MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE! LIKE THIS VIDEO AND SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL! I TRY MY BEST TO KEEP MY REVIEWS FREE OF THE BS YOU MIGHT SEE ON OTHER CHANNELS. TH-cam ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE! I DON'T DO SECRET DEALS WITH COMPANIES AND I DON'T TELL STORIES: MY LOYALTY IS TO MY SUBSCRIBERS! TILL NEXT TIME - MDT
I had Q Acoustics 3010s since 2017 but wanted to upgrade. I was looking at 3020i and Concept 20 and went with the Concepts in white for £230. My amplifier is a late 70s model, the Rotel RA-400 amplifier and they sound great.
I wish more people would be honest like you. Great sharing of your opinion and taste.... likes and especially dislikes and descriptions of what you actually hear compared to the others. Just refreshing to hear.
Good video bud....i find 4 x 30mm diameter balls of Blu-Tac heated on a radiator for 5 mins (makes them easier to roll into balls & makes them more sticky) push down the 4 balls of Blu-Tac per speaker, push down the speaker top with gentle pressure until Blu-Tac flattens to 5mm thick round discs....dampens your speakers tightning up the whole frequency range giving a clearer, cleaner sound with better detail & a clearer tighter bass...plus after a couple of days the speakers cannot be accidently knocked over....my Concept 20's are really great sounding in my listening room...the best £299 speakers i've ever heard & bought, & i've bought many over the years...mine are clean ,clear with fantastic detail retreival & what bass they have is qualty over quantity, i play bass so i hope i know something after 40+ yrs about it...i used to design speakers many years ago when drive units were a lot cheaper meaning you could build fantastic speakers for a good price...i built a beauitiful pair of 3-way floorstanding transmission line speakers using an 8" SEAS bass unit, 4½" Peerless midrange units & a choice of SEAS,Peerless, Monaco, & ended up using a pair of Audio Note 1" silk dome (93db 1w/1m, fantastic sounding) tweeters used by Audio Note in their amazing sounding £5,000+ speakers....i lost them in a house fire years ago...the best speakers i've ever heard, the crossovers were a pain but with the right measuring equipment & listening by ear i got their in the end...sadly hifi grade polyproylene caps & air cored inductors are now even more expensive so not saving any money building your own speakers nowadays as drive units, crossover components & proffesionaly cut HDF are all now exspensive...MDF is to soft , HDF has less resonance & is much denser/weighs more per sq inch...shame you did'nt really like the Concept 20's...in my room with the equipment i use they sound fantastic for the price, i've heard speakers 4 x the price that do not sound as good...i run them parrallel with an SVS SB1000 Pro subwoofer set at 80hz, using 2 x 2.75m QED XT400 speaker cable i find them hard to fault at the price or even much higher priced standmounting speakers, the linking bars are terrible to the tweeters sound, use high quality OFC OCC copper speaker cable to make as short as possible jumper leads with copper based 4mm banana plugs & spade connectors....it really changes the sound, i use Van Den Hul The Clearwater OCC OFC copper silver plated speaker cable....lifts them to a different sound level...went a bit off topic their...lol...but try Blu-Tac & quality speaker & jumper cables, it really makes a difference bud...👍
Hi, I have had the Concept 20 for 4 years and I would like to change my old Rotel Pre and Final couple that drives them. Would you recommend (price between $ 300 and $ 600) the combination with the Cambridge Audio AXA35?
I bought a pair of these last year and only just got them out to use yesterday, I put them on my Naim system 8K of amplification, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I've had speakers costing thousands that would be shamed by the Q's. These are so good I'm not sure I'm going to replace them for now. I also have Kef LS50 Meta and these blow the Kef out of the water. Soundstage and imaging is superb, very refind, bass is great for a small room and don''t feel the need of a sub. I haven't tried them with lower ancillaries, I'm sure my Naim system is showing what the Q's can do. LS50 are over rated IMO, even the Meta. The Kefs need a bigger room, they don't suit small rooms. That's just my opinion.
I have the Wharefdale Delta 30s I bought in my student job in the 80s and am wondering about an upgrade. I'm using them near-field on the desk. I also have a REL Tzero Mini 3 which adds a lot more depth to the Delta 30s but wonder if the Q Acoustics will give improvements in the system? If so - as I'm using a Denon DRA-100 integrated streaming amplifier so would be using them without EQ - would I look at the Concept 20s or the 3020i or another or stick to the Delta 30s? Thanks
What a great review Sir, I can see that you know what you talking about however your trying and succeeding in explaining in layman's terms. I've been mulling over these for a while I solely listen to vinyl and was wondering what your thoughts are? I run rega turntable and amp.
