Q Acoustics Announces Its All New 2000 Series

Q Acoustics is a brand of Armour Home; their category manager Tony Jones said: "Following the astonishing success of our original 1000 and 1000i ranges, we have again challenged the world's most renowned loudspeaker designers to engineer a new range that delivers both unrivalled sonic performance and breathtaking value for money. We wanted the new 2000 Series to be the very best affordable loudspeakers ever produced."

"And this time we wanted them to look very stylish as well." added Mr Jones.

He went on to say: "After undertaking considerable research, they reported they were confident they could achieve this ambitious goal, but only if they were allowed to incorporate the very latest advances in design and materials. They would also require unlimited access to an anechoic chamber and other state-of-the-art technology, including finite element analysis and laser spectrometry."

Concluding, Tony Jones said: "Naturally we agreed."

The all new '2000 Series' loudspeakers from Q Acoustics are just that; All new!

Every part of the new speakers is bespoke, optimised specifically for each new model. The tweeter, bass/midrange drivers, magnets, cone mass, cone rigidity, cone material, crossovers, terminal panel and fully braced cabinets are all designed with the sole purpose of creating the very best performing, lowest distortion, affordable loudspeakers available.

Each model boasts the same excellent, low distortion, ferro-fluid cooled, tweeter. To avoid cabinet resonances, the tweeter is isolated from the front baffle and, to further reduce distortion, its advanced 25mm micro polyester weave dome is ventilated both on the surround and on the dome itself. This reduces distortion by helping the tweeter maintain mechanical integrity by restricting the range of temperatures it endures.

The cone material of the new bass/midrange drivers is a paper/Mica mixture which was found, after extensive testing, to be the optimum material. Its near perfect balance of stiffness and damping delivers ultra low distortion in parallel with an outstanding transient response and astonishing dynamics.
'Finite Element Analysis' was employed to create cones with an exceptionally smooth frequency roll off. This reduces the necessity for compensating components in the crossover circuitry and the inevitable loss of detail.
Naturally, every model benefits from an acoustic fourth order Linkwitz/Riley crossover, to eliminate any phase variations at the crossover frequency.
To further optimise performance, the advanced design of each drive unit's magnet incorporates aluminium compensation rings, reducing distortion through a reduction of inductance modulation.

Laser spectrometry has been used to identify and then minimise cabinet resonances by the careful use of multi-thickness panels, internal bracing and damping materials. The particularly sweet high frequency response, obvious in all models, was particularly improved by the introduction of double layered top panels to every cabinet. To reduce colouration, all 2000 Series cabinets are rear ported. 'Port bungs' are provided, to optimise bass response when the speakers are positioned very close to a wall.

Unusually at its price level, the Model 2070 subwoofer is a completely DSP (Digital Signal Processing) driven system with highly efficient class D amplification. However this has meant we have been able to achieve an advanced level of functionality, as well as optimising the sonic performance, by undertaking all filtering and limiting completely in the digital domain. An example is the 'Speaker Type' function switch, which alters the characteristic of the subwoofer's frequency response at the crossover point. This allows the subwoofer to be optimised for use with either 'ported' speakers, like the rest of the Q Acoustics range, or infinite baffle models.

The subwoofer's twin 170mm bespoke drive units are driven by two matched mono power amplifiers, producing a combined 140 watts. However the switched mode power supply consumes a mere 2 watts when in 'Standby' mode.

The appearance of the new Q2000 Series makes a striking design statement.

All the cabinet dimensions have changed, so each speaker appears to present a slimmer and deeper profile. As well as traditional 'Graphite Black' and 'Walnut' finishes, at a small extra cost, the new 2000 models are available in beautiful 'Piano Gloss Black' and 'Piano Gloss White' finishes.

To further enhance visual impact, all speaker cable terminals are mounted on a recessed plate on the bottom of each speaker (excluding the 2070 Subwoofer). Not only does this look far better, because there are no speaker cables protruding from the rear of the cabinet, but it also enables the speaker to be placed very close to a rear wall, without the speaker terminals or cable getting in the way.

Whether it's for stereo or a home cinema system, consumers are increasingly choosing to wall mount their speakers. But of course, they want a method of fixing that is simple to use, offers flexible positioning, hides the cables and looks great. Needless to say, Q Acoustics' design team have engineered the ideal solution. The new 2000WB is a unique 'Tilt and Turn' loudspeaker bracket, which is adjusted via a single Allen bolt, and allows the 2010, 2020 and 2000C models to mounted almost flat to the wall, angled down and/or sideways. Unusually, each bracket comes complete with a matching bottom plate that neatly covers all the terminals and cables for a perfect visual finish.

The new Q Acoustics 2000 Series will be available from authorised stockists throughout the UK and worldwide from October 2009.