In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Q Acoustics. Q Acoustics 3010i is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the 3050i is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3010i and Q Acoustics 3050i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3010i | Q Acoustics 3050i |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.9" decoupled | 0.9" decoupled |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Coated paper | 2 x 6.5" Coated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-30k Hz | 44-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-75 watts | 50-165 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.09kg / 9lbs | 17.82kg / 39.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10" x 5.9" x 10"
253.0 x 150.0 x 252.0mm | 40.2" x 12.2" x 12.6"
1020 x 310 x 320 mm |
|---|
3010i and 3050i are members of Q Acoustics's 3000i series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Q Acoustics 3000i Series
History
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3010i and Q Acoustics 3050i 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 |
Q Acoustics 3050i |
| Near-field |
Good |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| 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.
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Drivers
Both 3010i and 3050i are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3010iQ Acoustics 3050i
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 |
Q Acoustics 3050i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
0.9-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 3050i features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz.
Frequency Response
3010i has a frequency range of 65-30k Hz whereas 3050i has a frequency range of 44-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the 3050i 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 and 3050i have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3010i sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the 3050i's is at 91 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3050i a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 3010i, 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.
3050i can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS, whereas 3010i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the 3050i.
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 Binding post type posts and 3050i has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3010i and 3050i 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 3010i's and Q Acoustics 3050i'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 Q Acoustics 3050i has external dimensions of 1020 x 310 x 320 mm (40.2 x 12.2 x 12.6 in).
Q Acoustics 3050i is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 160mm wider, 767mm taller and 68mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3010i.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3010i and Q Acoustics 3050i in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3010i and Q Acoustics 3050i 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 Q Acoustics 3050i is approximately 992.0cm2 / 153.8inch2. The 3010i requires 62% less surface area than the 3050i which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Q Acoustics 3050i?
Here are the items that come with the 3050i:
- 1x 3050i loudspeaker
- 1x Owners manual
- 2x Foam bung
- 4x Spike feet
- 4x Spike cover
- 4x M5 screw
- 2x Rear stabiliser