Hello and thanks for the feedback 😀. Would be happy to help you. Tell me about your listening room as that would also have an effect on what might sound optimal. Also, what speakers do you have now and how do you find those? What would you say you are looking for in an ideal upgrade?
How do you compare the wharfedale diamond 9.1 and diamond 220. I'm currently using the diamond 9.1 and I'm thinking of upgrading to the diamond 220. Should I pull the trigger or keep my diamond 9.1?
Hello mate. Just caught your message before going on a break lol. Diamond 220 is a more up-to-date sound. 9.1 are more boxy and warm sounding. Diamond 220 more open and they have the downward firing bass ports (they reckon they are better with near-wall placement). Also depends on your amp...if you don't EQ your sound then you have to be careful about synergy. Can you buy the 220s and then return if you don't like them?
@@sanimario1835 No I haven't. Sorry mate. If you want my gut feeling...go with the Wharfedales though lol. I have never heard a Wharfedale speaker that I thought sounded bad and unlistenable... I can't say the same thing about Q Acoustics unfortunately
I am considering the upgrade from my 3020i and 3090ci to the Concept 20 and Concept Centre. Would these marry up nicely with my Arcam AVR550 for music in stereo and also my 5.1.2 system? Great video by the way
Hi there sorry the reply is a little late. I think that will be an upgrade but I also think the differenes will be slight. It really depends on your taste. The 3000 series sound a little bit more laid back than the Concepts. I personally am not a fan of the Concept unless EQ is applied. With the EQ they're much better. Do you have any other speakers on your shortlist out of interest?
@@geezerintotech In all honestly no others as I am keen on the dimensions and am very taken by the brand. I am not as keen on the 3000 due to the laid back sound. I had some Mordaunt Short 902i which were tight and punchy speakers.Others I like were Klipsch but I don't have room for the fronts. Its a space thing for me. Cheers for the reply.
@@carlneuchterlien Haha..Mordaunt Short 902i - I've heard those :D..Man I miss Mordaunt Short..I think they got swallowed up by Cambridge a while back and they were never seen again. Always wanted myself a pair of the Performance series speakers. If you like Klipsch then I would imagine you're really a fan of the energetic and separated sort of sound. Klipsch tend to have very high sensitivity which I think partly stems from their horn tweeter design which amplifies the treble to a greater degree. Maybe it's worth a try but if you like that sort of sound then perhaps I'd shortlist something like B&W 606S2 or perhaps something by Focal in that price range (used is always an option). Another thing you could try is the Dali Opticon 2 - it has a smooth sound but they can sound very energetic..very musical speaker the Dalis and they get an upvote from me! Another option is the Monitor Audio Silver bookshelves. I heard the Silver 2 years ago and they had a sound like you're describing
Hi. Great video! My question is how do you use the parametric eq with a stand alone Hi-Fi system? I’m a musician and use them in Logic etc but how do you use one (hardware or software?) with an analogue Hi-Fi system? Thanks!
Hi Alex. What most people would do is run the Hifi via a laptop and use something like Equaliser APO to do the EQ. Alternatively, you can buy a device called a MiniDSP HD which can handle the EQ for you - you would just use that as your DAC and load your EQ profile on to it
I haven't covered this topic yet, but you can't argue with the 220 being so affordable, it is hard not to recommend that! I would say if you have the budget for entry level speakers, I'd get the 220 and get the best amp and dac you can. Once you have covered those bases, then start upgrading your speakers in the future and you'll really appreciate the upgrades!
if you put them close to the walls then you can use the bungs to improve the bass. Best option would be to use room correction DSP for the bass frequencies. They'll be fine if you do that
q acoustics concept 20 or 3020 and entry level dac and amplifier and entry level subwoofer. or just yamaha hs8 and maybe a dac. yamaha is around $720 the other system will be $1000, what will you advice, clarity and imaging are priority. and yes polk audio s20 system will be around $750 without the subwoofer.
well the Yamaha HS8 is a studio monitor and it is really intended for near-field listening. It makes all the difference as near-field monitor speakers usually assume that your room won't be 'helping out' the sound with room reflections etc. The tweeters are designed to fire directly at you and you get the direct sound. If you want a set of speakers for imaging and clarity, then a set of studio monitors might do the trick, though I wouldn't recommend the Yamaha HS8 myself as it's purely entry level. I'd recommend something more along the lines of the Tannoy Gold 7 or Gold 8 if you want a big boy without much need for a sub. If your room size is under 20 square metre then I'd recommend getting the best speakers you can and forget the subwoofer for now. There will be lots of bass issues in the room and you'll be getting a lot of room gain anyway. Hope this helps
Appreciate your efforts here. Concept 20 given their point is nice speaker. Curious, have you heard the Concept 30 speaker. Know it's about double the price but is worth it ??
