In this review, we will be comparing Motion 15 and 3020i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from MartinLogan and Q Acoustics. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan 15 and Q Acoustics 3020i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the MartinLogan 15 and Q Acoustics 3020i speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MartinLogan 15 and Q Acoustics 3020i compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Motion 15 and 3020i are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
MartinLogan 15 |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
0.9-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Motion 15 features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz. On the other hand, the 3020i features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz and 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
Motion 15 has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz whereas 3020i has a frequency range of 64-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the 3020i can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion 15's min frequency of 60Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Motion 15 is a 5 ohms speaker compared to the 3020i which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion 15 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the 3020i's is rated at 88 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the MartinLogan 15 a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 3020i, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Motion 15 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 3020i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 125 watts less than the Motion 15.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Motion 15 features Post type posts and 3020i has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Motion 15 and 3020i have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare MartinLogan 15's and Q Acoustics 3020i's external dimensions. MartinLogan 15 has external dimensions of 290.0 x 173.0 x 240.0mm ( 11.4 x 6.8 x 9.4inch) whereas Q Acoustics 3020i has external dimensions of 278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm ( 10.9 x 6.6 x 11.1inch) .
Q Acoustics 3020i is 3mm narrower and 12mm shorter than MartinLogan 15 but it is also 42mm deeper.
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 MartinLogan 15 is approximately 415.2cm2 / 64.4inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3020i is approximately 479.4cm2 / 74.3inch2. The Motion 15 requires 13% less surface area than the 3020i which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The MartinLogan 15 weighs 5.40kg / 11.9lbs and the Q Acoustics 3020i weighs 4.80kg / 10.6lbs. This makes the Motion 15 13% heavier than the 3020i.
Here is a comparison of how Motion 15 and 3020i's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 15?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Motion 15:
Bookshelf loudspeaker Grille 4 Rubber feet Users Manual Warranty/Registration Information
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 3020i?
Here are the items that come with the 3020i:
2 x 3020i bookshelf speakers 2 x Foam Bungs 2 x Speaker Grilles 1 x User Manual 1 x Handling Gloves 8 x Rubber Speaker Grips
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Base Surface Area |
415cm2 (173x240mm)
vs
479cm2 (170x282mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
5 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
278mm
vs
290mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
General |
MartinLogan Motion 15 |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
Brand |
MartinLogan |
Q Acoustics |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-200 watts |
25-75 watts |
Sensitivity |
92 dB |
88 dB |
Impedance |
5 ohms |
6 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
60-25k Hz |
64-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5" |
Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Coated paper |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1.0 x 1.4" |
0.9" |
Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion |
decoupled |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
2400Hz and 2400Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Suggested Break-in Period |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
290.0mm (11.4") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
Width |
173.0mm (6.8") |
170.0mm (6.7") |
Depth |
240.0mm (9.4") |
282.0mm (11.1") |
Weight |
5.40kg (11.9lbs) |
4.80kg (10.6lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
Piano Lacquer |
n/a |
Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Matt White, Red Walnut |
Walnut, Black, White, Grey |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-30" |
n/a |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
4 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
4 Years |