In this review, we will be comparing 3020i and Carina BS243.4, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3020i and ELAC Carina BS243.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3020i | ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.9" decoupled | 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Coated paper | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 64-30k Hz | 46-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-75 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.80kg / 10.6lbs | 6.70kg / 14.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.9" x 6.6" x 11.1"
278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm | 12-5/8" x 8-1/16" x 9-11/16"
321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3020i and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 3020i |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
| 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 3020i and Carina BS243.4 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3020iELAC Carina BS243.4
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 3020i |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
3020i features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz. On the other hand, the Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
3020i has a frequency range of 64-30k Hz whereas Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 3020i's min frequency of 64Hz.
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
3020i and Carina BS243.4 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3020i sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Carina BS243.4's is at 85 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3020i a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4, 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.
Carina BS243.4 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas 3020i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Carina BS243.4.
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
Carina BS243.4 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. 3020i has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Carina BS243.4's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
3020i has a rear firing port whereas Carina BS243.4 has a bottom firing ports. ELAC Carina BS243.4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Q Acoustics 3020i with its rear-firing 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 3020i's and ELAC Carina BS243.4's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 3020i has external dimensions of 278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm (10.9 x 6.6 x 11.1inch) whereas ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm (12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch).
Q Acoustics 3020i is 35mm narrower and 43mm shorter than ELAC Carina BS243.4 but it is also 35mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3020i and ELAC Carina BS243.4 in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3020i and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 3020i is approximately 479.4cm2 / 74.3inch2 and base area of the ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2. The 3020i requires 5% less surface area than the Carina BS243.4 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 3020i and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 3020i weighs 4.80kg / 10.6lbs and the ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs. This makes the Carina BS243.4 40% heavier than the 3020i.
Here is a comparison of how 3020i and Carina BS243.4'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 3020i?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 3020i:
- 2 x 3020i 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 ELAC Carina BS243.4?
Here are the items that come with the Carina BS243.4:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled)
- Operating Instructions
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
278mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
479cm2
vs
506cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
64 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-75 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
64-30k Hz |
46-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated paper |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.9" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
decoupled |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
278.0mm (10.9") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Width |
170.0mm (6.7") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
282.0mm (11.1") |
247.0mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
4.80kg (10.6lbs) |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Polymer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Grey |
Satin Black,Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
4 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
4 Years |
3 Years |
These sit in different price classes - ELAC Carina BS243.4 costs roughly 3.8x what Q Acoustics 3020i 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 | B | ELAC Carina BS243.4 digs deeper - 46Hz against 64Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Q Acoustics 3020i is more sensitive (88dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | ELAC Carina BS243.4 takes more power (100W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | ELAC Carina BS243.4: bi-amping. Q Acoustics 3020i sits in a wider range (6 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Q Acoustics 3020i is cheaper - $399 against $1,500, about 73% less; arguably a different class. |
A Q Acoustics 3020i B ELAC Carina BS243.4
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?
ELAC Carina BS243.4 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 3.8x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Q Acoustics 3020i looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the ELAC Carina BS243.4 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 64Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Q Acoustics 3020i much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 3020i 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.