Q Acoustics M40 review (2024)

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Proof that good floorstanders can come in small packages, the Q Acoustics M40 are easy to set up and live with

Pros

  • +

    Smooth, safe sound

  • +

    Solid imaging, good timing

  • +

    Compact size

  • +

    Flexible with positioning

Cons

  • -

    Sound lacks dynamics and drive

  • -

    No wi-fi streaming

  • -

    No HDMI input

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Q Acoustics refers to the M40 as a “powered micro-tower wireless audio system”. That’s quite the mouthful, but translated, what we are looking at is a pair of petite floorstanding speakers with Bluetooth, amplification and extra connectivity built in.

Now we know floorstanders, or “towers” as they’re more affectionately known, can be quite tall and dominate smaller spaces, but trust us when we say the M40 speakers are less Burj Khalifa (which is 830m tall) and more Blackpool Tower (158m). Standing just 71cm tall they are anything but imposing. It’s almost like they’ve shrunk in the wash, yet Q Acoustics has packed plenty inside for ultimate convenience.

Now, we’ve tested surround sound speaker packages with bigger centre channels but there’s something about a small compact floorstander which is hugely appealing. The question is, for all its flexibility and features, can these speakers deliver sonically?

Design

Q Acoustics M40 review (1)

The Q Acoustics M40 builds on the company’s M20 desktop system, which we reviewed back in 2022 and to which we gave five stars.

The speakers are available in black, white and the walnut finish of our review sample. Even with two people present, we find the packaging a little fussy and it takes a bit of wrestling to set the speakers free.

Once they are out of the box you’ll need to attach a support base to the rear of each speaker and then screw in the supplied spikes. Each base takes the form of two wings that bolt into the speaker's underside. They add stability, but we could see them flexing slightly when moving the speakers around and experimenting with positioning.

Q Acoustics M40 tech specs

Q Acoustics M40 review (2)

Cabinet type Two-way reflex ported

Power 2 x 100W

Bluetooth 5.0 (aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, SBC, AAC)

Wi-fi? No

Mains-powered or battery-powered Mains

Connections USB Type B, optical, stereo RCA, 3.5mm aux, subwoofer out

App? No

Dimensions (hwd) 71 x 25 x 29.6cm

Weight 11.8kg (passive speaker), 12.4kg (powered speaker)

Finishes Black, Walnut, White

You can’t take the grilles off the M40 but there’s a reason behind it. Q Acoustics claims that it brings added strength to the front baffle and reduces the amount of grille material around the drivers. This in turn minimises any effects on sound dispersion and reduces reflections.

If you could remove the grilles, you’d see a two-way speaker design, with twin 12.5cm mid-bass drivers positioned beneath a 22mm tweeter. The mid-bass drivers use Q Acoustics’ C-cubed Continuous Curved Cone design, which first appeared in the Q Acoustics 5000 Series (we have already given five stars to the 5040 and 5050 floorstanders from the range).

To help with imaging, Q Acoustics has positioned the tweeter right near the top of the baffle and the unit has been designed to promote wide dispersion. The DSP used in the speakers has also been adjusted to make the speakers more flexible in terms of positioning, so even if your seating arrangement has your ears sat above the top of the speakers, the stereo image performance isn’t negatively impacted.

Inside each rear ported cabinet is the company’s Point to Point (P2P) internal bracing which aims to keep the speaker as rigid as possible and minimise unwanted cabinet resonances.

Features

Q Acoustics M40 review (3)

One of the speakers works as the master and can be designated the left or right speaker depending on where your nearest power socket is situated.

And it’s the master that hosts the amplification (2 x 100W), all the inputs and the switchable EQ which is designed to help with positioning. The master connects to the partnering speaker with a conventional speaker cable.

In the box you also get a small wand of a remote about the length of a ballpoint pen and the width of about three. You can use it to mute, pause/play, change volume, skip track and switch inputs. During testing we found all buttons quick to respond, bar the volume buttons which seem hesitant at times.

