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Q Acoustics 5020 vs Wharfedale Denton 85 Comparison

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Q Acoustics 5020

Passive Bookshelf | 53-30k Hz

Q Acoustics 5020
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Wharfedale Denton 85

Passive Bookshelf | 45-20k Hz

Wharfedale Denton 85
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Q Acoustics 5020 Q Acoustics 5020
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Wharfedale Denton 85 Wharfedale Denton 85
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Q Acoustics 5020
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Wharfedale Denton 85
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Q Acoustics 5020 vs Wharfedale Denton 85 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Q Acoustics 5020 and Denton 85, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and Wharfedale.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Q Acoustics 5020 and Wharfedale Denton 85 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Q Acoustics 5020 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-dome Tweeter
  • 5" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer
  • 53-30k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87.9 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:25-100watts
  • Weight:7.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 286.0" x 7-1/8" x 11-1/2"( 286.0 x 181.0 x 293.0mm )

Wharfedale Denton 85 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer
  • 45-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:20-120watts
  • Weight:9.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 342.0" x 9-7/16" x 11-15/16"( 342.0 x 240.0 x 304.0mm )

What size room are the Q Acoustics 5020 and Wharfedale Denton 85 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* Q Acoustics 5020 Wharfedale Denton 85
Near-field Average Poor
Small Room Good Average
Mid-size Room Average Good
Large Room Poor Average
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Q Acoustics 5020 and Wharfedale Denton 85 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Q Acoustics 5020 and Denton 85 are 2-way speakers.

Driver Q Acoustics 5020 Wharfedale Denton 85
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 5-inch 1 x 6.5-inch

Q Acoustics 5020 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz. On the other hand, the Denton 85 features a 1" woven textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz.

Frequency Response

Q Acoustics 5020 has a frequency range of 53-30k Hz whereas Denton 85 has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Denton 85 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q Acoustics 5020's min frequency of 53Hz.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Q Acoustics 5020
Denton 85
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Q Acoustics 5020
Wharfedale Denton 85
Min
Average
Max

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

Q Acoustics 5020 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Denton 85 which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 Denton 85 can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Q Acoustics 5020 sensitivity is rated at 87.9 dB and the Denton 85's is rated at 88 dB.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Q Acoustics 5020
Denton 85
Min
Average
Max

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.

Q Acoustics 5020 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q Acoustics 5020 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the Denton 85.

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.

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

Denton 85 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q Acoustics 5020 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Q Acoustics 5020 Terminals
Q Acoustics 5020's Binding post terminals

Wharfedale Denton 85 Terminals
Wharfedale Denton 85's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Q Acoustics 5020 and Denton 85 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.

If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.

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 Q Acoustics 5020's and Wharfedale Denton 85's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 5020 has external dimensions of 286.0 x 181.0 x 293.0mm ( 11-1/4nch x 7-1/8inch x 11-1/2inch ) whereas Wharfedale Denton 85 has external dimensions of 342.0 x 240.0 x 304.0mm ( 13-7/16 x 9-7/16 x 11-15/16inch) .

Wharfedale Denton 85 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 59mm wider, 56mm taller and 11mm deeper than Q Acoustics 5020.

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 Q Acoustics 5020 is approximately 530.3cm2 / 82.2inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale Denton 85 is approximately 729.6cm2 / 113.1inch2. The Q Acoustics 5020 requires 27% less surface area than the Denton 85 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

Weight Comparison

The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Q Acoustics 5020 weighs 7.00kg / 15.4lbs and the Wharfedale Denton 85 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs. This makes the Denton 85 29% heavier than the Q Acoustics 5020.

Here is a comparison of how Q Acoustics 5020 and Denton 85's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Q Acoustics 5020
Wharfedale Denton 85
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 5020?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q Acoustics 5020:
  • 2x 5020 loudspeaker
  • 1x Owners manual
  • 2x Foam bung
  • What's in the Box of Wharfedale Denton 85?

    Here are the items that come with the Denton 85:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
  • 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • Pair of white cloth gloves
  • User Manual

  • Reasons to choose Q Acoustics 5020 over Wharfedale Denton 85
    Nominal Impedance 6 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    High Frequency Response 30k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 286mm vs 342mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 530cm2 vs 729cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 899USD vs 999USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Wharfedale Denton 85 over Q Acoustics 5020

    Max Input Power 120 watts vs 100 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Minimum Impedance 3.8 ohms vs 3.3 ohms Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 45 Hz vs 53 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Q Acoustics 5020 vs Wharfedale Denton 85 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Q Acoustics 5020 Wharfedale Denton 85
    Brand Q Acoustics Wharfedale
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 25-100 watts 20-120 watts
    Sensitivity 87.9 dB 88 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 4 ohms
    Impedance 3.3 ohms 3.8 ohms
    Frequency Response 53-30k Hz 45-20k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 5" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Continuous Curved Cone Woven Kevlar
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Soft-dome Soft-Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 2500 Hz 3100Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 286.0mm (11.3") 342.0mm (13.5")
    Width 181.0mm (7.1") 240.0mm (9.4")
    Depth 293.0mm (11.5") 304.0mm (12")
    Weight 7.00kg (15.4lbs) 9.00kg (19.8lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Relfex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF MDF/Wood Veneer
    Available Colors Holme Oak,Satin Black,Satin White,Santos Rosewood Walnut, Mahogany, Black
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height n/a 24-28"
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 years 5 Years

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