Hello - Concept 30 is a speaker i'm aware of, yes. I really want to hear them, but haven't had the opportunity to do so yet! If you're serious about your audio and have a decent amp/source, I would probably start at that level to be honest and skip the Concept 20 series. You can upgrade the cabinet all you like but the drivers' origins are still from Q Acoustics elementary series and that's important in my eyes!
listened to it tonight, its OK/good with the amp i used. I used a new good D amp, suggested by Brittish audiophile. Not sure i would spend silly money on them. I think good pairing is the trick.
I have a question. I dont know whats wrong. Just got the concept 20, comparing it to polk s15e it sounds like there's a blanket over concept 20. S15e is much more open. Do the concept 20 need a serious burn-in or something?
I would definitely play them for a couple of days to know you're sure. But I wouldn't listen to them during the burn in (just to make sure that you're not the one being burned in lol!). But what you're describing is something that I also did hear when comparing to other speakers in my house. When I partnered the Concept 20s with my Hypex nCore Class D I did feel the openness improved dramatically though. I also used a Topping E30 DAC
@@geezerintotech I Will definitely try to burn it in and give it a chance. I will protect myself though :). The sound right now is really bad. Maybe its the receiver or It's acctually broken somehow. Imagine throwing your c20 in the bathtub with water and start some music. That's my experience right now :)
@@geezerintotech Just want to share my findings. I bi-wired it and it's like night and day. It's a huge improvement. If I turn the bi-wired Channel off, it gets muffled again.
Mine are fantastic, minute detail & great soundstage with quality over quality...mine were burnt in with burn in CD's & plenty Rap...bass easily at 40hz or lower...took 300 hrs but would not part with them,used with the dedicated stands Blu-Tac'd to tighten the sound....you need a good amp with a goid bass damping factor...my Emotiva BasX A2 sounds brilliant with these & a bass damping factor of 200....in some ways better than the LS50's to my ears...you gotta use a min of 150w with the Kef LS50's at 82-84db max....you need a £1000 quality amp for them...the Concept 20's are fantastic build quality & sound...i use mine run in parrallel with an SVS SB1000 Pro subwoofer. I guess our ears are all different as i would not part with these as they are the best rear surround sound speakers for movies or music i have ever used...Concept 30's as main LR speakers, Kef Q350's as side rear surrounds, SVS SB1000 Pro sub, B&W HTM6 centre speaker....all in white gloss or white vinyl wrap... i use 4 x black gloss Wharfedale 220's as Dolby Atmos height speakers.... the white opens up my listening room...to many black speakers make a room feel smaller....maybe it's sytem synergy but mine sound better than LS50's, my Q350's sound better than the LS50's imo....bi-amped the Concept 20's sound far better.....
I bought the Concepts some while ago. Again, I agree with your findings. Some things they do extremely well, but lack the lower mid part. Your remark on the stands. I have the dedicated stands and they do enhance the bottom/bass sound somewhat. I tested this against other (heavy stands), but there's a difference (possibly I go nuts) :) About mounting them, there are no scews to secure them. There are some metal feet you place in the steel holes o/t topplate, metal on metal 😬. The topplate is a sandwich construction with gelcore inbetween. Although they do not shift that way, it's not really secure, Blu-tacked them just in case. Now auditioning 3030i's, but they lack a bit of the details the Concepts have and are far more laidback. Sound is OK, but lack a bit of sparkle, maybe my room doesn't do it. You started something MDT 😄
Good review. I demoed these about 5 years ago and wasn’t impressed. Tried with Marantz 6000 model and Cambridge CXA60, against Monitor Audio Bronze and Dali Zensor 3. Settled on the Cambridge and Dali.
Let's hear more about your buying days. What we're your requirements etc? Tips and tricks. Think we'd all benefit from your experiences. I have some old Q acoustics floorstanders, didn't work in my system. They were bought as the front 2 in my A/v system and were supposed to be all singing all dancing at that price range. Hated them 😂😂. Swapped them out within 6 months for some open box Dali Zensor 7's back in 2013 which I'm still using and love. Think my view of Q Acoustics soured after that.
Hi again mate and thanks for the interest in my buying days! I will try to sneak some stories into some future videos. Sounds glamorous, but in reality it wasn't that amazing haha! At first it was pretty amazing though as I could take home pretty much any set of speakers I wanted on loan. Should have started a speaker channel back then! It's so funny because I've been chatting to my mate recently about those Q Acoustics and he was in agreement too. It's so strange because there is so much hype around these speakers, but in person I never seem to understand what all the fuss is about? I distinctly remember not being very impressed back in 2013/2014 when I was loaned them 😂😂. Made for awkward conversation when we said no. That being said, I do like the build quality, but that doesn't save this speaker in my eyes! Dali Zensor 7 is a much more musical speaker by comparison and I'd take that any day too. Good choice haha!
