Q Acoustics M40

Is the Q Acoustics M40 worth buying?

Yes, if your room is small and you have no separate amplifier: the Q Acoustics M40 costs £499 and brings a powered floorstanding pair with 200W peak, Bluetooth 5.0 and a turntable input in one order. It stands only 71 cm high, so it fits under a window or beside a sofa where a 98 cm tower would crowd the space. The catch is the record: 21 buyers rate it 3.9, and at the same £499 the Q Acoustics 3050i pair brings larger 165 mm drivers and a 4.5 score from 119 buyers.

What does the Q Acoustics M40's 200W peak power actually deliver?

The M40 runs 2 x 100W peak and 2 x 50W continuous from its built-in amplifier, which is the number that decides how loud it plays before it strains. Continuous power is the figure that matters for long listening, and 50W per channel into two 125 mm (5 in) mid/bass drivers is enough for a small room, not a large open-plan floor. Bass reaches down to 38 Hz, which is deep for a cabinet only 71 cm tall.

Streaming runs over Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD and aptX Low Latency, at up to 24bit/48kHz, from a phone, laptop or tablet within 10 metres. A 22 mm tweeter handles the treble, and the powered cabinet drives the passive one through the supplied speaker cable. If you want more low end, the M40 has an output for a subwoofer.

What comes in the box with the Q Acoustics M40?

The box holds one powered speaker, one passive speaker, a remote handset with batteries, 13.1 feet of speaker cable and a 5.9 foot power cord. Q Acoustics also includes four rear stabilisers, eight M5 screws, eight spike feet with covers, two foam bungs and a user manual. Each cabinet measures 71 cm high, 25 cm wide and 30 cm deep.

The powered cabinet weighs 27 lbs 5 oz and the passive one 26 lb, so shifting the pair between rooms is a two-trip job. A 5 year manufacturer warranty covers the electronics and drivers. There is no optical cable or subwoofer in the box, and the M40 needs a 230V mains socket at the powered cabinet.

Where do the Q Acoustics M40 fall short?

The biggest limitation is the amplifier you cannot change: the M40's built-in 2 x 50W continuous output sets a ceiling that a separate hi-fi amplifier would not. Its 125 mm (5 in) mid/bass drivers move less air than the 165 mm drivers on the Q Acoustics 3050i, so a large room or a film with deep effects will sound thinner. The 3.9 average from 21 buyers is the weakest record in this price bracket.

The M40 is not water resistant, so it belongs indoors only, and it needs mains power at the powered cabinet, which limits where the pair can sit. Bluetooth range is 10 metres, which covers one room but not a whole house. There is no built-in MP3 player, so playback comes from Bluetooth or a wired source.

How does the Q Acoustics M40 compare with the Q Acoustics 3050i?

Against the Q Acoustics 3050i at the same £499, the M40 gives up driver size and sensitivity: 125 mm (5 in) mid/bass drivers against 165 mm (6.5 in), and a 3.9 average from 21 buyers against 4.5 from 119. The 3050i brings 91 dB sensitivity, so it plays louder and with more mid-bass weight, while the M40 reaches 38 Hz from a smaller cabinet. Choose the M40 only if you have no amplifier, because the 3050i is passive and needs one.

The Fenton SHF700B costs £339.10 less at £159.90 and gives you two 400W towers with dual 6.5-inch woofers, plus a 4.4 average from 194 buyers. It is passive, so it needs an amplifier and cable, which the M40 avoids. If you already own an amplifier, the SHF700B is the value pick; if you do not, the M40 is the one that plays out of the box.