Short answer: the Focal Theva N°2, if you are buying new. The Focal Chora 816 ranks higher than the Q Acoustics 5040 (#27 vs #113 of 228 floorstanding speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Focal Theva N°2, is rated 4.4/5 at $799 and is still sold new.
The Focal Chora 816 is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. An affordable, easy to drive tower with good bass extension and low distortion, now discontinued but worth buying used. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.30 against 3.80 for the Q Acoustics 5040. Its bass reaches about 60Hz before falling 3dB, against 70Hz for the Q Acoustics 5040. The catch: Some messiness appears between 500Hz-2kHz on-axis, including a dip around 550Hz.
What the Q Acoustics 5040 does well: Well-built floorstanding speakers that are easy to drive, playing loud on modest amplifiers with a smooth, well-integrated midrange. The tradeoff: Free-field frequency response exhibits a noticeable mid-bass scoop around 200Hz (~6dB lower than mean SPL), causing an F3 of 70Hz (F10 of 39Hz) in open space and requiring boundary placement (11-22 inches from front wall) to reinforce upper bass output.
Buy the Focal Theva N°2, the replacement for the discontinued Focal Chora 816; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Q Acoustics 5040.
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Measured Differences
- Close enough not to matter: bass extension (35 Hz vs 39 Hz, 10 dB down); preference score with a subwoofer (6.4 vs 6.4).
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Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Chora 816 | Q Acoustics 5040 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $900 per pair used, Discontinued | $3,998 per pair |
| Ranked | #27 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #113 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 40.7”H x 11.8”W x 15.3”D (1033.8 x 299.7 x 388.6 mm) | 38.1”H x 11.5”W x 14.2”D (967 x 293 x 361 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum, measured, Audio Science Review) | 6 ohms nominal (3.0 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber woofer, 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber midrange, 1” (25mm) TNF Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter | 0.88 in. decoupled dome tweeter, twin 5.0 in. C3 Continuous Curved Cone woofers |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (measured, Audio Science Review) | 91.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 40.8 lbs (18.5 kg) each | 39.7 lbs (18.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.30 | 3.80 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.37 | 6.41 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Focal Chora 816: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Audio Science Review.
- Q Acoustics 5040: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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