In this review, we will be comparing ES20 and 3030i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES20 and Q Acoustics 3030i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk ES20 | Q Acoustics 3030i |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" decoupled |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene | 6.5" Coated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-40k Hz | 46-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-125 watts | 25-75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.73kg / 17lbs | 6.20kg / 13.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-3/4" x 8-9/16" x 13-13/16"
375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm | 12.7" x 7.8" x 12.9"
325.0 x 200.0 x 329.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk ES20 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* |
Polk ES20 |
Q Acoustics 3030i |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 ES20 and 3030i are 2-way speakers.
Polk ES20Q 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 |
Polk ES20 |
Q Acoustics 3030i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
ES20 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. 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
ES20 has a frequency range of 41-40k Hz whereas 3030i has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the ES20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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
ES20 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the 3030i which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. ES20 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the 3030i's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3030i a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES20, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
ES20 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas 3030i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the ES20.
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
ES20 features Binding post type posts and 3030i has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ES20 and 3030i 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
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 Polk ES20's and Q Acoustics 3030i's external dimensions. Polk ES20 has external dimensions of 375.0 x 218.0 x 351.0mm (14-3/4 x 8-9/16 x 13-13/16inch) whereas Q Acoustics 3030i has external dimensions of 325.0 x 200.0 x 329.0mm (12.7 x 7.8 x 12.9inch).
Polk ES20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 18mm wider, 50mm taller and 22mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3030i.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk ES20 and Q Acoustics 3030i in scale.
Comparison image of Polk ES20 and Q Acoustics 3030i Size and External Dimensions
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 Polk ES20 is approximately 765.2cm2 / 118.6inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3030i is approximately 658.0cm2 / 102.0inch2. The ES20 requires 16% more surface area than the 3030i which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Polk ES20 and Q Acoustics 3030i on a Media Console
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 Polk ES20 weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs and the Q Acoustics 3030i weighs 6.20kg / 13.6lbs. This makes the ES20 25% heavier than the 3030i.
Here is a comparison of how ES20 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 Polk ES20?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ES20:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grille (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
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 |
125 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
325mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
658cm2
vs
765cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES20 |
Q Acoustics 3030i |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-125 watts |
25-75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-40k Hz |
46-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Coated paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
decoupled |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
2400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
375.0mm (14.8") |
325.0mm (12.8") |
| Width |
218.0mm (8.6") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
351.0mm (13.8") |
329.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
6.20kg (13.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black,White,Walnut |
Walnut, Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
4 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
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 | A | Polk ES20 digs deeper - 41Hz against 46Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Q Acoustics 3030i is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Polk ES20 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Polk ES20 takes more power (125W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics 3030i is easier to place; Polk ES20 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES20 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Polk ES20 is cheaper - $399 against $499, about 20% less. |
A Polk ES20 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?
Polk ES20 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Q Acoustics 3030i if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 46Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Polk ES20 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Q Acoustics 3030i for near-field listening and a small room.
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.