In this review, we will be comparing 3020c and 3010i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3020c and Q Acoustics 3010i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3020c | Q Acoustics 3010i |
|---|
| 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 | 4.74" Coated paper | 4" Coated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-30k Hz | 65-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-90 watts | 15-75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.50kg / 12.1lbs | 4.09kg / 9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11" x 6.9" x 11.1"
279 x 175 x 281 mm | 10" x 5.9" x 10"
253.0 x 150.0 x 252.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3020c and Q Acoustics 3010i 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 3010i |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 3020c and 3010i are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3020cQ Acoustics 3010i
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 |
Q Acoustics 3010i |
|
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 3010i features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 4" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz .
Frequency Response
3020c has a frequency range of 60-30k Hz whereas 3010i has a frequency range of 65-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the 3020c 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
3020c and 3010i have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3020c sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 3010i's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3020c 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.
3020c can handle a max power of 90 watts RMS, whereas 3010i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 15 watts less than the 3020c.
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 3010i has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3020c and 3010i 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 Q Acoustics 3010i'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 3010i has external dimensions of 253.0 x 150.0 x 252.0mm (10.9 x 5.9 x 10inch).
Q Acoustics 3020c is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25mm wider, 26mm taller and 29mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3010i.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3020c and Q Acoustics 3010i in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3020c and Q Acoustics 3010i 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 3010i is approximately 378.0cm2 / 58.6inch2. The 3020c requires 30% more surface area than the 3010i which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Q Acoustics 3010i 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 3010i weighs 4.09kg / 9lbs. This makes the 3020c 34% heavier than the 3010i.
Here is a comparison of how 3020c and 3010i'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 Q Acoustics 3010i?
Here are the items that come with the 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
 Max Input Power |
90 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
4.74 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
60 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.7 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
253mm
vs
279mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
378cm2
vs
491cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
329USD
vs
549USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3020c |
Q Acoustics 3010i |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-90 watts |
15-75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-30k Hz |
65-30k 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 |
2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
279.0mm (11") |
253.0mm (10") |
| Width |
175.0mm (6.9") |
150.0mm (5.9") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
252.0mm (9.9") |
| Weight |
5.50kg (12.1lbs) |
4.09kg (9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Oak |
Walnut, Black, White, Grey |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Q Acoustics 3020c costs roughly 1.7x what Q Acoustics 3010i 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 | A | Q Acoustics 3020c digs deeper - 60Hz against 65Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (90W vs 75W). |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics 3010i is easier to place; Q Acoustics 3020c is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Q Acoustics 3010i is cheaper - $329 against $549, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Q Acoustics 3020c B Q Acoustics 3010i
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?
Q Acoustics 3020c is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 67% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Q Acoustics 3010i looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Q Acoustics 3020c appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Q Acoustics 3010i much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Q Acoustics 3020c has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Q Acoustics 3010i is the easier speaker to get right.
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.