Aesthetics and Build Quality:
Aesthetically you have got to love the stylish yet simplistic look of the Q350, they have a very refined look and build quality that will impress anyone who sees them. The Uni-Q driver array looks superb and the cabinets are well finished, feeling solid and heavy.
Setup:
Ideally you want to place the Q350 40cm or further away from any walls, they are rear ported and quite sensitive to placement, however they do come with foam port bungs in case you don’t have that much breathing room. Toeing them in slightly helps focus the centre image, however due to their design the off axis response is very good.
Sound:
Sound wise the midrange is definitely the standout part of the frequency response, grabbing your attention with plenty of energy and a lifelike presentation. It does an impressive job of sounding well integrated, yet cleanly separated from the lows and highs. The lows are punchy and surprisingly full, the port bungs will help you tune the low end to your preference, as fully open might be a little too full for some.
Extension is always going to be a little limited, however when listening to music I have never found it to be lacking. The highs have enough sparkle to prevent the Q350 from sounding too dark, and they bring out a good amount of air and detail in recordings. For a metal dome tweeter, the Q350 do not have a particularly sharp top end, which is good for relaxing and longer listening sessions, but it does mean they are a little safe sounding. The Q350 sound best when playing at slightly higher volumes, they just don’t sound very engaging at lower volumes.
Conclusion:
The Q350‘s have a good grip on the music, they do however lean towards a more refined and smooth sound than being overly punchy and energetic. This can work wonders depending on the music you listen to, and they are certainly not lacking when it comes to detail retrieval. When positioned properly they portray a very convincing stereo image, and the great off-axis response is welcome when you have people over.
Aesthetics: 5/5
Sound: 4/5
Build Quality: 4/5
Value: 4/5
When I first hooked these up, I was a little disappointed. But after breaking them in and putting them through Audyssey room tuning software on my receiver, previously set up with my old speakers, they really sprung alive! I listen primarily to classical and jazz and high end percussion is clean, detailed but never overly aggressive. Strings and choral are wonderful. Buttery smooth neutral midrange. I had to put a bung in the right channel port, because its upper bass was a little too full for my taste. Low bass is detailed and solid to about 40Hz, but I will likely get a subwoofer at some point. Great imaging and soundstage all over my living room. I am loving these speakers!