In this review, we will be comparing 3010 and SX-50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and Cambridge Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3010 and Cambridge SX-50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3010 | Cambridge SX-50 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Paper composite | 5.25" Treated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 68-22k Hz | 50-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-75 watts | 10-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.60kg / 7.9lbs | 3.00kg / 6.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9-7/16" x 5-7/8" x 8-1/16"
239.0 x 150.0 x 205.0mm | 8.8" x 6.3" x 9.4"
225.0 x 161.0 x 240.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3010 and Cambridge SX-50 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* |
Q Acoustics 3010 |
Cambridge SX-50 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Bad |
(* 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.
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Drivers
Both 3010 and SX-50 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3010Cambridge SX-50
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Q Acoustics 3010 |
Cambridge SX-50 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
3010 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Paper composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the SX-50 features a 1" Silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Treated paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
3010 has a frequency range of 68-22k Hz whereas SX-50 has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the SX-50 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 3010's min frequency of 68Hz.
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
3010 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the SX-50 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 3010 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the SX-50's is rated at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Cambridge SX-50 a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 3010, 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.
SX-50 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas 3010 has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the SX-50.
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
3010 features 5-way post type posts and SX-50 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cambridge SX-50's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3010 and SX-50 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.
Cambridge SX-50 Port
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 Q Acoustics 3010's and Cambridge SX-50's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 3010 has external dimensions of 239.0 x 150.0 x 205.0mm (9-7/16 x 5-7/8 x 8-1/16inch) whereas Cambridge SX-50 has external dimensions of 225.0 x 161.0 x 240.0mm (8.8 x 6.3 x 9.4inch).
Q Acoustics 3010 is 11mm narrower and 35mm less deeper than Cambridge SX-50 but it is also 14mm 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 Q Acoustics 3010 is approximately 307.5cm2 / 47.7inch2 and base area of the Cambridge SX-50 is approximately 386.4cm2 / 59.9inch2. The 3010 requires 20% less surface area than the SX-50 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 Q Acoustics 3010 weighs 3.60kg / 7.9lbs and the Cambridge SX-50 weighs 3.00kg / 6.6lbs. This makes the 3010 20% heavier than the SX-50.
Here is a comparison of how 3010 and SX-50's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Cambridge SX-50?
Here are the items that come with the SX-50:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Self-adhesive feet
- 2 Foam port inserts
- Installation Guide
 Base Surface Area |
307cm2
vs
386cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
119USD
vs
199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
225mm
vs
239mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3010 |
Cambridge Audio SX-50 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Cambridge Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-75 watts |
10-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
68-22k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper composite |
Treated paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
239.0mm (9.4") |
225.0mm (8.9") |
| Width |
150.0mm (5.9") |
161.0mm (6.3") |
| Depth |
205.0mm (8.1") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Weight |
3.60kg (7.9lbs) |
3.00kg (6.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Woodgrain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
28-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Cambridge SX-50 costs roughly 1.7x what Q Acoustics 3010 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
Cambridge SX-50 digs deeper - 50Hz against 68Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Cambridge SX-50 is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Cambridge SX-50 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
B |
Cambridge SX-50 takes more power (100W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price |
A |
Q Acoustics 3010 is cheaper - $119 against $199, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Q Acoustics 3010
B Cambridge SX-50
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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: Cambridge SX-50 measures better, Q Acoustics 3010 costs about 40% 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 a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 68Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Q Acoustics 3010 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 3010 the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.