The power button on the top of the master speaker has an LED surround which lights up a different colour depending on the source you’re using, although we can’t help but feel that LED might be better positioned on the front of the speaker as it’s hard to see when sat down. The same power button is also flanked by matching volume control buttons.

There’s no wi-fi connectivity for the Q Acoustics M40 so your wireless streaming is purely via Bluetooth 5.0, but there is aptX HD and aptX Low Latency support (up to 24-bit/48kHz resolution).

Q Acoustics M40 review (4)

Physical connections are there too: you can use the analogue input to connect a CD player, or, assuming it’s running through a phono stage, a record player. Not that you’re likely to need extra bass, but there’s a subwoofer output included too.

Laptops can be connected to the USB Type-B socket which supports 24-bit/192kHz hi-res audio. The USB socket sits next to an optical digital input should you want to connect a TV, although we’re surprised and a little disappointed that there’s no HDMI socket, especially as optical connections are appearing less and less on modern TVs.

To help you with positioning, there’s a toggle switch on the rear of the master speaker with three different settings to pick from depending on where in your room you’ll be placing the speakers. There’s a setting for in the corner of a room, one for close to a rear wall and another for when the speakers are used in free space.

In our test rooms we experiment with all three, manoeuvring the speakers around to hear how they sound in different places with the switch in different positions.

We settled with the speakers about 55cm from the rear wall, slightly toed in and in their against-a-wall EQ setting. We find the free space setting injects a little too much bass into the sound.

We also experiment with the gap between the speakers, which does impact the soundstage. Too wide apart and we find it breaks down and loses focus, so we settle on having them 1.8m apart and toed-in slightly. This gives the stereo image greater focus and solidity in our room.

Sound

Q Acoustics M40 review (5)

We start by rocking out to a stream of Slither by Velvet Revolver from a MacBook Pro straight into the Q Acoustics’ USB socket. The M40 delivers a composed and controlled sound and there’s just enough energy and vibrancy to the electric guitar and drums to get your toes tapping away.

Stereo imaging is great – each element has its own space to sit in but there’s a great sense of cohesion too. And, even if your seating position sees your ears above the tops of the speakers, you still get a solid and neatly spaced image.

Over prolonged listening, it’s apparent the M40 isn’t hugely demanding of the quality of your source, which is a good thing. Heavily compressed or poorly produced tracks aren’t punished, which leaves you free to enjoy the sound that comes from those dinky cabinets.

The same track played over Bluetooth confirms our suspicions that it’s a slight step down from using the wired connection both in terms of clarity and resolution, but the Q Acoustics’ unfussy character still makes the most of what they are being served.

There’s a good level of overall detail, but the speakers don’t give you the impression that analysis and insight are right at the top of their list of priorities. They peel back just enough layers of the music to make it sound interesting but fall short of cutting-edge insight.

We don’t find ourselves rushing to hear what the next song in our playlist sounds like, although we’re more than happy to have the speakers bopping away in the background. This is because during testing we don’t find any aspect of the sound quality grating.

Highs don’t sound harsh or abrasive and bass is weighty enough for you to feel its impact, but it's also well-controlled. We slip on Kid Cudi’s Pursuit Of Happiness, and the speakers immediately switch into swagger mode. They do a good job of capturing the tune’s powerful yet lazy bassline, balancing the weight and depth of the bass notes with the splashes of percussion. There’s a good sense of expression around the lead vocal and the backing vocal that overarches the track.

We finish with a spot of classical music in the shape of End Credits from Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. The Q Acoustics roll along with a good sense of speed, and again it’s all very well controlled and hugely listenable. We’d like the dynamics on display to reflect more of the swashbuckling and dramatic nature of the track, but it’s still extremely listenable. There’s rise and fall, but we’d like a bit more range between the two.

