Short answer: the Revel Concerta2 F35. It ranks #18 of 56 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $900; the Q Acoustics 5040 ranks #25 and costs $1236.49, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Revel Concerta2 F35 offers: Two-and-a-half-way, four-driver design: a 1” aluminum dome tweeter on a waveguide, a 5.25” mid-range, and dual 5.25” mid-bass drivers in a rear-ported cabinet. Watch for: F3 of 61Hz and F10 of 39Hz mean a subwoofer is needed for real bass extension.
On the Q Acoustics 5040 side: C3 (Continuous Curved Cone) driver profile technology provides smooth midrange integration, controlled cone breakup, and improved bass damping. Set against that: Free-field frequency response exhibits a noticeable mid-bass scoop around 200Hz (~6dB lower than mean SPL).
Buy the Revel Concerta2 F35. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Q Acoustics 5040 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel Concerta2 F35 | Q Acoustics 5040 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $900 | $1,236.49 |
| Ranked | #18 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #25 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 40.3"H x 8.4"W x 12.2"D (1023.6 x 213.4 x 309.9 mm) | 38.1"H x 11.5"W x 14.2"D (967 x 293 x 361 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (3.8 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal (3.0 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 89.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 90dB manufacturer specified) | 91.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 3x 5.25" deep anodized aluminum cone woofers, 1" Aluminum Tweeter | 0.88 in. decoupled dome tweeter, twin 5.0 in. C3 Continuous Curved Cone woofers |
| Weight | 41 lbs / 18.6 kg each | 39.7 lbs / 18.0 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Revel Concerta2 F35: $900 Crutchfield
Pros: Two-and-a-half-way, four-driver design: a 1” aluminum dome tweeter on a waveguide, a 5.25” mid-range, and dual 5.25” mid-bass drivers in a rear-ported cabinet. Measured sensitivity of 89.4dB closely matches the 90dB spec, and distortion looks good at both 86dB and 96dB, holding up well even with a high-pass filter applied. At its sale price (around $900/pair, down from full retail), the reviewer calls it a “no-brainer,” undercutting comparable budget floorstanders like the ELAC DF63. Frequency response and directivity mismatches are largely EQ-able, since most of what shows up in measurements traces to physical tweeter/mid-range separation rather than a fundamental flaw. Compression is fairly well controlled for the price - about 1dB of loss around 100Hz under long-term compression, described as “par for the course” at this cost.
Cons: F3 of 61Hz and F10 of 39Hz mean a subwoofer is needed for real bass extension. A dip in the lower midrange/2-3kHz region reduces attack and detail, and a peak around 5kHz adds some edge and sibilance in the lower treble. A peak in off-axis energy around 3kHz reflects off sidewalls at roughly 60-70° off-axis and arrives louder than the direct sound - this specific issue can’t be fixed with EQ (boosting the direct sound would boost the stronger reflection too) and would need acoustic absorption to properly address, though the reviewer considers it a minor, optional fix at this price. A couple of minor resonances appear in the impedance plot, including one around 300Hz that may partly explain a subtle sense of vocal warmth noticed in listening, though it’s more likely room-related. Minimum impedance around 3.8 ohms. Short-term compression testing shows some increased distortion in the tweeter and higher-frequency compression at loud output.
Full Revel Concerta2 F35 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 40.3"H x 8.4"W x 12.2"D (1023.6 x 213.4 x 309.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 3x 5.25" deep anodized aluminum cone woofers, 1" Aluminum Tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (3.8 ohms minimum, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 89.4dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner; 90dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 41 lbs / 18.6 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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Q Acoustics 5040: $1,236.49 Amazon
Pros: C3 (Continuous Curved Cone) driver profile technology provides smooth midrange integration, controlled cone breakup, and improved bass damping. High voltage sensitivity (91.5dB SPL at 2.83V/1m) allows loud listening with low-to-moderate amplifier wattage. Cabinet features Point-to-Point (P2P) internal bracing and Helmholtz Pressure Equalizer (HPE) tubes to suppress internal standing waves and panel vibrations.
Cons: 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. Measurements indicate an enclosure resonance near 300Hz visible in sound power data. Minimum impedance drops to 3.0 ohms, demanding a stable 4-ohm rated amplifier despite high sensitivity.
Full Q Acoustics 5040 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 38.1"H x 11.5"W x 14.2"D (967 x 293 x 361 mm) |
| Drivers | 0.88 in. decoupled dome tweeter, twin 5.0 in. C3 Continuous Curved Cone woofers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (3.0 ohms minimum, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 91.5dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 39.7 lbs / 18.0 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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