Audiovector QR3
FOR Energetic and dynamic performance; clean treble AGAINST Lack some subtlety; light on deep bass
With the Audiovector QR3S, you get what you pay for. No more, no less. The Danish hi-fi manufacturer has made a name for itself through its trademark upgradeable speakers – speakers you could buy one year and upgrade the next, with better drivers, an improved crossover or even a superior cabinet.
It’s quite the departure then, for the company to introduce a speaker that’s an ‘as is’ design. There’s no upgrade path – just the choice of the QR3 floorstander we’re testing here, or its QR1 bookshelf sibling.
The Audiovector QR3S are considerably cheaper than most of the brand's previous floorstanding models, suggesting a focus on attracting a new market. But without their big USP to entice buyers in, can these smart floorstanders make the same impact?
Solid base/struggling bass
There’s no doubt the QR3S have had the same attention to detail in their build as the rest of Audiovector’s ranges. Available in a choice of walnut or black or white gloss, ther cabinets are sturdy and well finished, with an integrated plinth that gives them a solid base to work from.
The front baffle is too pretty to cover up with the included magnetic grilles so we leave them off. The two 15cm drivers are encircled with brushed metal, while the gold-leaf air motion ribbon tweeter is housed behind an aluminium and tungsten fascia plate with rose-gold mesh (which, as well as looking nice, helps with sibilants).
The QR3S are a 2.5-way design, with the lower of the two drivers augmenting lowfrequency output below 400Hz. They work best a little closer to the wall than our reference ATC speakers, so move them back to within about 50cm, slightly toed in to our listening position.
We start off with George Michael’s You Have Been Loved and are immediately struck by the QR3S’ clarity through the midrange. Vocals are crisp and up-front, and filled with a level of detail that immediately draws us in.
In fact, these speakers really shine from the midrange up – this is a song that could trip up a lesser speaker in the upper register, but the treble here is clean and open with no coarseness, even when the volume is pushed up higher.
The low end isn’t quite as strong, and struggles to compete with such a forward presentation. You’ll still get punch, particularly from the upper bass, which is taut and controlled, but it’s the real low weighty rumble you’ll miss out on here.
Top notch
Thankfully, the QR3S never sound fragile or unsure of themselves because of this – in fact, it’s a very confident presentation indeed, fast and rhythmic with a real sense of drive. That’s great if you can take things down a notch, but the QR3S only seem to have one speed, making mournful songs lose some of the brooding sentiment.
We hear this elsewhere too – leading edges can be a bit too etched and the drive a touch too insistent, which can make them tiring for longer, more relaxed listens. Certainly careful system matching will be required to ensure you don’t emphasise this with bright or more forward-sounding partners.
We switch to Jamie Cullum’s Fascinating Rhythm to see how the QR3S deal with dynamics, and once again we hear a similarly energetic performance. Cullum’s frenetic piano playing is expressed with sass and attitude.
It’s perhaps not the most refined sound, but it is fun, and talented enough to keep a good handle on timing. It sounds controlled and cohesive, even when the piano is joined by Cullum’s jazz band.
Crystal clean top end
The QR3S are agile too, and jump to the rises and falls in volume and tempo without ever sounding flustered. We’d like them to be a touch subtler when things aren’t all go, but that isn’t in their character. The QR3S are evidently speakers that like to be challenged.
Their rather forward presentation means they aren’t the biggest-sounding speakers we’ve heard at this price but, thanks to their crystal clean top end, you can turn the volume up loud. They have no problem filling our testing room, and the stereo image is seamless and precise too.
It’s not going to be a balance for everyone, but there is something likeable about the QR3S. Entertaining and engaging, these are speakers that put drive and agility top of their hit list, but fall short when it comes to subtlety.
“The QR3S never sound fragile or unsure of themselves. It’s a confident presentation, fast and rhythmic with a real sense of drive”