Verdict

Q Acoustics M40 review (6)

If you want a speaker system that’s flexible, undemanding and easy to get along with, then the Q Acoustics M40 won’t disappoint. They’re a safe recommendation, from their sound to their small, unobtrusive form and they can fit into places where larger floorstanders might fear to tread.

But we do think they’re a bit safe-sounding in terms of dynamics and not quite as revealing or captivating as we would hope. A good speaker system that most people could easily live with, but not a great one.

SCORES

  • Sound 4
  • Build 5
  • Features 4

MORE:

Read our review of the Q Acoustics M20

Also consider the Elac Debut ConneX DCB41

Budget to premium hi-fi speakers tested by our expert reviewers

Best active speakers: our experts pick the top pairs with built-in amplifiers

Q Acoustics M40 review (7)

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test

No comments yetComment from the forums

    Q Acoustics M40 review (2024)

    FAQs

    Q Acoustics M40 review? ›

    Q Acoustics was set up as a brand by parent company, Armour Home, around eight years ago to plug a gap in its product line-up.

    Who makes Q Acoustics speakers? ›

    Q Acoustics was set up as a brand by parent company, Armour Home, around eight years ago to plug a gap in its product line-up.

    How far should Q Acoustics 3020i be from the wall? ›

    Foam Bung The 3000 series speakers are rear ported and designed to work best with some space behind them i.e. 200mm or so away from a wall. If you position your speakers close to a wall / corner then the foam bungs should be inserted into the rear ports or there could be too much bass.

    What is the frequency of Q Acoustics 3020i? ›

    64Hz-30kHz

    What is the frequency range of Q Acoustics 3030i? ›

    Claimed frequency range is a floorstander-rivalling 46Hz to a bat-worrying 30kHz – good going for such a reasonably priced standmount. As we've come to expect with the 3000i family, the choice and execution of finish is excellent.

    What company makes the best quality speakers? ›

    Top 8 Public Address Speaker Brands Today
    1. Bose. Bose is renowned for its innovative audio technology and high-quality sound systems, providing solutions catering to professional settings and home use. ...
    2. JBL. ...
    3. Electro-Voice. ...
    4. Yamaha. ...
    5. RCF. ...
    6. Behringer. ...
    7. Mackie. ...
    8. QSC.
    Apr 2, 2024

    What is speaker Q rating? ›

    Total Q factor (Qts)

    Qts ≤ 0.4 means the speaker is well suited for a housing with apertures and ventilation. 0.4 < Qts < 0.7 means that the speaker is well suited for a closed housing. Qts ≥ 0.7 indicates that the speaker is well suited for outdoor applications with infinite sound converter.

    Is Q Acoustics 3020 active or passive? ›

    Q ACOUSTICS 3020 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) (Graphite) Passive Speaker for surroung sound system computer speakers.

    What is the impedance of Q acoustics speakers? ›

    Nominal Impedance: 6 Ω Minimum Impedance: 4 Ω Sensitivity (2.83 Vrms@1 m): 88 dB.

    What is a high Q speaker? ›

    Q (or quality factor) is a unitless number that describes how underdamped an oscillating circuit is. A higher Q value means that the circuit or system has low damping and will ring or resonate for longer.

    Is Q Acoustics 3030i active or passive? ›

    Q ACOUSTICS 3030i Bookshelf Speakers Pair Carbon Black - Featuring 2-way Reflex Enclosure Type, 165mm (6.5") Bass Driver, and 22mm (0.9") Tweeter - Stereo Speakers Hifi/Passive Speakers.

    What is the frequency of Q Acoustics 3050? ›

    Treble Unit: 25mm. Frequency Response: 44Hz - 22kHz.

    What is the frequency response of Q Acoustics 3010? ›

    Enclosure type: 2-way reflex. Bass Unit: 2 x 100 mm (4 in) Treble Unit: 22 mm (0.9 in) Frequency Response (+3 dB, -6 dB): 75 Hz – 30 kHz.