@@geezerintotech I went into Richer Sounds for a demo, and based on reviews (unfortunately mostly WHF) at the time was looking at the 6000 Marantz and the Cambridge CXA60 (only sold by Richer), paired with either the Monitor Audio Bronze or the Concept 20’s. The manager (Weybridge) suggested the Zensor 3 and for me it was the clear winner with the CXA60. Your point about being more musical is spot on. I just came across this channel via your Meta review so will be interested to hear your opinions on some other speakers and amps. I’m currently considering an upgrade with about 2k to spend on amp and speakers. Good review.
@@doifeellucky hello mate i am glad you enjoyed the video :) Yeah I just don't get what some reviewers are saying half the time because when it comes to a head to head demo, I often don't agree..perhaps room acoustics has a massive role to play but that's usually the way There is something about those Dalis that I just like - everything sounds in its place with a glaze of life added ... nothing oversweetened or anything...anything I hear from them I just gravitate to. And just look at their slogan - 'in admiration of music' Kind of tells you alot in my opinion - whereas many firms focus purely on showing off how 'neutral' their speakers are on graphs..this never translates properly when you add room acoustics and other distortions..all that matters is what does it sound like when it hits your ears! Course mate ask away - which gear are you considering for your budget?
@@geezerintotech There are too many options, but also many retailers don’t stock both amp and speakers I’m interested in. I saw your other reviews on budget, where you specifically mentioned you’ve had good results spending more on the amp. On that basis possibly something like the base Hegel, or Rega, Rotel, Exposure, Musical Fidelity that sort of thing. Any suggestions for £1500 amp and £500 speakers, not too analytical. Thanks.
@@doifeellucky yeah well I suggest that because often people underspend severely on an amp. An amp is something that rarely needs upgrading - if you spend £1000-2000 on it, you shouldn't have problems with underpowered speakers. A cheap option which might even be better than the mainstream is the Hypex Ncore range of amps. They are modern Class D amplifiers which measure very well - they won't add any character to your speakers - so when you put your speakers in, you're pretty much hearing the speaker itself. So at that point comes trying to upgrade your room's acoustics in some way. Of course if you want to stick to more mainstream products that's fine (you just won't ge 'as good' value for money). Something I'd recommend is the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 which should give you a nice frequency response. Try and partner that with a nice amp - I recommend getting at least 2 (ideally 3 amps for trial). You could start with the Yamaha AS1200 if you can find on deal (although a bit expensive). Another option is the Arcam SA30 (again try and find on deal). Another option is the Yamaha As801 (don't sell these anymore but you could consider used). Another options is the Marantz 8000 series (these typically sound nice but sometimes a bit bass heavy and sparkly..but this can suit the right speaker). Then you other option is try the Class D alternatives - I believe NAD are going down that route now. For example the NAD C368 or C388. One thing I'd recommend is don't underpower the speakers (even when the amplifiers are over 100w a channel I prefer these). When you turn up volume amplifiers quickly distort so you want extra headroom if you know what I mean. If you do it right the first time it will be hard to upgrade after that point! Once you have your amp sorted then in the future you can just upgrade your speakers without worry of amp being underpowered etc. Hope this helps
MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE!
LIKE THIS VIDEO AND SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL!
I TRY MY BEST TO KEEP MY REVIEWS FREE OF THE BS YOU MIGHT SEE ON OTHER CHANNELS. TH-cam ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE!
I DON'T DO SECRET DEALS WITH COMPANIES AND I DON'T TELL STORIES: MY LOYALTY IS TO MY SUBSCRIBERS!
TILL NEXT TIME
- MDT
A first class review. I really enjoyed your detailed yet not boring in the least. Well done.
Much appreciated! More to come!
@@geezerintotech Rock on, brother.
I had Q Acoustics 3010s since 2017 but wanted to upgrade. I was looking at 3020i and Concept 20 and went with the Concepts in white for £230. My amplifier is a late 70s model, the Rotel RA-400 amplifier and they sound great.
Great to see these kinds of videos man! Keep up the good work!
More to come! Glad you like them mate!
I wish more people would be honest like you. Great sharing of your opinion and taste.... likes and especially dislikes and descriptions of what you actually hear compared to the others. Just refreshing to hear.
