so much …hence headphones 😁
Think you would be reviewing the Q active 400? Better still - compare them to the LS60w😛
The problem with ice cream is this: vanilla is the best flavor, but most vanilla ice cream is complete rubbish. But the good vanilla ice cream is really frekkin good!
Do you have a favorite brand or two?
Haagen Daz’s Vanilla is the best.
@@aayotechnology I do. But it's a locally made brand that is only available in a few shops in Belgium: Ponet. I have yet to find a brand that is widely available that comes anywhere near it with regards to refined taste. Most of them are too sweet and taste a bit... unrefined.
@@jinvid I have not tried it recently but the last time I tried Hagen Daz, I was not impressed. That must have been about 20 years ago though.
Audiophile ice cream is where it’s at. Now available in vanilla for only $995.00 per scoop.
thinking of getting concept 50's and concept 90's center speaker with a b12 sub to start my home theatre built, thoughts?
Hi, did you get this set up? I'm thinking about getting the same but with a SVS SB-3000