In this review, we will be comparing 3010i and ES15, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3010i and Polk ES15 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3010i | Polk ES15 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.9" decoupled | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Coated paper | 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-30k Hz | 44-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-75 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.09kg / 9lbs | 5.91kg / 13lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10" x 5.9" x 10"
253.0 x 150.0 x 252.0mm | 12-1/16" x 7-9/16" x 10-3/16"
307.0 x 193.0 x 259.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3010i and Polk ES15 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 3010i |
Polk ES15 |
| 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.
Drivers
Both 3010i and ES15 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3010iPolk ES15
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 3010i |
Polk ES15 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
3010i features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 4" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz . On the other hand, the ES15 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
3010i has a frequency range of 65-30k Hz whereas ES15 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the ES15 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 3010i's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
3010i is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the ES15 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 3010i sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the ES15's is rated at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3010i a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES15, 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.
ES15 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas 3010i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the ES15.
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
3010i features 5-Way post type posts and ES15 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES15's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3010i and ES15 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.
Polk ES15 Power Port 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 3010i's and Polk ES15's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 3010i has external dimensions of 253.0 x 150.0 x 252.0mm (10.9 x 5.9 x 10inch) whereas Polk ES15 has external dimensions of 307.0 x 193.0 x 259.0mm (12-1/16 x 7-9/16 x 10-3/16inch).
Polk ES15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 43mm wider, 54mm taller and 7mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3010i.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3010i and Polk ES15 in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3010i and Polk ES15 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 Q Acoustics 3010i is approximately 378.0cm2 / 58.6inch2 and base area of the Polk ES15 is approximately 499.9cm2 / 77.5inch2. The 3010i requires 24% less surface area than the ES15 which gives it a small advantage 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 Q Acoustics 3010i and Polk ES15 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 Q Acoustics 3010i weighs 4.09kg / 9lbs and the Polk ES15 weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs. This makes the ES15 44% heavier than the 3010i.
Here is a comparison of how 3010i and ES15'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 3010i?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 3010i:
- 2 x 3010i bookshelf speakers
- 2 x Foam Bungs
- 2 x Speaker Grilles
- 1 x User Manual
- 1 x Handling Gloves
- 8 x Rubber Speaker Grips
What's in the Box of Polk ES15?
Here are the items that come with the ES15:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grille (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
253mm
vs
307mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
378cm2
vs
499cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
329USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3010i |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES15 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-75 watts |
20-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
65-30k Hz |
44-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated paper |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.9" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
decoupled |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2600Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
253.0mm (10") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Width |
150.0mm (5.9") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
252.0mm (9.9") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
4.09kg (9lbs) |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Grey |
Black,White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
4 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
4 Years |
5 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 | B | Polk ES15 digs deeper - 44Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk ES15 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | Polk ES15 takes more power (100W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics 3010i is easier to place; Polk ES15 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES15 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($329 vs $299 a pair). |
A Q Acoustics 3010i B Polk ES15
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 ES15 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 3010i 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.