Verdict
The Q Acoustics M40 is another merriment and thoroughly engaging talker system that plays nicely with a range of source . This micro tower is wanton to reconcile , less prominently hullo - fi in its look , and packs a ample , warm performance . However , it ’s not the sharp or most defined sound for those looking for the furthest fidelity .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
While 3D audio formatting such as Dolby Atmos extend to draw attention , do n’t discount the re - emersion of two - channel audio , a ( sonic ) wave the Q Acoustics M40 looks to channel-surf on .
Q Acoustics ’ in vogue stereo system is a ‘ micro tugboat ’ which it hopes will produce a new space within the speaker market .
It ’s a talker arrangement that looks to meet in with the rest of your furniture , delivering big elbow room - filling audio as either a soundbar replacement or a system of rules for a 2d room .
Design
The Q Acoustic M40 make a controversy for the lifestyle mart as the type of loudspeaker that could thwart the divide between hi - fi and casual users . That journey start with its aesthetics , and at 710 mm magniloquent it ’s less daunting and blazing than a traditional floorstanding speaker would be .
What may be a hobgoblin for some is the cable’s length that attach both Speaker . The M40 is n’t fully wireless in the manner of the PSB Alpha IQ , though whether a connect cable is a hardship is down to whether you like your space devoid of trailing cable . Hiding it behind a tv set / rack stand ensures it ’ll be out of sightandout of head .
Provided in three finishes ( sinister , white , and walnut ) , the M40 is a speaker system that feels self-coloured and sizable as well as looking smart . The front baffle ca n’t be detach – not a decision that bothers me , though some may opt to have the option .
On the powered speaker are the connection and onboard controls for volume and input selection . catch the LED sitting down is a little tricky , though more or less easy than it was with theM20 HD .
On the rear is a bass port for managing lowly frequencies . set the M40 near a back rampart and it ’ll reenforce the bass – if you need to tone down it down there are froth bung to occupy it up .
There are rear stabilisers in the packaging , and so effective is the packaging that they are voiceless to find at first . spike and cover are provided for the aerofoil you ’re localize the speakers on , and setup takes well over ten minute , so perhaps bring a cup of tea for when you need a break .
Features
Connections cover optic digital , USB ( eccentric B ) , 3.5 millimeter analog , and two phono input , along with a hoagy output . That allows for connection to a goggle box ( or any twist with an optic larboard ) , turntable , laptop , or the opening of adding a subwoofer .
The USB - B connection is a footling bunglesome , as it ’s not as popular as eccentric - A ( at least to my knowledge ) . Q Acoustics does n’t include a cable ( or an optical cable for that matter ) , but if you have a printer , it likely has the transmission line you want . Or you may buy one from QED .
There ’s no provision forHDMI ARC , but digital ocular supports PCM , Dolby Digital and DTS stereo formatting , and as this is a two - channel setup , it ’s not ahugeissue . But it would have been welcome to have it .
The remote control is the same as the one that shipped with the M20 , with buttons for volume , playback , muting , track skipping , and input signal selection . It ’s a childlike function , though sometimes push button need a poke to get a response , and it requires line of sight to maneuver .
Having this distant means you ’ll have to keep racecourse of two controls if the M40 is connected to a boob tube . Pressing deaf-and-dumb person on the television set remote does n’t maintain control over the speakers , nor does turning on the television set mechanically power the utterer .
More of an issue is figuring out the speakers ’ volume level . Volume readjustment do n’t register on a television set , and there ’s no means of tell how quiet or loud the speaker is other than encounter sound recording .
There ’s no Wi - Fi compatibility , which skips another layer of convenience disregardless of whether the M40 is viewed as a soundbar replacement or a 2nd way system . Wi - Fi feel more intact to how-do-you-do - fi ’s current instruction than it did when the M20 HD launched in 2021 .
Nevertheless , there ’s Bluetooth 5 supporting with SBC , AAC , aptX , aptX Low Latency andaptX HDcompatibility , though aptX HD is a lossy rather lossless audio format , which stand for datum is lost over transmission despite aptX HD ’s ability to stomach sound up to 24 - bit/48kHz .
The USB input is your proficient bet for highest quality playback as it support files up to 24 - bit/192kHz ( as does the optic input ) , and it ’s not impacted by streaming issues or hindrance .
The EQ switch on the Q Active 200 model is back , allowing the user to switch between sound profiles depending on the system ’s positioning ( i.e. near a wall ) . Peak power is 2 x 100W ( or 2 x 50W uninterrupted into 4ohms ) ; and the system can convey a wide frequency response of 38Hz – 22kHz .
Sound Quality
Given the Q Acoustics M40 ’s flexibleness , let ’s start with its TV performance . It ’s in - demarcation with what Q Acoustics established with its M20 HD and5000 series : a fond , smooth - sounding performance with a grievous , rich approach to describing bass .
It describes film and TV series with a wide-cut , spacious soundstage that sport depth with its stereo imaging . Its soundstage is also magniloquent than I look , though not Atmos in any signifier , as the spinner descends onto Sapper Morton ’s farm in Blade Runner 2049 it get over from above the TV before settle down in the middle of the concealment . Who says you need Atmos for ingress ?
However , like with other “ hi - fi ” speakers I ’ve essay that connect to a TV , I find sound do n’t always escape the cabinet . The cabinet is a gruelling plosive speech sound , and no sounds pass beyond it to offer the breadth of the soundstage further . I can always tell when a sound comes from the storage locker itself because it sounds a little unlike .
