In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers. Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the 5050 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB and Q Acoustics 5050 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB | Q Acoustics 5050 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | JET 6 AMT | 1" Soft-dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" AS XR cone | 2 x 6" Continuous Curved Cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-50k Hz | 39-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 91.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 100 watts | 25-175 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs | 21.60kg / 47.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13" x 7.5" x 9.8"
331 x 190 x 248 mm | 43.3" x 12.6" x 17.3"
1100.0 x 320.0 x 439.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB and Q Acoustics 5050 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB |
Q Acoustics 5050 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB and 5050 are 2-way speakers.
Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GBQ Acoustics 5050
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB |
Q Acoustics 5050 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB features a " JET 6 AMT Tweeter and 1 x 6" AS XR cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz. On the other hand, the 5050 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 2 x 6" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700 Hz.
Frequency Response
Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB has a frequency range of 41-50k Hz whereas 5050 has a frequency range of 39-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the 5050 can go slightly deeper then the Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB's min frequency of 41Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 5050 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the 5050's is rated at 91.5 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 5050 a more sensitive speaker compared to Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
5050 can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS, whereas Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the 5050.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB has a bottom firing port whereas 5050 has a rear firing ports. Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Q Acoustics 5050 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB's and Q Acoustics 5050's external dimensions. Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB has external dimensions of 331 x 190 x 248 mm (13 x 7.5 x 9.76 inches) whereas Q Acoustics 5050 has external dimensions of 1100.0 x 320.0 x 439.0mm (40.0 x 15.2 x 13.2 in).
Q Acoustics 5050 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 130mm wider, 769mm taller and 191mm deeper than Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB is approximately 471.2cm2 / 73.0inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 5050 is approximately 1404.8cm2 / 217.7inch2. The Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB requires 66% less surface area than the 5050 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 5050?
Here are the items that come with the 5050:
- 1x 5050 loudspeaker
- 1x Owners manual
- 2x Foam bung
- 4x Spike feet
- 4x Spike cover
- 4x M5 screw
- 2x Rear stabiliser