89%
Qln Prestige Three Gen 2
IntroductionQln Prestige Three Gen 2 is a 2-way floor standing speaker. Based on the classic Qln Signature pyramide design. Such as time alignment leaning baffle, minimised baffle area around the dive units.Every speaker models are unique and every component are carefully selected and matched to each other for the very best sound performance.As with previous Qln designs. Priority has been set around getting technology out of the way to make music lovers be able to effortlessly concentrate on enjoying the magic of listening to music. Performed by stereo equipment at the very far end of the performance spectrum. At Qln we believe the music should always be in the forefront, not the stereo equipment.
Prestige Three Gen 2The Prestige Three was first introduced in 2018 as the first floorstanding model designed by QLN since the early 90s deriving its heritage from the QLN Signature dating back to 1989. The Prestige Three would go on to become QLN’s most critically acclaimed model, establishing the brand as a worldwide phenomenon with a strong reputation for designing world class loudspeakers. After a remarkable 7-year run, the time has come to improve upon this classic design. The fundamentals of physics do not change over time, but we do continue learning and find better solutions even with a mature design like that of the Prestige Three.
For the second generation of Prestige Three we have made the following improvements:
-Upgraded cabinet design with real dual layer Qboard®.
-New 6dB first-order crossover design.
-New cable design with improved isolation.
-New adjustable feet.
The secret to the Qln sound is to make all parts play together. All parts in a speaker have their own character. There is no 100% perfect component even if marketing material leads you to believe so. It’s about physical knowledge of material behavior coupled with extended listening tests that help you discover performance variables that are not measurable. Over the years we have developed an encyclopedia of material knowledge and the characteristics of different products that we apply when designing new speakers.
It all starts with material knowledge, followed by measurements and extensive listening tests. We live with the speaker for 6-12 months to carefully evaluate changes and solidify the design. This allows us to really know the speaker and its performance under various conditions.
Cabinet designA slanted baffle provides perfect time alignment between woofer and tweeter. The truncated pyramid cabinet top with its minimised baffle area suppresses any standing waves inside the cabinet also offering improved 3D imaging.
By again basing the cabinet construction around Qln’s unique Qboard® technology, structural resonances are eliminated. The bass reflex port with its trumpet shape at both ends eliminates air turbulence.
Cabinet is de-coupled from the floor via adjustable solid feet with cones and pucks constructed out of hard, high damping materials.
Read more about Timing
Read more about Qboard®
WooferThe mid-woofer have been specifically selected and custom developed by industry renowned Danish driver manufacturer Scan Speak offering the latest in 21st century advanced driver technology. The uniquely coated Kevlar bass/midrange driver with its built-in copper ring in the magnet system offers symmetric drive and higher midrange dynamics while also suppressing intermodulation distortion. The result is remarkable vocal reproduction and astonishing micro/macro dynamics from a compact 2-way speaker design.
TweeterThe advanced 25mm wide surround tweeter offers remarkable vocal reproduction and excellent imaging at all listening positions. Its large roll surround and textile dome diaphragm provides a flat frequency response above 30 KHz with outstanding off-axis dispersion. The unique AirCirc magnet system and its rear chamber eliminate any reflections and resonances.
CrossoverWith Gen 2 version the crossover has been completely redesigned. It’s first order 6dB design this gives a smoother phase response. Phase response is more important for the sound as the time alignment compared to frequency response. The sound is more relaxed.
Crossover is hardwired with non-inductive capacitors for the tweeter part and high-end oil-filled capacitors for the woofer part with flat foil inductors used at the most critical places. All components are fastened with damping glue and remaining coils are baked to avoid any internal component and filter resonances. Resistors with high power handling capabilities offer lower noise and temperature stable performance, altogether resulting in perfect timing within the crossover and with low noise throughout the entire frequency range.
Cables, speaker connectors and internal damping.