    Who makes Bose speakers? ›

    Bose Corporation (/boʊz/) is an American manufacturing company that predominantly sells audio equipment. The company was established by Amar Bose in 1964 and is based in Framingham, Massachusetts.

    Who makes Harman speakers? ›

    Harman Kardon is a division of US-based Harman International Industries, an independent subsidiary of Samsung Electronics. Harman Kardon was originally founded in Westbury, New York, in 1953 by business partners Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon.

    Who makes KEF speakers? ›

    In 1992, the Hong Kong-based Gold Peak Group acquired KEF, and GP Acoustics, a member of Gold Peak, now owns the company. KEF continues to develop and manufacture its products in Maidstone, Kent, UK. KEF is named after its original site, Kent Engineering and Foundry.

    Who makes Sonos speakers? ›

    Sonos, Inc. is an American audio equipment manufacturer headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, United States. The company was founded in 2002 by John MacFarlane, Craig Shelburne, Tom Cullen, and Trung Mai. Patrick Spence has been its CEO since 2017.

    Top Articles
    WMYSO - Soccer Positions Explained
    When Can A Substitution happen In Soccer? – Explain Soccer
    Jordanbush Only Fans
    Pet For Sale Craigslist
    Metallica - Blackened Lyrics Meaning
    Quick Pickling 101
    Ymca Sammamish Class Schedule
    Tap Tap Run Coupon Codes
    Www Craigslist Louisville
    B67 Bus Time
    What is the surrender charge on life insurance?
    Hmr Properties
    Programmieren (kinder)leicht gemacht – mit Scratch! - fobizz
    Nj Scratch Off Remaining Prizes
    Best Fare Finder Avanti
    2024 U-Haul ® Truck Rental Review
    Studentvue Columbia Heights
    Char-Em Isd
    Bend Pets Craigslist
    Khiara Keating: Manchester City and England goalkeeper convinced WSL silverware is on the horizon
    Alfie Liebel
    Wausau Obits Legacy
    Schedule An Oil Change At Walmart
    Zillow Group Stock Price | ZG Stock Quote, News, and History | Markets Insider
    Walgreens On Bingle And Long Point
    Cvs Sport Physicals
    Craigs List Tallahassee
    Rogold Extension
    The Latest: Trump addresses apparent assassination attempt on X
    Eero Optimize For Conferencing And Gaming
    Verizon TV and Internet Packages
    Stolen Touches Neva Altaj Read Online Free
    Quality Tire Denver City Texas
    Beaver Saddle Ark
    Puretalkusa.com/Amac
    Serenity Of Lathrop - Manteca Photos
    How does paysafecard work? The only guide you need
    Reli Stocktwits
    Marine Forecast Sandy Hook To Manasquan Inlet
    Domino's Delivery Pizza
    Craigslist Mount Pocono
    2008 DODGE RAM diesel for sale - Gladstone, OR - craigslist
    8 Ball Pool Unblocked Cool Math Games
    Mid America Clinical Labs Appointments
    Ezpawn Online Payment
    Achieving and Maintaining 10% Body Fat
    Autozone Battery Hold Down
    Amourdelavie
    Prologistix Ein Number
    Tyrone Dave Chappelle Show Gif
    Bones And All Showtimes Near Emagine Canton
    Craigslist Farm And Garden Missoula
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Mr. See Jast

    Last Updated:

    Views: 6135

    Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

    Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Mr. See Jast

    Birthday: 1999-07-30

    Address: 8409 Megan Mountain, New Mathew, MT 44997-8193

    Phone: +5023589614038

    Job: Chief Executive

    Hobby: Leather crafting, Flag Football, Candle making, Flying, Poi, Gunsmithing, Swimming

    Introduction: My name is Mr. See Jast, I am a open, jolly, gorgeous, courageous, inexpensive, friendly, homely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.