Q Acoustics introduces the newest models of its award-winning series of Concept stereo and home cinema loudspeakers: Concept 30 stand-mount, Concept 50 floor-standing and Concept 90 centre-channel.
Taking acoustic technology and design cues pioneered in the flagship Concept 300 and 500, while also introducing new innovations, Armour Home says these new Q Acoustics models deliver truly high-end home audio performance without the high-end price tag.
Designed to deliver the quietest cabinet possible, unaffected by internal and external resonances, the speakers’ aim is to deliver a focused stereo imaging, accurate audio and an extended holographic soundstage to emulate a live performance in the home.
Concept range audio innovations include:
Gelcore cabinet construction reduces higher frequency cabinet noise.
Point-2-Point (P2P) internal bracing stiffens the cabinet to minimise lower frequency vibrations (not Concept 90)
Helmholtz Pressure Equalisers (HPE) reduces internal pressure and standing waves (Concept 50 and 500 only).
Isolation suspension base eradicates unwanted external and internal vibrations.
New audio innovations on the Concept 30, 50 and 90 include:
The driver assembly is mounted to the front aluminium baffle by pretensioned studs to give the correct acoustic seal, while dampen vibrations and minimise structural coupling of the assembly in main cabinet. Ground-up mid/bass and tweeter driver design for increased power handling. High-frequency driver is fully hermetically sealed and mechanically isolated (floating) from the front baffle to protect from internal resonances from the mid/bass driver.
Crossover design is mounted on the isolation base, to minimise any microphonic pick up and away from electro-magnetic fields radiated by the drive units.
No artificial colouring
Introduced in the original Concept speaker, the Gelcore cabinet construction is designed to minimise high-frequency noise. A unique design comprised of a non-setting gel sandwiched between two individual layers, this specially developed adhesive dissipates high-frequency vibrations, generated by the moving drivers, into heat to maintain a focused audio performance.
To keep the cabinet as rigid as possible, Point-2-Point (P2P) internal bracing is employed. First introduced in the Concept 500, reinforcement is fitted to interior areas of the cabinet susceptible to low-end frequency reverberations.
A variation on the ‘isolation base’ principle first seen on Concept 300 means all three of the new Concept models have a suspension system in the form of a sprung baseplate. Two plates are separated by suspension ‘spheres’ that effectively isolates the cabinet from interference from external vibrations, providing tighter stereo imaging, while also bringing greater depth.
Tall floor-standing speakers are prone to internal build-up of pressure that cause unwanted standing waves and reverberations, says the maker. So, to prevent this occurring, specially designed Helmholtz Pressure Equalisers (HPE) tubes are fitted inside the Concept 50’s cabinet to improve frequency response.
Controlled power
Designed as an integral part of the mechanical structure of the cabinet, both the 5in mid/bass and 0.9in tweeter drivers are new, ground-up designs specifically for the Concept 30, 50 and 90 loudspeakers. The drive units are fixed to a stiff 3mm aluminium baffle plate before it is fitted to the cabinet – this gives the correct acoustic seal, dampening vibrations and minimising structural coupling.
Elsewhere, the tweeter is hermetically sealed and mechanically isolated (floating) from the baffle, which means lower distortion and a lower crossover point for seamless integration through the crossover region. At 30.5mm, the larger mid/bass driver voice coil increases motor strength resulting in a 50% increase in power handling over a comparable driver with 25.4 mm voice coil.
Lastly, the crossover itself is mounted to the isolation base, keeping it free of sound-effecting vibrations and away from the electro-magnetic influence of the drivers themselves.
Elegant design
Boasting the same sophisticated design lines and premium high gloss finish of the top-of-the-range 300 and 500 models, the new range retains the signature aluminium front baffle plate that made the original Concept speakers so iconic. All models arrive in three striking lacquers: black, silver and white.
The Concept 50 5.1 speaker package has been created to deliver exquisite and absorbing home cinema sound. This set-up is comprised of a pair of Concept 50 floor-standers at the front, a pair of Concept 30 stand-mounts positioned at the rear, with a Concept 90 centre channel focused on dialogue. Finally, the most powerful subwoofer, the Q B12, provides the low-end sonics. The Concept series is designed to work in any 2.1 or 5.1 configuration should you decide to add the Concept 90 centre channel and Q B12 subwoofer to any of the range’s floor-standing or stand-mount models (choose from the 30, 50, 300 or 500.)
Q Acoustics Concept 30 is priced £899/€1,199/$1,299 and is available from qacoustics.co.uk (UK), qacoustics.com (UK) and to local independent dealers from the end of October.
Q Acoustics Concept 50 is priced £1,999/€2,599/$2,999, Concept 90 is at £649/€849/$999, the Concept 50 5.1 (2x Concept 50, 2x Concept 30 1x Concept 90, 1x QB12) come in at £4,225/€5,495/$6,295 and the Q Acoustics WB75 wall bracket (single) arrives in a white or black finish, priced £59.95/€79/$89. All of these are available from qacoustics.co.uk (UK), qacoustics.com (UK) and to local independent dealers from the end of October.
The Q Acoustics Q FS75 speaker stand for the Concept 30 is priced at £375/$499/€449 and is available now.