In this review, we will be comparing M20 HD and Sonos Five, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and Sonos. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics M20 HD and Sonos Five first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Q Acoustics M20 HD and Sonos Five 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 M20 HD and Sonos Five are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Q Acoustics M20 HD |
Sonos Five |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.875-inch
|
3 x 0.8-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
3 x 2.75-inch
|
M20 HD features a 0.875" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woofer . On the other hand, the Sonos Five features a 3 x 0.8" Dome Tweeter and 3 x 2.75" Cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
M20 HD has a frequency range of 55-22k Hz whereas Sonos Five has a frequency range of . With a minimum frequency of Hz, the Sonos Five can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the M20 HD's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Cabinet Type and Port Position
M20 HD has a rear firing port whereas Sonos Five has a front firing ports. Sonos Five's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Q Acoustics M20 HD 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD's and Sonos Five's external dimensions. Q Acoustics M20 HD has external dimensions of 278.0 x 170.0 x 310.0mm ( 10-15/16 x 6-11/16 x 12-3/16inch) whereas Sonos Five has external dimensions of 201.6 x 363.5 x 174.6mm ( 7.9375 x 14.3125 x 6.875inch) .
Sonos Five is 76.4mm shorter and 135.4mm less deeper than Q Acoustics M20 HD but it is also 193.5mm 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 M20 HD is approximately 527.0cm2 / 81.7inch2 and base area of the Sonos Five is approximately 634.7cm2 / 98.4inch2. The M20 HD requires 17% less surface area than the Sonos Five 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 M20 HD weighs 5.10kg / 11.2lbs and the Sonos Five weighs 6.40kg / 14.1lbs. This makes the Sonos Five 25% heavier than the M20 HD.
Here is a comparison of how M20 HD and Sonos Five's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics M20 HD?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of M20 HD:
Powered speaker Passive speaker 6-feet AC power cord Remote control 2 AAA batteries 13-feet Speaker wire 59-inch Optical digital cable 2 Foam port plugs Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Sonos Five?
Here are the items that come with the Sonos Five:
Wireless audio speaker 6.5-feet AC power cord Quickstart Guide Important Safety Information
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
2.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 Base Surface Area |
527cm2 (170x310mm)
vs
634cm2 (363x174mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
1098USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
201mm
vs
278mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
| General |
Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System |
Sonos Five |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Sonos |
| Speaker Type |
Powered stereo speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
55-22k Hz |
|
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
128-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
16-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
44.1kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
2.75" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Cone |
| Tweeter Size |
0.875" |
3 x 0.8" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
278.0mm (10.9") |
201.6mm (7.9") |
| Width |
170.0mm (6.7") |
363.5mm (14.3") |
| Depth |
310.0mm (12.2") |
174.6mm (6.9") |
| Weight |
5.10kg (11.2lbs) |
6.40kg (14.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, Stereo RCA |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
USB-B |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
Optional Wireless |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
1 Year |