Well, I didn't expect to be doing this 2 years after buying these amazing speakers, nevertheless they're up for sale. The only reason I am parting with them is because as you may have seen from some of the other threads, I've just managed to acquire what I expect will be my end-game speakers, and I really don't have either the room or the need for two pairs of monster floorstanders. Plus I still have three other pairs of speakers I can use elsewhere if I need to...
So up for grabs are my beautiful, immaculate Q Acoustics Concept 500 speakers, the flagship of the Q Acoustics range. I purchased a pair in Dec 2019, however due to an issue with deformity of the surround on one driver, Richer Sounds exchanged both speakers for a brand new pair - these were delivered to me on 27th March 2020, so they're about 22 months old.
Finished in a beautiful piano lacquer white with an oak veneer strip to the rear, they're a bit of a stunner IMHO. The oak strip does help to disguise the true depth of the enclosures - this is a modern-type "deeper than it is wide" style, dimensions being 1175 x 400 x 375 mm (46.2 x 15.7 x 14.8 in) H x W x D. The details of the technology and the specs can be found on the Q Acoustics web page where there is access to a white paper discussing the tech, but to summarise, they are a cabinet-within-a-cabinet-within-a-cabinet construction - three layers of MDF sandwiched together with Gelcore, a non-setting resin that damps the cabinets and converts vibrational energy into heat, making for a very dense and non-resonant enclosure for the drivers. It's a big 2-way rear-ported design with twin 165mm (6.5") mid-bass drivers allied with a 28mm (1") soft dome tweeter. There are 2-part bungs you can use in the (big) rear ports to partially or fully close them off and to the rear of the speakers there is a jumper link that you can use to make subtle (0.5 dB) adjustments to the HF, to help you tailor it to the environment they are in. Having played with them I can say that it's effective and a useful adjustment that doesn't spoil the overall balance of the voicing.
I've posted previously on here my thoughts about these wonderful speakers so won't say a lot - have a look through the owners thread to start with. To summarise though they are musically rewarding and easy to live with, long sessions won't be fatiguing. Given some space around them they will reward with a massive soundstage, precise and focused, with an incredible sense of depth perspective. They are what I would describe as a musical, rather than analytical, speaker and I still love them very much for that. Give them a decent recording to play and they definitely give me goosebumps!
These are in pristine condition, not a mark or blemish I can see anywhere. I have been very careful with their condition. Of course they come with the grilles (never used - they attach magnetically hence no fixings on the front baffle), all the original accessories including the "pack" containing the unused spikes, bi-wire terminal jumpers, instruction manual and special cleaning cloth (again, unused - I have my own microfibre cloth I've used on them). For transport purposes they also have the soft inner protective covers (you could even use these to help keep dust off them, wish I'd thought of that), original boxes and all packaging.
These are big beasties, and I think they will have to be for collection in person only as the cost of a courier is probably prohibitive (I've not dared to ask). You will need a big car, truck or van as the final dimensions when boxed are 530 x 590 x 1340 mm W x D x H. I'm unable to offer any personal assistance with delivery I'm afraid as I don't have a vehicle big enough. I think a daily hire on a small van can be had for around the £30 mark if you search around so that could be a possibility.
If you want to arrange a demo here at home in Southampton that's absolutely fine, if you want to bring along any of your own system to try them out with that's not a problem either, I have a spare shelf I can put in place temporarily.
I ummed and aahed about the right price for these. Taking the usual auction site and hififorsale.co.uk as a guide, they seem to be anywhere between £1900 for a slightly damaged pair, to just over £3600 for new ones (actual RRP has now gone up to £4200). So I'm going to go somewhere toward the lower end and say £2650 £2500 £2200 £2000. No offers at this price.
Note that these photos were taken at various points over the last year or so, I can assure you that the condition hasn't changed but I will be more than happy to take some updated ones if you wish, albeit they won't be in-situ as my Martin Logans have now assumed that spot in the lounge. I should also point out that they are shown on my own DIY isolation platforms, these are NOT included in the sale but might be available separately - I'm still trying to decide if I cannibalise them to make some new ones for the MLs
If you have any other questions at all please PM me and I'll be happy to help out.