Internal cabling is our own special design produced in Sweden. Solid pure copper cores with Teflon isolation, bounded with a high damping acoustic shield to minimize acoustic feedback. All components are carefully hand selected and individually tested for any deviances.Speaker terminals are WBT Nextgen® connectors made of the highest grade pure copper with minimal copper mass for low energy storage lowering distortion and offering the purest contact to the speaker cable.For internal acoustic damping we use real wool. Wool is the best material for internal acoustic damping but we need a small amount of syntetic fibre to get the right density.
FinallyEvery part has one thing in common – non-resonant behavior. Connectors, cables, crossover, speaker drivers, cabinet, and even the dampening feet suppress residual noise, offering better dynamics and silence between the tones thanks to the lower noise floor.
The Prestige Three Gen 2 presents a more relaxed sound with
increased detail – nothing is added – just pure music!
User manual
Prestige Three Gen 2
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
Professional Reviews 89/100
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
91/100
Build Quality
87/100
Value for Money
84/100
Refined and richly voiced, the Prestige Three Gen 2 pairs deep bass with a smooth treble and a richly textured midrange that Audiophilepure found increasingly coherent over time. Its hefty, well-finished build and room-friendly balance suggest a floorstander that rewards careful setup with polished, transparent performance.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Deep, satisfying bass from a single-woofer design, with a rich midrange that stays focused and coherent.
Smooth, transparent treble that improves as the speakers break in.
Works beautifully in the reviewer’s room and appears suitable for larger spaces too.
Substantial build quality, with the speakers heavy enough to require two people to move.
&
Cons
Can sound a little bright during the later stages of break-in before settling down.
Requires careful placement and a slight toe-in to perform at its best.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 91/100
Reviewers describe a rich midrange, deep bass, and a presentation that becomes more focused and coherent as the speakers settle in. Treble is praised for its smoothness and transparency, with only a brief hint of brightness during break-in, and the speakers are said to work beautifully in one room while seeming equally suitable for larger spaces.
Bass
91/100
The bass is described as deep and satisfying, with the reviewer explicitly calling out 'deep bass.' For a single 177mm woofer design, that is strong praise, and there are no complaints about thinness or lack of weight.
Mid
93/100
The midrange is singled out as rich and focused, which points to strong vocal presence and tonal body. That combination suggests a very capable midband with good coherence rather than a lean or colored presentation.
Treble
90/100
Treble is initially described as smooth, with a little brightness appearing toward the end of break-in before it subsided. The final impression is one of good transparency and refinement rather than glare or harshness.
Soundstage Imaging
89/100
The reviewer notes careful placement, slight toe-in, and a room setup that helped them work beautifully, which suggests a speaker that rewards setup and throws a stable image. There is little explicit discussion of width or depth, so the evidence is positive but not exhaustive.
Dynamics
89/100
The long review period and comments about the speakers continuing to improve imply easy musical flow and convincing scaling, but there is not much direct language about slam or big-music punch. The available evidence supports lively, capable dynamics without strong signs of strain.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
87/100
The speakers are heavy enough that moving them is described as a two-person job, and the package includes proper feet and pucks for setup. Reviewers say little else about long-term construction, but the overall impression is of a substantial, well-finished product.
Value for Money
84/100
None of the reviews directly weigh in on whether the asking price is justified, and there is no clear praise or criticism of value relative to peers. At this price point, the absence of value commentary leaves the proposition looking more neutral than emphatically good or bad.
Reviews
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
No reviews found yet
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for Qln Prestige Three Gen 2
- Alma Music & Audio — in-store — San Diego, California, United States (website)
- Arizona Hi-Fi — in-store — Phoenix, Arizona, United States (website)
- Atelier 13 Audio — in-store — Forest Hills, Tennessee, United States (website)
- Audio Aktoren — online and in-store — Horten, Vestfold, Norway (website)
- Audio Art — in-store — London, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Connect — in-store — Bydgoszcz, Województwo kujawsko-pomorskie, Poland (website)
- Aural HiFi — online and in-store — Denver, Colorado, United States (website)
- Choice Audio — online and in-store — White Bear Lake, Minnesota, United States (website)
- Common Wave Hi-Fi — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- Deep Dive Audio — in-store — Palm Bay, Florida, United States (website)
and 12 more verified dealers