Q Acoustics Concept 20 Bookshelf Speakers Review

Q Acoustics doesn’t have as many speaker models as some bigger brands, but their products have still won major awards. The Concept 20 speakers are a special case; they don’t belong to any regular series, which shows how unique they are. They even come with specially designed stands to match.

The Concept 20 takes some styling cues, like the rounded edges, from Q Acoustics’ 2000i series, but the design has been changed a lot. The most important difference is how the speaker box (the cabinet) is built. Instead of using just one box like most speakers, the designers made two boxes, one inside the other, and filled the space between them with a special gel-like material that never fully dries.

This material absorbs vibrations from the inner box and turns them into heat, so the outer box doesn’t vibrate or “sing” along with the music. A similar approach is sometimes used in high-end systems, especially in the high and low frequencies, where unwanted vibrations are reduced by up to 10 decibels.

This technology is called Gelcore. The Concept 20 speakers come with a 2-way design, which means that they have two types of drivers: one for high frequencies and one for mid/low frequencies.

The tweeter (for high frequencies) is separated from the front panel by a soft ring that helps reduce vibrations. It has a 25 mm fabric dome, and its voice coil is cooled with magnetic fluid to improve performance and reliability.

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For the mid and low frequencies, there’s a new 125 mm driver. The cone (or diffuser) seems to be made from a polymer material. This speaker uses a bass reflex system, with the port (hole for airflow) located at the back of the cabinet to enhance bass output. On the back, you’ll also find two pairs of large screw terminals, allowing for bi-wiring or bi-amping.

The included stand isn’t just for looks; it’s built with an anti-resonance layer to reduce vibrations. It has a clear wing-shaped base with spikes for extra stability and a modern appearance.

The Concept 20 speakers model surprised with their sound, which can best be described as emotional and engaging. They offer a wide dynamic range, easily revealing the softest whispers and the most powerful musical peaks with clarity. The elaboration of details is at a height, allowing you to hear every subtle nuance in the music.

The soundstage feels open, clean, and spacious, giving a real sense of the environment, like room echoes, background noises, and natural reverberation. The instruments and vocals sound clear and natural, with each one perfectly placed in the mix.

The high frequencies are a real highlight: they’re smooth, free of harshness, yet fully present, adding sparkle and richness to the overall tone without becoming fatiguing. While the bass doesn’t go extremely deep, it doesn’t feel like something is missing. Instead, the sound has a light, joyful character that many listeners will find refreshing and musical.

The Q Acoustics Concept 20 delivers a remarkably smooth and balanced sound, with clear, artifact-free highs that stand out. The bass does taper off at lower frequencies, which gives it a slightly lighter feel, but it still sounds crisp and musical thanks to impressively low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) down to 50–60 Hz. This clarity is a testament to the Gelcore cabinet technology, which keeps distortion minimal even when you crank up the volume.

That said, the speaker’s impedance swings quite a bit across frequencies, making it a bit tricky for some amplifiers to handle. To get the best performance, you’ll want to pair it with a solid amplifier that has good control.

Conclusion

The Q Acoustics Concept 20 speakers combine beautiful design with advanced engineering, thanks to their Gelcore cabinet. These speakers deliver sound that’s clean, detailed, and full of emotion. While the bass isn’t the deep as my expectations, the overall listening experience is immersive and refined. Pair these speakers with a quality amplifier, and they truly come to life. If you’re a music lover who prefers a more balanced sound without heavy bass, like me, then you’ll appreciate their natural, detailed, and captivating presentation. For the price, the sound quality they deliver feels like an absolute steal.

Q Acoustics Concept 20 Specifications

Type: 2-way bookshelf speaker
Enclosure Type: Gelcore™ construction with rear-firing bass reflex port
Bass/Midrange Driver: 125 mm (5″) advanced low-diffraction cone
High-Frequency Driver: 25 mm (1″) soft dome tweeter with magnetic fluid cooling
Frequency Response: 64 Hz – 22 kHz
Crossover Frequency: 2.9 kHz
Sensitivity: 88 dB (2.83V @ 1m)
Nominal Impedance: 6 Ohms
Minimum Impedance: ~4 Ohms
Recommended Amplifier Power: 25 – 75 watts
Dimensions (H × W × D): 265 × 170 × 282 mm (10.4 × 6.7 × 11.1 in)
Weight: 5.6 kg (12.3 lbs) each
Bi-Wiring Capability: Yes (dual binding posts)
Stands: Dedicated Concept 20 stands with anti-resonance design (optional or included in some bundles)
Finish Options: High gloss lacquered finishes – white or black