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.
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.