Good video bud....i find 4 x 30mm diameter balls of Blu-Tac heated on a radiator for 5 mins (makes them easier to roll into balls & makes them more sticky) push down the 4 balls of Blu-Tac per speaker, push down the speaker top with gentle pressure until Blu-Tac flattens to 5mm thick round discs....dampens your speakers tightning up the whole frequency range giving a clearer, cleaner sound with better detail & a clearer tighter bass...plus after a couple of days the speakers cannot be accidently knocked over....my Concept 20's are really great sounding in my listening room...the best £299 speakers i've ever heard & bought, & i've bought many over the years...mine are clean ,clear with fantastic detail retreival & what bass they have is qualty over quantity, i play bass so i hope i know something after 40+ yrs about it...i used to design speakers many years ago when drive units were a lot cheaper meaning you could build fantastic speakers for a good price...i built a beauitiful pair of 3-way floorstanding transmission line speakers using an 8" SEAS bass unit, 4½" Peerless midrange units & a choice of SEAS,Peerless, Monaco, & ended up using a pair of Audio Note 1" silk dome (93db 1w/1m, fantastic sounding) tweeters used by Audio Note in their amazing sounding £5,000+ speakers....i lost them in a house fire years ago...the best speakers i've ever heard, the crossovers were a pain but with the right measuring equipment & listening by ear i got their in the end...sadly hifi grade polyproylene caps & air cored inductors are now even more expensive so not saving any money building your own speakers nowadays as drive units, crossover components & proffesionaly cut HDF are all now exspensive...MDF is to soft , HDF has less resonance & is much denser/weighs more per sq inch...shame you did'nt really like the Concept 20's...in my room with the equipment i use they sound fantastic for the price, i've heard speakers 4 x the price that do not sound as good...i run them parrallel with an SVS SB1000 Pro subwoofer set at 80hz, using 2 x 2.75m QED XT400 speaker cable i find them hard to fault at the price or even much higher priced standmounting speakers, the linking bars are terrible to the tweeters sound, use high quality OFC OCC copper speaker cable to make as short as possible jumper leads with copper based 4mm banana plugs & spade connectors....it really changes the sound, i use Van Den Hul The Clearwater OCC OFC copper silver plated speaker cable....lifts them to a different sound level...went a bit off topic their...lol...but try Blu-Tac & quality speaker & jumper cables, it really makes a difference bud...👍
Hi, I have had the Concept 20 for 4 years and I would like to change my old Rotel Pre and Final couple that drives them. Would you recommend (price between $ 300 and $ 600) the combination with the Cambridge Audio AXA35?
I bought a pair of these last year and only just got them out to use yesterday, I put them on my Naim system 8K of amplification, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I've had speakers costing thousands that would be shamed by the Q's. These are so good I'm not sure I'm going to replace them for now. I also have Kef LS50 Meta and these blow the Kef out of the water. Soundstage and imaging is superb, very refind, bass is great for a small room and don''t feel the need of a sub. I haven't tried them with lower ancillaries, I'm sure my Naim system is showing what the Q's can do.
LS50 are over rated IMO, even the Meta. The Kefs need a bigger room, they don't suit small rooms. That's just my opinion.
thanks for the input
Care to mention the speakers you wasted thousands on so others don’t do the same?
I have the Wharefdale Delta 30s I bought in my student job in the 80s and am wondering about an upgrade. I'm using them near-field on the desk. I also have a REL Tzero Mini 3 which adds a lot more depth to the Delta 30s but wonder if the Q Acoustics will give improvements in the system? If so - as I'm using a Denon DRA-100 integrated streaming amplifier so would be using them without EQ - would I look at the Concept 20s or the 3020i or another or stick to the Delta 30s?
Thanks
And if you buy used you can sell them for around the same price.
What a great review Sir, I can see that you know what you talking about however your trying and succeeding in explaining in layman's terms. I've been mulling over these for a while I solely listen to vinyl and was wondering what your thoughts are? I run rega turntable and amp.
Hello and thanks for the feedback 😀.
Would be happy to help you. Tell me about your listening room as that would also have an effect on what might sound optimal.
Also, what speakers do you have now and how do you find those? What would you say you are looking for in an ideal upgrade?
How do you compare the wharfedale diamond 9.1 and diamond 220. I'm currently using the diamond 9.1 and I'm thinking of upgrading to the diamond 220. Should I pull the trigger or keep my diamond 9.1?
Hello mate. Just caught your message before going on a break lol.
Diamond 220 is a more up-to-date sound. 9.1 are more boxy and warm sounding. Diamond 220 more open and they have the downward firing bass ports (they reckon they are better with near-wall placement).
Also depends on your amp...if you don't EQ your sound then you have to be careful about synergy.
Can you buy the 220s and then return if you don't like them?
Have you done any comparison between wharfedale diamond 12.4 vs q acoustic 3050i. Which will you pick in terms of sound quality?
@@sanimario1835 No I haven't. Sorry mate.
If you want my gut feeling...go with the Wharfedales though lol.
