In this review, we will be comparing Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB and Q Acoustics 5050, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Elac and Q Acoustics. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Elac Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB and Q Acoustics 5050 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Elac Solano 2.0 FS287.2-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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Elac Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB and Q Acoustics 5050 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB is a 3-way design whereas the Q Acoustics 5050 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Elac Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB |
Q Acoustics 5050 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB features a " JET 6 AMT Tweeter and 2 x 6" AS XR cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz. On the other hand, the Q Acoustics 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 FS287.2-GB has a frequency range of 30-50k Hz whereas Q Acoustics 5050 has a frequency range of 39-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q Acoustics 5050's min frequency of 37Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Elac Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Q Acoustics 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 FS287.2-GB can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Q Acoustics 5050's is rated at 91.5 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 5050 a more sensitive speaker compared to Elac Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB has a max power handling value of 170 watts RMS , 5 watts less than the Q Acoustics 5050.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB has a bottom firing port whereas Q Acoustics 5050 has a rear firing ports. Elac Solano 2.0 FS287.2-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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 FS287.2-GB's and Q Acoustics 5050's external dimensions. Elac Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB has external dimensions of 985 x 260 x 300 mm ( 38.78 x 10.2 x 12 inches) whereas Q Acoustics 5050 has external dimensions of 1017 x 366 x 336 mm ( 40.0 x 15.2 x 13.2 in) .
Q Acoustics 5050 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 106mm wider, 32mm taller and 36mm deeper than Elac Solano 2.0 FS287.2-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 FS287.2-GB is approximately 780.0cm2 / 120.9inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 5050 is approximately 1229.8cm2 / 190.6inch2. The Solano 2.0 FS287.2-GB requires 37% less surface area than the Q Acoustics 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 Q Acoustics 5050:
1x 5050 loudspeaker1x Owners manual 2x Foam bung4x Spike feet 4x Spike cover 4x M5 screw 2x Rear stabiliser