Ed Selley
Hi-Fi Editor
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- Jun 26, 2003
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Diminishing returns is always going to be a problem here, but given the review suggests that the Concept 30 are a happy compromise between two very accomplished speakers, that don't have their value questioned and yet is still 10% cheaper than both, it sounds like you should definitely give them the benefit of the doubt at this point. Go and have a listen!While I am tempted to try the Concept 30s, I am concerned that the improvement over the 20s may be small, and not worth £670
I have been waiting for a review of this speaker since they arrived on the market, as I have been tempted to give them a go. While I liked the review, it missed an obvious comparison: the Concept 20. These are still available and selling for £230 new. With a £670 price difference, how much better are they really? I own the Concept 20s, and they are very good...I'd be happy paying even twice their current price. While I am tempted to try the Concept 30s, I am concerned that the improvement over the 20s may be small, and not worth £670.
That assumes they're direect replacements. I don't think they're supposed to be.The price hikes are massive over old range. There must be big changes for this to happen. The drivers are brand new where as the old Concept range used 2000i range drivers with better crossover components and the Gelcore cabinet. Driver cost alone won´t explain this so everything needs to be lot better than in old range.
If we compare the Concept 40 price 699£/pair to new Concept 50 price 1999£/pair it`s like talking about different class speakers. Even if we would forget that it´s old model and now on sale, when it was announced Concept 40 cost 999£/pair so the new version cost twice as much! That is Kef R5 territory.
Diminishing returns is always going to be a problem here, but given the review suggests that the Concept 30 are a happy compromise between two very accomplished speakers, that don't have their value questioned and yet is still 10% cheaper than both, it sounds like you should definitely give them the benefit of the doubt at this point. Go and have a listen!
If I had £1000 to spend on stand mounts these would be my first audition.
Thanks, Ed. I feel an upgrade in my near futureThis basically. Different people have different expectations but the Concept 30 feels exactly in keeping with £1k rivals.
It's also a completely clean sheet design. The Concept 20 (and to a slightly lesser extent, the Concept 40) was a 2000 Series in a new cabinet. Everything about the drivers and crossover were interchangeable with the cheaper speaker. This is not the case with the Concept 30.
The Concept 20 (and to a slightly lesser extent, the Concept 40) was a 2000 Series in a new cabinet. Everything about the drivers and crossover were interchangeable with the cheaper speaker.
Concept 20 & 40 crossovers were not taken from 2000i range. They have higher quality parts vs. outgoing 3000i as confirmed by Q Acoustics. So not just a cabinet change.
I'm happy to take your word for it but that runs directly counter to the briefing I was given when I reviewed them in 2013. Was there a refresh?
I feel an upgrade in my near future
The only thing that is interchangeable between the 2000i and concept 20/40 are the tweeters.The price hikes are massive over old range. There must be big changes for this to happen. The drivers are brand new where as the old Concept range used 2000i range drivers with better crossover components and the Gelcore cabinet. Driver cost alone won´t explain this so everything needs to be lot better than in old range.
If we compare the Concept 40 price 699£/pair to new Concept 50 price 1999£/pair it`s like talking about different class speakers. Even if we would forget that it´s old model and now on sale, when it was announced Concept 40 cost 999£/pair so the new version cost twice as much! That is Kef R5 territory.
Definitely. I'd be interested to give them a go, but if I don't hear a significant improvement, then I'll probably return them. For £230, even £430, the Concept 20s are just what I'm after. But, if the 30s are a big improvement, I may keep them. Will give it some thought. Will probably not be buying for a few weeks anyway.Make sure you get them for home trial before you buy anything so you can compare side by side at home to C20s. There is always lot of hype with these subjective reviews and one shouldn´t make expensive blind buys just cause something got "Best in Class" award.
Interestingly, the Q Active 200 are now on offer with a big discount and the same price as the concept 30 or less overall if one does not need to spend money on an amp.
Out of curiosity, I was looking on EEk-Bay for an used 2020i to buy, open up and compare with the Concept 20s. Sadly, not much is available at the moment, but I'll keep an eye on them. What I immediately noticed is that the woofers look different. The Concepts look less "papery"...at least from the photos.The only thing that is interchangeable between the 2000i and concept 20/40 are the tweeters.
Everything else is different or improved. Better crossovers, better cabinets, better build quality all round, better woofers. The woofers are not the same, the concept 20 woofer is an improved version of the 2020i woofer with a coating. The twin woofers of the concept 40 are bespoke for the concept 40 and feature improved/larger more powerful magnet motor system than the concept 20/2020i.
Interestingly, the Q Active 200 are now on offer with a big discount and the same price as the concept 30 or less overall if one does not need to spend money on an amp.
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 (Black)(Google) Wireless Speakers (Pair)
The Q Acoustics Active 200 is a completely active all in one stand mount Hi-Fi speaker system with amazing wireless and wired connectivity.www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk
That's because the woofers on the concept 20 and 40 are bespoke. They are improved versions of the 2020i drivers and have a coating on them. All the woofers throughout QA speakers look similar but they're all actually bespoke to the range.Out of curiosity, I was looking on EEk-Bay for an used 2020i to buy, open up and compare with the Concept 20s. Sadly, not much is available at the moment, but I'll keep an eye on them. What I immediately noticed is that the woofers look different. The Concepts look less "papery"...at least from the photos.
Potentially neither. It's subjective. I used to own a pair of 2020i and thought that they were superb for the money, as an example.There's something about Q acoustics, I just don't like their aesthetics, the whole deeper than they are taller thing, quite frankly I think looks pretty ugly. Then as for the sound I've only heard I think it was the 3020i and thought they were ok but nothing remarkable. The reviewer raves about them here saying they have bridge the gap between neutrality and warmth while the Audiophiliac says they have very little in the way of warmth. Who's telling porky pies?
There's something about Q acoustics, I just don't like their aesthetics, the whole deeper than they are taller thing, quite frankly I think looks pretty ugly. Then as for the sound I've only heard I think it was the 3020i and thought they were ok but nothing remarkable. The reviewer raves about them here saying they have bridge the gap between neutrality and warmth while the Audiophiliac says they have very little in the way of warmth. Who's telling porky pies?