I have never heard a Wharfedale speaker that I thought sounded bad and unlistenable...
I can't say the same thing about Q Acoustics unfortunately
I am considering the upgrade from my 3020i and 3090ci to the Concept 20 and Concept Centre. Would these marry up nicely with my Arcam AVR550 for music in stereo and also my 5.1.2 system? Great video by the way
Hi there sorry the reply is a little late.
I think that will be an upgrade but I also think the differenes will be slight. It really depends on your taste. The 3000 series sound a little bit more laid back than the Concepts. I personally am not a fan of the Concept unless EQ is applied. With the EQ they're much better.
Do you have any other speakers on your shortlist out of interest?
@@geezerintotech In all honestly no others as I am keen on the dimensions and am very taken by the brand. I am not as keen on the 3000 due to the laid back sound. I had some Mordaunt Short 902i which were tight and punchy speakers.Others I like were Klipsch but I don't have room for the fronts. Its a space thing for me. Cheers for the reply.
@@carlneuchterlien Haha..Mordaunt Short 902i - I've heard those :D..Man I miss Mordaunt Short..I think they got swallowed up by Cambridge a while back and they were never seen again. Always wanted myself a pair of the Performance series speakers.
If you like Klipsch then I would imagine you're really a fan of the energetic and separated sort of sound. Klipsch tend to have very high sensitivity which I think partly stems from their horn tweeter design which amplifies the treble to a greater degree.
Maybe it's worth a try but if you like that sort of sound then perhaps I'd shortlist something like B&W 606S2 or perhaps something by Focal in that price range (used is always an option). Another thing you could try is the Dali Opticon 2 - it has a smooth sound but they can sound very energetic..very musical speaker the Dalis and they get an upvote from me!
Another option is the Monitor Audio Silver bookshelves. I heard the Silver 2 years ago and they had a sound like you're describing
Hi. Great video! My question is how do you use the parametric eq with a stand alone Hi-Fi system? I’m a musician and use them in Logic etc but how do you use one (hardware or software?) with an analogue Hi-Fi system? Thanks!
Hi Alex. What most people would do is run the Hifi via a laptop and use something like Equaliser APO to do the EQ.
Alternatively, you can buy a device called a MiniDSP HD which can handle the EQ for you - you would just use that as your DAC and load your EQ profile on to it
@@geezerintotech Ok great, I’ll have a look into that. Thanks 👍🏻👍🏻
Hi! In My country these cost nearly the same than dynaudio emit m10 as weird as it may sounds, which one Will You choose for the same price?
well it depends on your other equipment and your room acoustics, but my gut feeling says Dynaudio on that one
@@geezerintotech thank You!
@@rafaelalberto5051 my pleasure mate :)
Great video
Thank you kindly :)
Are they easy to power? I'm thinking about pairing them with Schiitt Rekkr amplifier.
aren't those amps only like 3 or 4 watt RMS?
i wouldn't recommend this myself but i haven't tried it
They need at least 50w of quality amplification to hear them at their best...if using an AV receiver in bi-amping mode they sound even better.....
Great video 😍
Thank you! 🤗
whardedale 220 vs 11.2 vs 12.2? wharfedale 220 vs elac debut 6.2?
I haven't covered this topic yet, but you can't argue with the 220 being so affordable, it is hard not to recommend that!
I would say if you have the budget for entry level speakers, I'd get the 220 and get the best amp and dac you can. Once you have covered those bases, then start upgrading your speakers in the future and you'll really appreciate the upgrades!
Are the Concept 20s good close to walls? I wanna buy them whit the dedicated shelf
if you put them close to the walls then you can use the bungs to improve the bass.
Best option would be to use room correction DSP for the bass frequencies. They'll be fine if you do that
@@geezerintotech Do you mean something like Audyssey on my Denon?
@@partyloco if you can go into the Audyssey settings and calibrate the specfically, then you should achieve a much purer sound, yes
@@geezerintotech Thank you! Keep it up the nice work
I have mine 26cm from the wall toe in slightly, no problems, sound just right in my room
q acoustics concept 20 or 3020 and entry level dac and amplifier and entry level subwoofer. or just yamaha hs8 and maybe a dac. yamaha is around $720 the other system will be $1000, what will you advice, clarity and imaging are priority. and yes polk audio s20 system will be around $750 without the subwoofer.
well the Yamaha HS8 is a studio monitor and it is really intended for near-field listening. It makes all the difference as near-field monitor speakers usually assume that your room won't be 'helping out' the sound with room reflections etc. The tweeters are designed to fire directly at you and you get the direct sound.
