In this review, we will be comparing QX-2 MKII and 3030i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Mission and Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission QX-2 MKII and Q Acoustics 3030i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Mission QX-2 MKII | Q Acoustics 3030i |
|---|
| Brand | Mission
United Kingdom · founded 1977 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.5" Ring Dome | 1" decoupled |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Composite fibre | 6.5" Coated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-24k Hz | 46-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 25-75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.50kg / 18.7lbs | 6.20kg / 13.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-5/8" x 8-11/16" x 12-3/16"
320.0 x 220.0 x 310.0mm | 12.7" x 7.8" x 12.9"
325.0 x 200.0 x 329.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Mission QX-2 MKII and Q Acoustics 3030i 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Mission QX-2 MKII |
Q Acoustics 3030i |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
No way |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both QX-2 MKII and 3030i are 2-way speakers.
Mission QX-2 MKIIQ Acoustics 3030i
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Mission QX-2 MKII |
Q Acoustics 3030i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.5-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
QX-2 MKII features a 1.5" Textile Ring Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Composite fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.2kHz. On the other hand, the 3030i features a 1" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
QX-2 MKII has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz whereas 3030i has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the QX-2 MKII can go slightly deeper then the 3030i's min frequency of 46Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
QX-2 MKII is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 3030i which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the QX-2 MKII can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 88 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
QX-2 MKII can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas 3030i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 45 watts less than the QX-2 MKII.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
QX-2 MKII features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. 3030i has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Mission QX-2 MKII's and Q Acoustics 3030i's external dimensions. Mission QX-2 MKII has external dimensions of 320.0 x 220.0 x 310.0mm (12-5/8 x 8-11/16 x 12-3/16inch) whereas Q Acoustics 3030i has external dimensions of 325.0 x 200.0 x 329.0mm (12.7 x 7.8 x 12.9inch).
Mission QX-2 MKII is 5mm shorter and 19mm less deeper than Q Acoustics 3030i but it is also 20mm wider.
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.
Near-identical footprints. Q Acoustics 3030i is 19mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 Mission QX-2 MKII is approximately 682.0cm2 / 105.7inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3030i is approximately 658.0cm2 / 102.0inch2. The QX-2 MKII requires 4% more surface area than the 3030i which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Mission QX-2 MKII weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs and the Q Acoustics 3030i weighs 6.20kg / 13.6lbs. This makes the QX-2 MKII 37% heavier than the 3030i.
Here is a comparison of how QX-2 MKII and 3030i's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 3030i?
Here are the items that come with the 3030i:
- 2 x 3030i bookshelf speakers
- 2 x Speaker Grilles
- 2 x Foam Bungs
- 1 x User Manual
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
320mm
vs
325mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
658cm2
vs
682cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Mission QX-2 MKII |
Q Acoustics 3030i |
| Brand |
Mission |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
25-75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-24k Hz |
46-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite fibre |
Coated paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.5" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Ring Dome |
decoupled |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.2kHz |
2400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
320.0mm (12.6") |
325.0mm (12.8") |
| Width |
220.0mm (8.7") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
310.0mm (12.2") |
329.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
6.20kg (13.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Walnut, Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
4 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
4 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (44Hz vs 46Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Q Acoustics 3030i is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Mission QX-2 MKII takes more power (120W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Mission QX-2 MKII: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Q Acoustics 3030i is cheaper - $499 against $599, about 17% less. |
A Mission QX-2 MKII B Q Acoustics 3030i
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 speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Mission QX-2 MKII measures better, Q Acoustics 3030i costs about about 20% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Q Acoustics 3030i is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.