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Q Acoustics 3020c vs Q Acoustics 3010c Comparison

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Q Acoustics 3020c

Passive Bookshelf | 60-30k Hz

Q Acoustics 3020c
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Q Acoustics 3010c

Passive Bookshelf | 60-30k Hz

Q Acoustics 3010c
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Q Acoustics 3020c Q Acoustics 3020c
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Q Acoustics 3010c Q Acoustics 3010c
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Q Acoustics 3020c
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Q Acoustics 3010c
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Q Acoustics 3020c vs Q Acoustics 3010c Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing 3020c and 3010c, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Q Acoustics

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Q Acoustics 3020c and Q Acoustics 3010c first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Q Acoustics 3020c Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 0.9" decoupled Tweeter
  • 4.74" Coated paper Woofer
  • 60-30k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:25-90watts
  • Weight:5.50kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 279.0" x 6.9" x 11.1"( 279 x 175 x 281 mm )

Q Acoustics 3010c Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 0.9" decoupled Tweeter
  • 4" Coated paper Woofer
  • 60-30k Hz Frequency Response
  • 85 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:15-80watts
  • Weight:4.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 254.0" x 6.1" x 9.9"( 254 x 155 x 251 mm )

3020c and 3010c are members of Q Acoustics's 3000c series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

Q Acoustics 3000c Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Q Acoustics 3050c
  
Floor-standing 42-30k Hz 90 dB6Ω 2 x 5.5"
Q Acoustics 3010c
Bookshelf 60-30k Hz 85 dB6Ω 1 x 4"
Q Acoustics 3030c
  
Bookshelf 48-30k Hz 86.5 dB6Ω 1 x 5.5"
Q Acoustics 3020c
Bookshelf 60-30k Hz 87 dB6Ω 1 x 4.74"
Q Acoustics 3090c
  
Center Channel 68-30k Hz 92 dB6Ω 2 x 4"

What size room are the Q Acoustics 3020c and Q Acoustics 3010c 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 Q Acoustics 3010c
Near-field Good Good
Small Room Good Good
Mid-size Room Average Average
Large Room Poor Poor
Very Large Room No way No way

(* 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Q Acoustics 3020c and Q Acoustics 3010c compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both 3020c and 3010c are 2-way speakers.

Driver Q Acoustics 3020c Q Acoustics 3010c
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 0.9-inch 0.9-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 4.74-inch 1 x 4-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 3010c features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 4" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz .

Frequency Response

3020c and 3010c has exactly the same frequency range of 60-30k Hz.

Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

3020c
3010c
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Q Acoustics 3020c
Q Acoustics 3010c
Min
Average
Max

None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.

Impedance and Sensitivity

3020c and 3010c have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3020c sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 3010c's is at 85 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3020c a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 3010c, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

3020c
3010c
Min
Average
Max

Power Range

Power range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.

3020c can handle a max power of 90 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 3010c has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the 3020c.

Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

3020c features Binding post type posts and 3010c has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both 3020c and 3010c 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

Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 Q Acoustics 3010c'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 Q Acoustics 3010c has external dimensions of 254 x 155 x 251 mm ( 10.0 x 6.1 x 9.9 in) .

Q Acoustics 3020c is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 20mm wider, 25mm taller and 30mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3010c.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3020c and Q Acoustics 3010c in scale.

Q Acoustics 3020c vs Q Acoustics 3010c Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3020c and Q Acoustics 3010c 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 Q Acoustics 3010c is approximately 389.1cm2 / 60.3inch2. The 3020c requires 26% more surface area than the 3010c which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Q Acoustics 3020c vs Q Acoustics 3010c Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3020c and Q Acoustics 3010c 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 Q Acoustics 3010c weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the 3020c 25% heavier than the 3010c.

Here is a comparison of how 3020c and 3010c's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Q Acoustics 3020c
Q Acoustics 3010c
Min
Average
Max

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 Q Acoustics 3010c?

    Here are the items that come with the 3010c:
  • 2 x 3010c bookshelf speakers
  • 2 x Foam Bungs
  • 2 x Speaker Grilles
  • 1 x User Manual
  • 1 x Handling Gloves
  • 8 x Rubber Speaker Grips

  • Reasons to choose Q Acoustics 3020c over Q Acoustics 3010c
    Max Input Power 90 watts vs 80 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 87 dB vs 85 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 4.74 inches vs 4 inches Larger woofer

    Reasons to choose Q Acoustics 3010c over Q Acoustics 3020c

    Height 254mm vs 279mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 389cm2 vs 491cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 399USD vs 549USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    Q Acoustics 3020c vs Q Acoustics 3010c Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Q Acoustics 3020c Q Acoustics 3010c
    Brand Q Acoustics Q Acoustics
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 25-90 watts 15-80 watts
    Sensitivity 87 dB 85 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 6 ohms
    Impedance 3.7 ohms 3.7 ohms
    Frequency Response 60-30k Hz 60-30k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 4.74" 4"
    Woofer Composition Coated paper Coated paper
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 0.9" 0.9"
    Tweeter Type decoupled decoupled
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 2600Hz 3100Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 279.0mm (11") 254.0mm (10")
    Width 175.0mm (6.9") 155.0mm (6.1")
    Depth 281.0mm (11.1") 251.0mm (9.9")
    Weight 5.50kg (12.1lbs) 4.40kg (9.7lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Available Colors Walnut, Black, White, Oak Walnut, Black, White, Oak
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 4 Years 4 Years
    Labor Warranty 4 Years 4 Years

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