If you want a set of speakers for imaging and clarity, then a set of studio monitors might do the trick, though I wouldn't recommend the Yamaha HS8 myself as it's purely entry level. I'd recommend something more along the lines of the Tannoy Gold 7 or Gold 8 if you want a big boy without much need for a sub.
If your room size is under 20 square metre then I'd recommend getting the best speakers you can and forget the subwoofer for now. There will be lots of bass issues in the room and you'll be getting a lot of room gain anyway.
Hope this helps
@@geezerintotech thanks, it was helpful.
Appreciate your efforts here. Concept 20 given their point is nice speaker. Curious, have you heard the Concept 30 speaker. Know it's about double the price but is worth it ??
Hello - Concept 30 is a speaker i'm aware of, yes. I really want to hear them, but haven't had the opportunity to do so yet!
If you're serious about your audio and have a decent amp/source, I would probably start at that level to be honest and skip the Concept 20 series. You can upgrade the cabinet all you like but the drivers' origins are still from Q Acoustics elementary series and that's important in my eyes!
listened to it tonight, its OK/good with the amp i used. I used a new good D amp, suggested by Brittish audiophile. Not sure i would spend silly money on them. I think good pairing is the trick.
I have a question. I dont know whats wrong. Just got the concept 20, comparing it to polk s15e it sounds like there's a blanket over concept 20. S15e is much more open. Do the concept 20 need a serious burn-in or something?
I would definitely play them for a couple of days to know you're sure. But I wouldn't listen to them during the burn in (just to make sure that you're not the one being burned in lol!).
But what you're describing is something that I also did hear when comparing to other speakers in my house. When I partnered the Concept 20s with my Hypex nCore Class D I did feel the openness improved dramatically though. I also used a Topping E30 DAC
@@geezerintotech I Will definitely try to burn it in and give it a chance. I will protect myself though :). The sound right now is really bad. Maybe its the receiver or It's acctually broken somehow. Imagine throwing your c20 in the bathtub with water and start some music. That's my experience right now :)
@@geezerintotech Just want to share my findings. I bi-wired it and it's like night and day. It's a huge improvement. If I turn the bi-wired Channel off, it gets muffled again.
Garbage in, garbage out. Good speakers always show up what comes before. The Q's are very transparent.
Mine are fantastic, minute detail & great soundstage with quality over quality...mine were burnt in with burn in CD's & plenty Rap...bass easily at 40hz or lower...took 300 hrs but would not part with them,used with the dedicated stands Blu-Tac'd to tighten the sound....you need a good amp with a goid bass damping factor...my Emotiva BasX A2 sounds brilliant with these & a bass damping factor of 200....in some ways better than the LS50's to my ears...you gotta use a min of 150w with the Kef LS50's at 82-84db max....you need a £1000 quality amp for them...the Concept 20's are fantastic build quality & sound...i use mine run in parrallel with an SVS SB1000 Pro subwoofer.
I guess our ears are all different as i would not part with these as they are the best rear surround sound speakers for movies or music i have ever used...Concept 30's as main LR speakers, Kef Q350's as side rear surrounds, SVS SB1000 Pro sub, B&W HTM6 centre speaker....all in white gloss or white vinyl wrap... i use 4 x black gloss Wharfedale 220's as Dolby Atmos height speakers.... the white opens up my listening room...to many black speakers make a room feel smaller....maybe it's sytem synergy but mine sound better than LS50's, my Q350's sound better than the LS50's imo....bi-amped the Concept 20's sound far better.....
It depends what your room is like and what equipment your using and cables , the concept 20 sounds amazing with my quad naim equipment
yes I agree your experience will depend on independent factors
picked these up with stands and cables for £140
that's a wicked price mate - practically stealing that
@@geezerintotech ikr, I was originally looking for q acouistics 3020 or 3010. To find these was a steal, facebook marketplace is the one
I bought the Concepts some while ago. Again, I agree with your findings. Some things they do extremely well, but lack the lower mid part.
Your remark on the stands. I have the dedicated stands and they do enhance the bottom/bass sound somewhat. I tested this against other (heavy stands), but there's a difference (possibly I go nuts) :)
About mounting them, there are no scews to secure them. There are some metal feet you place in the steel holes o/t topplate, metal on metal 😬. The topplate is a sandwich construction with gelcore inbetween. Although they do not shift that way, it's not really secure, Blu-tacked them just in case.
Now auditioning 3030i's, but they lack a bit of the details the Concepts have and are far more laidback. Sound is OK, but lack a bit of sparkle, maybe my room doesn't do it.
You started something MDT 😄
hehehe - sorry about that. Sometimes I unwillingly send people down the rabbit hole.
Have you tried the Wharfedale Evo 4.2?
