Q Acoustics’ New Entry-Level Loudspeakers Aim to Make True Hi-Fi More Affordable

They’re designed for budget-conscious audiophiles looking to build a traditional stereo system or an awesome home theater.

Pair of tall, dark wood floor-standing speakers and a matching center speaker on a white pedestal under a wall-mounted TV.

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By Tucker Bowe

Published 2 hours ago

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Q Acoustics introduced its current most entry-level loudspeaker range, the 3000c, in 2024.

To date, it has consisted of five different models: the 3010c bookshelf speakers, the 3020c and 3030c standmount speakers, the 3090c center channel and the 3050c floorstanding speakers. Prices range from $479 to $1,199.

Now, the British audio maker is adding a second, more affordable floorstanding speaker to the range due to, according to the brand, “a strong demand for a more compact and agile floorstanding speaker.”

Q Acoustics 3040c

Four tall, rectangular floor-standing speakers in wood, white, dark wood, and black finishes, each with two large drivers and one small driver. — The Q Acoustics 3040c come in the same four finishes as the rest of the 3000c range: Pink Oak, Satin White, Claro Walnut and Satin Black.

Q Acoustics didn’t exactly reinvent the wheel with the 3040c, as it carries the same driver, cabinet, and acoustic innovations as the rest of the brand’s 3000c range. And, compared to its larger sibling, the 3050c, the 3040c floorstanding speakers are particularly similar.

Pair of tall wooden floor-standing speakers and a matching center speaker below a wall-mounted flat-screen TV in a modern white living room. — The 3040c floorstanding speakers are pictured in Pink Oak.

Six black Q Acoustics speakers of varying sizes, including two floor-standing, three bookshelf on stands, and one horizontal center speaker. — The six loudspeakers in the 3000c range. The 3040c are the smaller of the two floorstanding models.

A more compact floorstander

Both the 3040c and 3050c are two-way floorstanding speakers that feature a pair of C3 Continuous Curved Cone mid-bass drivers with the brand’s signature “floating” tweeter (which is hermetically sealed and mechanically isolated from the baffle) that is inspired by the brand’s flagship Concept range.

The main difference is mid-bass drivers used in the 3050c are slightly larger than the 3040c (5.5-inch vs 4.75-inch). Both use the same exact 0.9-inch tweeter, which is shared throughout the range.

Pair of tall black floor-standing speakers, one with grille cover and one showing dual woofers and a tweeter. — The 3040c are pictured in Satin Black.

Pair of tall, dark wood floor-standing speakers with black drivers in a bright, minimalist white living room. — Q Acoustics claims the 3040c loudspeakers are “engineered to reveal every detail with clarity, warmth and scale.”

The Q Acoustics 3040c shares a similar cabinet design as the rest of the 3000c range.

It’s integrated with the brand’s proprietary Point-to-Point bracing technology, which it states helps deliver “a more focused stereo image, and a wider, better-controlled soundstage.”

Additionally, the loudspeakers feature specially designed HPE (Helmholtz Pressure Equalizers) tubes installed inside the cabinet, which Q Acoustics claims help nullify internal pressure and improve frequency response.

Tall white floor-standing speaker with two large black drivers and one smaller driver in the center. — The brand says that the 3040c delivers “a controlled bass performance, expressive midrange, and smoother integration with the high frequency driver.”

Rear view of a dark wood-finished speaker with a circular port and two speaker wire terminals on a black base with metal spikes. — The loudspeakers feature the same low-profile terminal panel as the rest of the 3000c range.

Completing its entry-level range

Like the larger 3050c, the 3040c floorstanding speakers feature a stylish, solid-aluminum stabilizer design with top-adjustable spikes that are easy to level.

They also have a low-profile terminal panel, complete with recessed binding posts, which allows the loudspeakers to easily be placed near walls. (Although, because of their rear-ported cabinet, they can’t be right up against the wall.)

Q Acoustics claims that the 3040c completes the 3000c range with a speaker “that embodies the range’s core values: accessible high-performance audio, contemporary design, and a deep emotional connection to music.”

Availability and pricing

Q Acoustics offer the 3040c floorstanding speaker in the same four finishes as the rest of the range: Satin Black, Satin White, Pink Oak and Claro Walnut.

A pair of speakers costs $1,099, which is $100 less than the 3050c. They are available now.

Pair of tall wooden floor-standing speakers, one with black grille cover and the other showing two large drivers and a tweeter.

Q Acoustics 3040c

$1,099 at Q Acoustics

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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