Short answer: the Q Acoustics 5040. It ranks #113 of 228 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $3,998; the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 ranks #165, rated 3.7/5, and costs $4,158, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The Q Acoustics 5040 is the better-sounding option. Well-built floorstanding speakers that are easy to drive, playing loud on modest amplifiers with a smooth, well-integrated midrange. The catch: 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.
The Focal Aria Evo X N°2 is the more accurate, deeper-bass option. An easy to drive tower with a deliberate mid-bass bump for extra thump, low distortion at high volume, and wide dispersion. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.88 against 3.80 for the Q Acoustics 5040. Its bass reaches about 50Hz before falling 3dB, against 70Hz for the Q Acoustics 5040. The catch: Sounds very bright pointed directly at the listener: the tweeter comes in 5-6dB above the midrange with an unusually wide, roughly two-octave dip (1kHz-4kHz) leading into it, giving a laid-back, low-attack character even after toeing out ~20 degrees.
Buy the Q Acoustics 5040. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
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Measured Differences
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 scores 6.8 against 6.4 for the Q Acoustics 5040 on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
- Efficiency: the Q Acoustics 5040 is rated at 91.5 dB sensitivity against 88.2 dB for the Focal Aria Evo X N°2, so it plays as loud with roughly half the amplifier power.
- Close enough not to matter: bass extension (39 Hz vs 38 Hz, 10 dB down).
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Specifications Side By Side
| Q Acoustics 5040 | Focal Aria Evo X N°2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,998 per pair | $4,158 per pair |
| Ranked | #113 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #165 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 38.1”H x 11.5”W x 14.2”D (967 x 293 x 361 mm) | 40.7”H x 14.6”W x 11.6”D (1035 x 371 x 294 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (3.0 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (2.9 ohms minimum, Manufacturer specified; 3.4 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 91.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 88.2dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 91.5dB Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 0.88 in. decoupled dome tweeter, twin 5.0 in. C3 Continuous Curved Cone woofers | Aluminum-magnesium inverted dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5” flax midrange, dual 6.5” flax midbass woofers |
| Weight | 39.7 lbs (18.0 kg) each | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | 3-way, bass reflex (bottom-firing port, requires plinth) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.80 | 4.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.41 | 6.82 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 45Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | - | 40-250W |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Q Acoustics 5040: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2: 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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