The Q Acoustics Concept 30 is a fairly new bookshelf speaker model but in this short period of time, these loudspeakers have gathered plenty of accolades. They are highly praised by critics and HiFi enthusiasts. Even so, it seems the Concept 20 is still more well-received and it could be because they are out in the market for a much longer period.
If you choose Q Acoustics Concept 30 over its predecessor then you will need an amplifier that can drive them. Before we look into which amps to go for, let’s learn a bit more about the Q Acoustics Concept 30 loudspeakers.
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The Strengths of Q Acoustics Concept 30
For a stand-mounter of this price point, the engineers sure put a lot of effort into designing the Q Acoustics Concept 30 speaker cabinets. Technologies such as Gelcore and P2P (Point to Point) are been used to make these stand-mounters. These technologies are essential and will help improve the speaker’s sound quality. The drivers they use are also important, be it not as technologically advanced though.
There is a 25mm treble unit (0.9″) and below the tweeter will be the 125mm bass unit (5″). The bass port is located at the rear of the Q Acoustics Concept 30. You might not want to place them too near the rear wall so that the bass won’t get reinforced till it sounds overly pronounced. If you have no choice, you can try using the provided foam bungs. The recommended amplifier power is between 25W to 100W which is okay. The 87dB speaker sensitivity of Concept 30 does sway us not to get a low-powered amplifier.
Learn more about the Q Acoustics Concept 30 at Amazon
The Q Acoustics Concept 30 is a smooth talker, music is been presented in a way that you won’t feel cringed or overly excited at high volume levels. Surprisingly for a bookshelf speaker of this size, the Q Acoustics Concept 30 can deliver a spacious soundstage, larger than we expected. The open soundstage is filled with music details in high clarity. Q Acoustics Concept 30 can punch well too but not as impactful as we wanted it to be and does lack the excitement at times.
With this information, we have managed to list out some of the best amplifiers to match your Q Acoustics Concept 30 bookshelf speakers. Do take some time to work out a budget first before looking through the list below.
Best Amplifiers for Q Acoustics Concept 30
The Rega Elex-R is one of the best amplifiers to match your Q Acoustics Concept 30 bookshelf speakers. This is an award-winning amplifier that has no problem driving the Concept 30. What’s more important will be the Elex-R articulate sonic performance which makes music listening more exciting. The enthusiasm of the Rega’s amplifier does help to improve the dynamics of the Q Acoustics Concept 30 slightly. This is an amp with an amazing rhythm and you will start tapping your feet whenever you listen to your music.
Learn more about the Rega Elex-R at Amazon
The Cambridge Audio CXA81 is also one of the award-winning amplifiers you can find on the market and will go well with your Q Acoustics Concept 30 stand-mounters. It is an amplifier that can drive the Concept 30 speakers without breaking a sweat. The dynamic handling of the Cambridge Audio CXA81 will help improve the timing of the Q Acoustics Concept 30. This will give you a bit more punch and impact when listening to your favorite music, making it sound more exciting.
Learn more about the Cambridge Audio CXA81 at Amazon
Marantz PM8006 is one of the best amplifiers to go with your Q Acoustics Concept 30 if you are more inclined to warmer sound quality. This is a fantastic amp for listeners who prefer smooth music delivery in a relaxed way. No matter how high volume you play, the Marantz PM8006 won’t sound harsh. The warm sound characteristic of the PM8006 does make it an ideal amp to play vinyl records. It has musicality as well so don’t expect an overly dull music presentation from the Marantz amplifier.
Learn more about the Marantz PM8006 at Amazon
Budget is not high enough to get your hands on a Cambridge Audio CXA81? Then how about its smaller brother, Cambridge Audio CXA61? It may not be as powerful but the CXA61 will still be able to drive the Q Acoustics Concept 30 sufficiently. The Cambridge Audio CXA61 also has the enthusiasm to present the music in a more exciting manner. This Cambridge Audio amp will add more punch to the overall sound reproduction when partnered together with the Q Acoustics Concept 30 loudspeakers.
Learn more about the Cambridge Audio CXA61 at Amazon
For listeners who lack room space, you might want to take a look at the Nad D 3045. This is a really compact amplifier and you can easily find a spot for it anywhere in the listening room. The D 3045 amp may be small but it is still able to drive the Q Acoustics Concept 30 speakers. It is also an ideal amplifier for desktop use since you can place it in an upright position. The sound characteristic of the NAD D 3045 is balanced but still, it doesn’t help with the slight lack of dynamics of the Concept 30 though.
Learn more about the Nad D 3045 at Amazon
If you are a Q Acoustics Concept 30 owner who doesn’t have a high budget or simply doesn’t wish to spend too much on an amplifier. The Denon PMA-600NE will be an excellent option for you. It is packed with a plethora of features such as a DAC, Phono Equalizer, Subwoofer output, Analogue mode, and more. With these features alone, they already make it worthwhile to get your hands on the Denon PMA-600NE. The neutral warm sound from the amp fits well with the Q Acoustics Concept 30 bookshelf speakers.
Learn more about the Denon PMA-600NE at Amazon
In Conclusion
Having a fixed budget makes it easier to filter out the amplifiers which are too expensive. The remaining amplifiers on this list that fit your budget are all worthy of your time to have an audition with them together with your Q Acoustics Concept 30 bookshelf speakers. When you audition the potential amps and Q Acoustics Concept 30 in your own listening room, it will give you a more accurate music presentation of what they may sound like.