In this review, we will be comparing 3020c and Q1 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3020c and KEF Q1 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3020c | KEF Q1 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.9" decoupled | 1" Hard dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.74" Coated paper | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-30k Hz | 51-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-90 watts | Up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.50kg / 12.1lbs | 6.09kg / 13.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11" x 6.9" x 11.1"
279 x 175 x 281 mm | 11.9" x 7.1" x 10.9"
302 x 180 x 277 mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3020c and KEF Q1 Meta 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 3020c |
KEF Q1 Meta |
| 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 3020c and Q1 Meta are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3020cKEF Q1 Meta
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 3020c |
KEF Q1 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.74-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
3020c features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 4.74" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz. On the other hand, the Q1 Meta features a 1" vented aluminum dome with MAT absorber Hard dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.1 kHz.
Frequency Response
3020c has a frequency range of 60-30k Hz whereas Q1 Meta has a frequency range of 51-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 51Hz, the Q1 Meta can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 3020c's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
3020c is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Q1 Meta which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Q1 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 3020c sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Q1 Meta's is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3020c a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q1 Meta, 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.
Q1 Meta can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas 3020c has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the Q1 Meta.
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
3020c features Binding Post type posts and Q1 Meta has a Binding Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q1 Meta's Binding Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3020c and Q1 Meta 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 3020c's and KEF Q1 Meta's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 3020c has external dimensions of 279 x 175 x 281 mm (11.0 x 6.9 x 11.1 in) whereas KEF Q1 Meta has external dimensions of 302 x 180 x 277 mm (11.9 x 7.1 x 10.9 in.).
Q Acoustics 3020c is 5mm narrower and 23mm shorter than KEF Q1 Meta but it is also 4mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3020c and KEF Q1 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3020c and KEF Q1 Meta 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 3020c is approximately 491.8cm2 / 76.2inch2 and base area of the KEF Q1 Meta is approximately 498.6cm2 / 77.3inch2. The 3020c requires 1% less surface area than the Q1 Meta 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 3020c and KEF Q1 Meta 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 3020c weighs 5.50kg / 12.1lbs and the KEF Q1 Meta weighs 6.09kg / 13.4lbs. This makes the Q1 Meta 11% heavier than the 3020c.
Here is a comparison of how 3020c and Q1 Meta'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 3020c?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 3020c:
- 2 x 3020c 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 KEF Q1 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the Q1 Meta:
- Q1 Meta (pair)
- Magnetic grilles (pair)
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.7 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
279mm
vs
302mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
491cm2
vs
498cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
549USD
vs
600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
90 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.74 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
51 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3020c |
KEF Q1 Meta |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-90 watts |
Up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-30k Hz |
51-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.74" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated paper |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.9" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
decoupled |
Hard dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2600Hz |
2.1 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
279.0mm (11") |
302.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
175.0mm (6.9") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
5.50kg (12.1lbs) |
6.09kg (13.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Oak |
Satin Black,Satin White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
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 | KEF Q1 Meta digs deeper - 51Hz against 60Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Q Acoustics 3020c is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | KEF Q1 Meta takes more power (150W vs 90W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($549 vs $600 a pair). |
A Q Acoustics 3020c B KEF Q1 Meta
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?
KEF Q1 Meta 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 60Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 3020c the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and KEF Q1 Meta 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.