In this review, we will be comparing NS-SW050 and 3060S, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Yamaha and Q Acoustics. Being Powered subwoofers, 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 Yamaha NS-SW050 and Q Acoustics 3060S first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Yamaha NS-SW050and Q Acoustics 3060S have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 8" drivers.
Frequency Response
NS-SW050 has a frequency range of 28-200 Hz whereas 3060S has a frequency range of 35-250 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the NS-SW050 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 3060S's min frequency of 35Hz.
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 Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
The Yamaha NS-SW050 has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs. On the other hand the Q Acoustics 3060S have Infinite Baffle type enclosure.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Yamaha NS-SW050's and Q Acoustics 3060S's external dimensions. Yamaha NS-SW050 has external dimensions of 292.1 x 292.1 x 339.7mm (11.5 x 11.5 x 13.375inch) whereas Q Acoustics 3060S has external dimensions of 324.0 x 480.0 x 155.0mm (12-3/4 x 18-7/8 x 6-1/8inch).
Yamaha NS-SW050 is 187.9mm narrower and 31.9mm shorter than Q Acoustics 3060S but it is also 184.7mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Yamaha NS-SW050 needs about 33% more floor or shelf area. Yamaha NS-SW050 is 185mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Q Acoustics 3060S is 32mm taller.
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 Yamaha NS-SW050 is approximately 992.3cm2 / 153.8inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3060S is approximately 744.0cm2 / 115.3inch2. The NS-SW050 requires 33% more surface area than the 3060S which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The Yamaha NS-SW050 weighs 8.48kg / 18.7lbs and the Q Acoustics 3060S weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs. This makes the 3060S 0% heavier than the NS-SW050.
Here is a comparison of how NS-SW050 and 3060S's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
292mm
vs
324mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
220USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 High Frequency Response |
250 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
744cm2
vs
992cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
Yamaha NS-SW050 needs about 33% more floor area. Yamaha NS-SW050 stands 185mm further into the room. Q Acoustics 3060S is 32mm taller.
| General |
Yamaha NS-SW050 |
Q Acoustics 3060S |
| Brand |
Yamaha |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
50 watts |
150 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28-200 Hz |
35-250 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
50-watt RMS |
150-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
100-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Paper composite |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
292.1mm (11.5") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Width |
292.1mm (11.5") |
480.0mm (18.9") |
| Depth |
339.7mm (13.4") |
155.0mm (6.1") |
| Weight |
8.48kg (18.7lbs) |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Infinite Baffle |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A ported subwoofer against a sealed one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Yamaha NS-SW050 goes deeper - 28Hz against 35Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 35Hz. |
| Amplifier power | B | Q Acoustics 3060S has the bigger amplifier - 150W against 50W RMS, about 4.8dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (8" against 8"). |
| Enclosure | depends | Yamaha NS-SW050 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; Q Acoustics 3060S is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Q Acoustics 3060S is about 17% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Price | A | Yamaha NS-SW050 costs less - $220 against $299, about 26% less. |
A Yamaha NS-SW050 B Q Acoustics 3060S
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Yamaha NS-SW050 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Q Acoustics 3060S is usually the easier one to make sound right.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.