In this review, we will be comparing 3010 and Q350, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3010 and KEF Q350 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3010 | KEF Q350 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Paper composite | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 68-22k Hz | 63-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-75 watts | 10-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.60kg / 7.9lbs | 7.60kg / 16.7lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 14.0" x 8.2" x 12.0"
358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3010 and KEF Q350 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 |
KEF Q350 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Poor |
(* 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 3010 and Q350 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3010KEF Q350
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 |
KEF Q350 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 Q350 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
3010 has a frequency range of 68-22k Hz whereas Q350 has a frequency range of 63-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 63Hz, the Q350 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 Q350 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 Q350's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF Q350 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.
Q350 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas 3010 has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 45 watts less than the Q350.
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 Post type posts and Q350 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q350's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3010 and Q350 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 Q Acoustics 3010's and KEF Q350'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 KEF Q350 has external dimensions of 358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm (14.0 x 8.2 x 12.0inch).
KEF Q350 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 60mm wider, 119mm taller and 101mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3010.
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.
KEF Q350 needs about 109% more floor or shelf area. KEF Q350 is 101mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF Q350 is 119mm 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 KEF Q350 is approximately 642.6cm2 / 99.6inch2. The 3010 requires 52% less surface area than the Q350 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 KEF Q350 weighs 7.60kg / 16.7lbs. This makes the Q350 111% heavier than the 3010.
Here is a comparison of how 3010 and Q350's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF Q350?
Here are the items that come with the Q350:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
 Minimum Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
3.7 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
239mm
vs
358mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
307cm2
vs
642cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
119USD
vs
750USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 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 |
6.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
63 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3010 |
KEF Q350 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-75 watts |
10-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
68-22k Hz |
63-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper composite |
Aluminum |
| 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 |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
239.0mm (9.4") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
150.0mm (5.9") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
205.0mm (8.1") |
306.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
3.60kg (7.9lbs) |
7.60kg (16.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl-wrapped |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
18-24" |
| 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 - KEF Q350 costs roughly 6.3x 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 | KEF Q350 digs deeper - 63Hz against 68Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | KEF Q350 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | KEF Q350 takes more power (120W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics 3010 is easier to place; KEF Q350 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. KEF Q350 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Q Acoustics 3010 is cheaper - $119 against $750, about 84% less; arguably a different class. |
A Q Acoustics 3010 B KEF Q350
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: KEF Q350 measures better, Q Acoustics 3010 costs about about 6.3x the price% 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 and a small room, and KEF Q350 for a mid-size room and a large 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.