So up for grabs are my beautiful, immaculate Q Acoustics Concept 500 speakers, the flagship of the Q Acoustics range. I purchased a pair in Dec 2019, however due to an issue with deformity of the surround on one driver, Richer Sounds exchanged both speakers for a brand new pair - these were delivered to me on 27th March 2020, so they're about 22 months old.
Finished in a beautiful piano lacquer white with an oak veneer strip to the rear, they're a bit of a stunner IMHO. The oak strip does help to disguise the true depth of the enclosures - this is a modern-type "deeper than it is wide" style, dimensions being 1175 x 400 x 375 mm (46.2 x 15.7 x 14.8 in) H x W x D. The details of the technology and the specs can be found on the Q Acoustics web page where there is access to a white paper discussing the tech, but to summarise, they are a cabinet-within-a-cabinet-within-a-cabinet construction - three layers of MDF sandwiched together with Gelcore, a non-setting resin that damps the cabinets and converts vibrational energy into heat, making for a very dense and non-resonant enclosure for the drivers. It's a big 2-way rear-ported design with twin 165mm (6.5") mid-bass drivers allied with a 28mm (1") soft dome tweeter. There are 2-part bungs you can use in the (big) rear ports to partially or fully close them off and to the rear of the speakers there is a jumper link that you can use to make subtle (0.5 dB) adjustments to the HF, to help you tailor it to the environment they are in. Having played with them I can say that it's effective and a useful adjustment that doesn't spoil the overall balance of the voicing.
I've posted previously on here my thoughts about these wonderful speakers so won't say a lot - have a look through the owners thread to start with. To summarise though they are musically rewarding and easy to live with, long sessions won't be fatiguing. Given some space around them they will reward with a massive soundstage, precise and focused, with an incredible sense of depth perspective. They are what I would describe as a musical, rather than analytical, speaker and I still love them very much for that. Give them a decent recording to play and they definitely give me goosebumps!
These are in pristine condition, not a mark or blemish I can see anywhere. I have been very careful with their condition. Of course they come with the grilles (never used - they attach magnetically hence no fixings on the front baffle), all the original accessories including the "pack" containing the unused spikes, bi-wire terminal jumpers, instruction manual and special cleaning cloth (again, unused - I have my own microfibre cloth I've used on them). For transport purposes they also have the soft inner protective covers (you could even use these to help keep dust off them, wish I'd thought of that), original boxes and all packaging.
These are big beasties, and I think they will have to be for collection in person only as the cost of a courier is probably prohibitive (I've not dared to ask). You will need a big car, truck or van as the final dimensions when boxed are 530 x 590 x 1340 mm W x D x H. I'm unable to offer any personal assistance with delivery I'm afraid as I don't have a vehicle big enough. I think a daily hire on a small van can be had for around the £30 mark if you search around so that could be a possibility.
If you want to arrange a demo here at home in Southampton that's absolutely fine, if you want to bring along any of your own system to try them out with that's not a problem either, I have a spare shelf I can put in place temporarily.
I ummed and aahed about the right price for these. Taking the usual auction site and hififorsale.co.uk as a guide, they seem to be anywhere between £1900 for a slightly damaged pair, to just over £3600 for new ones (actual RRP has now gone up to £4200). So I'm going to go somewhere toward the lower end and say
Note that these photos were taken at various points over the last year or so, I can assure you that the condition hasn't changed but I will be more than happy to take some updated ones if you wish, albeit they won't be in-situ as my Martin Logans have now assumed that spot in the lounge. I should also point out that they are shown on my own DIY isolation platforms, these are NOT included in the sale but might be available separately - I'm still trying to decide if I cannibalise them to make some new ones for the MLs
If you have any other questions at all please PM me and I'll be happy to help out.
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