Q Acoustics 5020 Review: clear, stylish, limited bass

PSB Alpha IQ Speakers Review: Small and Mighty (Part I): A Low-Size, Low-Energy Hi-Fi Speaker

You may not have heard of PSB, but the Canadian audio company has been doing it’s thing for nearly 50 years. With all that practice focused on a space-conscious product line, it’s no wonder the brand has mastered the art of creating big sound in small packages.

There are some quirks to using the system, not to mention a pretty hefty price tag. The Alpha IQ are great choices if you want a versatile set of hi-fi speakers.

The pair we received arrived with a fair few scuffs along their matte exteriors, suggesting they’d been driven hard and put away wet. Their design is a bit more blue-collar than the options like Prime Wireless Pro that look similar to computer speakers. Over time, their minimalism grew due to touches like a topside control bar and aluminum lines behind the baffles. I also love that each speaker requires only a wall outlet, with no need for a connecting wire between them, let alone an amplifier.

Source: PSP Alpha IQ Speakers Review: Small and Mighty

Bluesound 5020s: Wireless Streaming via C3 Cone Speakers and Flux-Enabled Inputs in a Fully Extensive Soundstage

It is very easy to connect all your source devices to the primary speaker with a wide range of available inputs. But first, you’ll want to download Bluesound’s BlueOS app to get the system connected and ready to stream.

My review model saw some wear and tear before my arrival so I had difficulty getting the left speaker to find me. The flashing green light indicated a need for a factory reset, which meant digging up a paperclip to push in the reset button and going through some rigmarole—so much for Sonos-like simplicity.

The speakers were stable on my network no matter what I played. There are a lot of ways to stream, whether you go directly from the app with services like Spotify, Amazon Music, or Bluesound’s Radio Paradise (Apple Music isn’t supported), or via AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, or Tidal Connect. There’s also Bluetooth with aptX HD, but you’ll need to stream over Wi-Fi to get the benefit of the Alpha IQ’s 24-bit/192-kHz max resolution.

One of the 5020s most striking features is their soundstage, which is expansive but also well defined. It took a minute to get things setup for the right position. Once done, the speakers reproduced a razor-sharp center image and diamond-cut instrumental separation across a sprawling soundstage.

Whether that really translates, I’m not so sure. The speakers have a good punch in the lower bass that is great for hip-hop grooves. The bass in my listening sessions was almost as light as you would expect it to be. If you’re looking for a lot of low-end push, you’ll probably want to add a subwoofer or opt for something with a larger cone, like Focal’s new Vestia No1.

A small scupltor is matched by a large bass beneath it. It’s the larger driver that’s the pride and joy of Q Acoustics’ new lineup. Using what the company calls a C3 (pronounced “C-cubed”) The Continuous Curved Cone is designed to offer a large bass response using a flared cone, which is more powerful than a traditional cone.

At the back of each speaker, you’ll find simple terminals ready to accept banana plug wiring, with bass ports and bungs for dampening (these should not be necessary for most rooms). Inside, Q Acoustics says the cabinets use Point-2-Point internal bracing, designed to stiffen the cabinet for minimal vibrations and a more focused stereo image.

Pulling the 5020 from their packaging reveals a sneakily gorgeous design. The deep, wood veneer cabinets of Q Acoustics are familiar and well-made, while the glossy front faces complement my black TV console and overall listening room decor better than any speakers I have tried. Along with the satin black version I received, the speakers also come in white, rosewood, and oak finishes. Further minimalist styling is included with a magnetic grille.

There is a lot to see here, but if you are interested in buying your next pair of speakers, you will want to read on.

British audio brand Q Acoustics has emerged as a contender in the affordable audio scene recently, with options like the M20 HD Bose sound speakers gaining widespread praise. The company’s new 5020 speakers have risen as new contenders in the crowded midrange bookshelf space, but they may end up being some of the more polarizing speakers to come out this year.