The midrange is swimmingly described , though the warmth impacts the M40 ’s stage of asperity and definition . Despite that , voices are consistently clear , and the M40 captures the cadency and flexion of voices well , while position of dialog across the screen is well done .
With virile voices in aNetflixstream of Spider - Man : No Way Home there ’s a slim bassy inflection to the like of Dr Strange and Dr Octopus . But at least with both manful and distaff articulation , the Q Acoustics M40 ’s eloquence means it does n’t return into a spirant ambuscade .
John Wick : Chapter 4 and Blade Runner 2049 are ripe showcases for the DOE , scurf , and power the Q Acoustics M40 can gather . The bassy music score in the Osaka Continental scenery from John Wick has biff and power , while there ’s a nice meatiness to the volley of smash Donnie Zen ’s Cane deliver in the action sequence .
With 2049 the M40 sink its tooth into the film ’s dynamic range – at least at the low close of the spectrum – with powerful , room - agitate basso that allow for plenty of force to the slug distribute by K to Sapper in their fight . The M40 is n’t leaden - footed with its bass carrying into action either , diligently describing boastful , small , punchy or soft downcast oftenness notes .
While there ’s skillful clearness and particular at the top end , I receive the smoothness of the M40 ’s performance does n’t elicit the frosty or sharpest sense of detail .
The crisp ringing sound in the ‘ Interlinked ’ view from 2049 sound dulled , while a fight fructify among Nipponese art in John Wick . which sees both the championship type and in high spirits Table soldiers place careering through Methedrine walls , lacks crispness . Gunshots show swimmingly , lacking the snappiness and blast that would give the mids and highs more clout and bite .
Dynamically , the M40 is rather broad , aim slightly louder or quieter ; though panning across the soundstage is strong in a series such as Netflix ’s Drive to Survive . In the end , the M40 ’s performance is leagues dependable than a TV ’s ramp up - in loudspeaker system .
With music there are a few potential ways of getting audio to the speaker : Bluetooth , the USB input , or cyclosis to a attached television receiver and sending it down the 24 - bit/192kHz optical connection .
So I start with aQobuz24 - bit/44.1kHz stream ( Chromecast ) of Better Oblivion Community Centre ’s Did n’t Know What I Was In For delivered via aSony X85L. Sound quality is laconic , with safe stratum of midrange detail , and rich freshwater bass that offer lick to low frequencies .
It ’s a reminder the M40 ’s nonremittal delivery is a wide , powerful sound that fills a way . With Sleepwalkin ’ there ’s good slam to the bass that afford the track , further emboldened by meaty hit of the percussion . Moving to boygenius ’ $ 20 , and playback is infectiously energetic , though it ’s worth note that through the boob tube , the M40 can sound a little too acuate .
Switching to a Bluetooth connection and playback is smoother , clearer in some ways with less sharpness unmistakable . Bass is n’t as weighty or punchy , but the result is a more balanced hearing experience . I find the M40 an piquant , frequently fun - sound audio system .
With GoGo Penguin ’s Atomised , the soprano is nicely bright , even though it sound somewhat rolled off . With Andreas Ihlebæk ’s Come Summer , the M40 ’s Bluetooth performance is again bright , though lack a degree of definition . play the same racecourse through the TV via Wi - Fi ( Tidal Connect ) and I pick up more point and clarity .
plug a laptop into the USB input and the M40 ’s tone does n’t castrate . Listening to a FLAC file of Phoebe Bridgers ’ Punisher , the Q Acoustics M40 commits to its warm - phone , boasting undecomposed clearness to Bridgers ’ voice and fertile bass voice . I ’ll reprise that it ’s not the sharpest or the most defined listen but if you ’re still read that likely does n’t bother you .
Switching to the WMA data file of Isfar Sarabski ’s Planet and while brightness register at the top end it ’s aligned with the speaker ’s natural heat that ensue in a slightly rolled - off sound . Regardless , there ’s a adorable fat clarity and sport to its gamy frequency execution that I chance engaging .
The pleximetry and hi - hat cymbals in Limping Stranger miss the brittleness I ’m looking for , but the next path in Swan Lake provides another reminder of the M40 ’s qualities with an self-asserting bass performance . The Q Acoustics M40 , like the M20 HD before it , is never less than a thoroughly entertaining verbaliser organisation when in full flow .
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Should you buy it?
Not interested in immersive audio ? Then perhaps a speaker such as the M40 is for you , especially as it can operate both as a freestanding organisation or one that connect to a TV .
The lack of Wi - Fi andHDMI ARCare fly in the unction in terms of convenience . The lack of the former is particularly notable , with Q Acoustics seemingly courting more of a casual / life style audience with this loudspeaker system .
Final Thoughts
The Q Acoustics M40 is another hefty and rent speaker system , but its warm - sounding profile mean it ’s not the sharpest or most define carrying into action . If that does n’t annoy you , I think you ’ll greatly apprize the performance here .
The flexibility of the speaker system of rules is another aspect to moot as you’re able to hook it up to a TV or a turntable , punch a source in through USB or stream via Bluetooth . Wi - Fi compatibility would have been nice for convenience saki though .
This micro tower can do plenty , maybe not all I ’d desire in the way I ’d desire , but in damage of opening up a newfangled space within the market , I think Q Acoustics is onto a succeeder with the M40 .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every speaker organization we review exhaustively over an extended period of metre . We utilize industriousness standard tests to compare features right . We ’ll always tell you what we encounter . We never , ever , accept money to review a Cartesian product .
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FAQs
There are n’t any cable accessories included with the M40 , so if you ’re proceed to use either the USB or opthalmic digital cable , you ’ll need to purchase them .
