In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Q Acoustics. Q Acoustics 5090 is a Center Channel speaker whereas the Q Acoustics 5050 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 5090 and Q Acoustics 5050 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Q Acoustics 5090 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-dome Tweeter
- 2 x 4.5" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer
- 57-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 90.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Weight:8.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 166.0" x 16-15/16" x 9-5/8"( 166.0 x 431.0 x 245.0mm )
Q Acoustics 5050 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-dome Tweeter
- 2 x 6" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer
- 39-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 91.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-175watts
- Weight:21.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1017.0" x 15.2" x 13.2"( 1017 x 366 x 336 mm )
Q Acoustics 5090 and Q Acoustics 5050 are members of Q Acoustics's 5000 series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Q Acoustics 5000 Series History
What size room are the Q Acoustics 5090 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* |
Q Acoustics 5090 |
Q Acoustics 5050 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 5090 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.
**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 5090 and Q Acoustics 5050 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Q Acoustics 5090 |
Q Acoustics 5050 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.5-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
Q Acoustics 5090 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 2 x 4.5" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100 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
Q Acoustics 5090 has a frequency range of 57-30k Hz whereas Q Acoustics 5050 has a frequency range of 39-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the Q Acoustics 5050 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q Acoustics 5090's min frequency of 57Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
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 5090 and Q Acoustics 5050 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Q Acoustics 5090 sensitivity is rated at 90.5 dB and the Q Acoustics 5050's is at 91.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 5050 a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 5090, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Q Acoustics 5090 can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q Acoustics 5090 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 25 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Q Acoustics 5090 features Binding post type posts and Q Acoustics 5050 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Q Acoustics 5090's Binding post terminals
Q Acoustics 5050's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q Acoustics 5090 and Q Acoustics 5050 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 5090's and Q Acoustics 5050's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 5090 has external dimensions of 166.0 x 431.0 x 245.0mm ( 6-1/2inch x 16-15/16inch x 9-5/8inch ) 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 5090 is 851mm shorter and 91mm less deeper than Q Acoustics 5050 but it is also 65mm wider.
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 5090 is approximately 1056.0cm2 / 163.7inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 5050 is approximately 1229.8cm2 / 190.6inch2. The Q Acoustics 5090 requires 14% 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 5090?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q Acoustics 5090:
1x 5090 loudspeaker 1x Owners manual 2x Foam bung
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
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
Max Input Power 
Sensitivity 
Minimum Impedance 
Woofer Size