Floorstanding loudspeakers — Q-Acoustics 5040

The Q Acoustics 5040 is the compact floorstanding speaker of the 5000 series, the London-based company's range of stereo and home cinema speakers that brings cabinet technology from the Concept line to a lower price point. Of the two towers in the series it is the smaller one, intended for rooms with limited floor space, and its driver technology is also used in the stand-mounts and the centre channel of the range.

Key specs that matter

The 5040 combines two 125 mm (5 in) C3 mid/bass drivers with one 25 mm (1 in) tweeter, joined by a modified second-order crossover at 2.5 kHz. Frequency response is 39 Hz to 30 kHz, sensitivity is 91.5 dB and nominal impedance is 6 ohms. The recommended amplifier power is 25 W to 150 W. Including spikes and stabiliser, the tower stands 967 mm tall, 361 mm wide and 293 mm deep, and it weighs 18 kg. It is offered in satin black, satin white, Santos rosewood and Holme oak, with a dark acrylic baffle panel framing the drivers.

Engineering and use context

The C3 Continuous Curved Cone follows a single smooth curve instead of a straight conical or flared profile. Q Acoustics designed it to join the bass behaviour of a straight cone with the midrange control of a flared one, improving dispersion and lowering harmonic distortion through the crossover region. Large magnets and voice coils raise motor strength, and Q Acoustics rates the result as a 50% increase in power handling over a comparable driver with a 25.4 mm coil. The tweeter follows the principle of the Concept series. It is hermetically sealed and mechanically floated from the baffle, so pressure changes from the mid/bass units cannot reach it, and its inner chamber is vented to lower distortion. Point-to-Point bracing reinforces the enclosure only where extra stiffness is required. The crossover uses metallised polyester film capacitors, low-saturation air-core inductors and bifilar wire-wound resistors that cut parasitic inductance. An outrigger stabiliser widens the footprint and keeps the tower steady on carpet.

Pairing

High sensitivity and a 6 ohm load make the 5040 an easy partner for modest integrated amplifiers and AV receivers. For home cinema, the 5090 centre and the 5010 or 5020 stand-mounts complete a matched layout from the same series.

Alternatives

The Q Acoustics 5050 is the larger tower of the 5000 series, with bigger mid/bass drivers for more spacious rooms.