Good review. I demoed these about 5 years ago and wasn’t impressed. Tried with Marantz 6000 model and Cambridge CXA60, against Monitor Audio Bronze and Dali Zensor 3. Settled on the Cambridge and Dali.
Cheers mate 🙂
Based on that shortlist I think I would have picked the same as you - Dali and Cambridge sound like a nice acoustical partnership
Let's hear more about your buying days. What we're your requirements etc? Tips and tricks. Think we'd all benefit from your experiences.
I have some old Q acoustics floorstanders, didn't work in my system. They were bought as the front 2 in my A/v system and were supposed to be all singing all dancing at that price range. Hated them 😂😂. Swapped them out within 6 months for some open box Dali Zensor 7's back in 2013 which I'm still using and love.
Think my view of Q Acoustics soured after that.
Hi again mate and thanks for the interest in my buying days! I will try to sneak some stories into some future videos. Sounds glamorous, but in reality it wasn't that amazing haha! At first it was pretty amazing though as I could take home pretty much any set of speakers I wanted on loan. Should have started a speaker channel back then!
It's so funny because I've been chatting to my mate recently about those Q Acoustics and he was in agreement too. It's so strange because there is so much hype around these speakers, but in person I never seem to understand what all the fuss is about? I distinctly remember not being very impressed back in 2013/2014 when I was loaned them 😂😂. Made for awkward conversation when we said no. That being said, I do like the build quality, but that doesn't save this speaker in my eyes!
Dali Zensor 7 is a much more musical speaker by comparison and I'd take that any day too. Good choice haha!
@@geezerintotech I went into Richer Sounds for a demo, and based on reviews (unfortunately mostly WHF) at the time was looking at the 6000 Marantz and the Cambridge CXA60 (only sold by Richer), paired with either the Monitor Audio Bronze or the Concept 20’s. The manager (Weybridge) suggested the Zensor 3 and for me it was the clear winner with the CXA60. Your point about being more musical is spot on. I just came across this channel via your Meta review so will be interested to hear your opinions on some other speakers and amps. I’m currently considering an upgrade with about 2k to spend on amp and speakers. Good review.
@@doifeellucky hello mate i am glad you enjoyed the video :)
Yeah I just don't get what some reviewers are saying half the time because when it comes to a head to head demo, I often don't agree..perhaps room acoustics has a massive role to play but that's usually the way
There is something about those Dalis that I just like - everything sounds in its place with a glaze of life added ... nothing oversweetened or anything...anything I hear from them I just gravitate to.
And just look at their slogan - 'in admiration of music'
Kind of tells you alot in my opinion - whereas many firms focus purely on showing off how 'neutral' their speakers are on graphs..this never translates properly when you add room acoustics and other distortions..all that matters is what does it sound like when it hits your ears!
Course mate ask away - which gear are you considering for your budget?
@@geezerintotech There are too many options, but also many retailers don’t stock both amp and speakers I’m interested in. I saw your other reviews on budget, where you specifically mentioned you’ve had good results spending more on the amp. On that basis possibly something like the base Hegel, or Rega, Rotel, Exposure, Musical Fidelity that sort of thing. Any suggestions for £1500 amp and £500 speakers, not too analytical. Thanks.
@@doifeellucky yeah well I suggest that because often people underspend severely on an amp. An amp is something that rarely needs upgrading - if you spend £1000-2000 on it, you shouldn't have problems with underpowered speakers.
A cheap option which might even be better than the mainstream is the Hypex Ncore range of amps. They are modern Class D amplifiers which measure very well - they won't add any character to your speakers - so when you put your speakers in, you're pretty much hearing the speaker itself.
So at that point comes trying to upgrade your room's acoustics in some way.
Of course if you want to stick to more mainstream products that's fine (you just won't ge 'as good' value for money).
Something I'd recommend is the Wharfedale Evo 4.2 which should give you a nice frequency response.
Try and partner that with a nice amp - I recommend getting at least 2 (ideally 3 amps for trial).
You could start with the Yamaha AS1200 if you can find on deal (although a bit expensive).
Another option is the Arcam SA30 (again try and find on deal).
Another option is the Yamaha As801 (don't sell these anymore but you could consider used).
Another options is the Marantz 8000 series (these typically sound nice but sometimes a bit bass heavy and sparkly..but this can suit the right speaker).
Then you other option is try the Class D alternatives - I believe NAD are going down that route now.
For example the NAD C368 or C388.
One thing I'd recommend is don't underpower the speakers (even when the amplifiers are over 100w a channel I prefer these).
When you turn up volume amplifiers quickly distort so you want extra headroom if you know what I mean.
If you do it right the first time it will be hard to upgrade after that point!
Once you have your amp sorted then in the future you can just upgrade your speakers without worry of amp being underpowered etc.
Hope this helps