Q Acoustics 1020i review

Good speakers in many ways, but short of the verve that marks out the best Tested at £139.90

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Good speakers in so many ways – yet they fall short of the verve that marks out the very best

Pros

  • +

    Handsome, well-finished speakers

  • +

    go loud

  • +

    large-scale, detailed sound

Cons

  • -

    Lack some low-end control

  • -

    not the most exciting

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

There's nothing wrong with being grown-up and mature: no-one wants the country run by adolescents, just as no-one wants policemen to look any younger. The problem comes when ‘grown-up and mature' is a conscious stance rather than a natural evolution, and that's what we think has happened to the Q Acoustics 1020is.

It sounds like some Q Acoustician has decided that the 1020is are going to offer a more considered, less flighty take on the 1010i sound – so we have a speaker that's had maturity forced upon it.

New tweeters
The 1020is have followed the same upgrade path as their little brothers – compared with the old 1020s they have a new tweeter, new crossover, and upgraded capacitors. They share the same integrity of build and the same excellence of finish, and even though they're significantly larger than their siblings, the 1020is are still usefully compact and still relaxed about room position.

A brief listen to Reverend and the Makers' The State of Things is enough to confirm the similarities and differences between the old 1020s and these reworked replacements. There's still admirable scale to the sound, and still a willingness to accept injudicious volumes, they still retrieve ample levels of detail and still offer a considered, well-integrated sound. And that new tweeter means the 1020is are now better voiced in the treble.

However, there's a lack of dynamic energy to their sound, a reluctance to attack material with the gusto it sometimes requires. The Q Acoustics don't lack low-frequency presence, but do without the grip and control that most rivals at this price.

It's a fine line between maturity and lassitude sometimes, and the 1020is aren't always sure which side they're on.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


Read more about how we test