Q Acoustics 3040c Floorstanding Speakers Satin White (Pair)

The 3040c is a slim floorstander for rooms where a full-size tower would dominate, 942mm tall but only 170mm wide across the cabinet. It sits in the Q Acoustics 3000c range between the 3030c large bookshelf model and the full-size 3050c, and carries the same C³ driver technology and braced cabinet construction as the rest of the series.

C³ Continuous Curved Cone Drivers

Two 120mm C³ (Continuous Curved Cone) mid/bass drivers handle the low end and the midrange. The C³ profile combines the bass performance benefits of a traditional straight conic cone with the midrange control of a flared design; by running a single continuous curve, Q Acoustics achieves well-controlled dispersion, a well-controlled frequency response and seamless integration with the tweeter. The geometry demands exceptional motor strength, so substantial magnets are coupled to the voice coils to keep dynamic response and bass articulation in hand. Those magnets also reduce harmonic distortion by ensuring near-saturation of the pole plate and yoke.

Isolated High-Frequency Driver

The 22mm high-frequency unit follows the tweeter design principle found in the Q Acoustics Concept series. It is hermetically sealed and mechanically isolated from the baffle, so internal cabinet pressure and vibration from the adjacent C³ drivers cannot modulate its behaviour. The inner chamber is vented for lower distortion, and a lower crossover point of 2.4kHz gives a seamless handover throughout the crossover region.

Cabinet Engineering

P2P (Point to Point) bracing stiffens the specific parts of the enclosure that need support, making the cabinet exceptionally rigid, improving the focus of the stereo image and giving the soundstage greater accuracy. Like all floorstanding designs, the 3040c is also vulnerable to internal pressure build-up that causes standing waves and colouration, so HPE (Helmholtz Pressure Equaliser) tubes are fitted inside the cabinet to nullify that pressure and improve the frequency response.

Setup and Finish

Effective cabinet volume is 26.8 litres and each speaker weighs 14.6kg. Rear stabilisers, spike feet, spike covers and fixings are supplied, along with speaker grilles and foam bungs. Nominal impedance is 6 ohms with a 4 ohm minimum, sensitivity is 88.0dB, and Q Acoustics recommends amplification between 25 and 120 watts, so the 3040c will work happily with entry-level amplification while still rewarding a more capable partner. This pair is finished in Satin White, one of four finishes alongside Satin Black, Claro Walnut and Pin Oak, and the driver surrounds use satin metallic trims.