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Q Acoustics 3020i vs MartinLogan 35XTi Comparison

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Q Acoustics 3020i

Passive Bookshelf | 64-30k Hz

Q Acoustics 3020i
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MartinLogan 35XTi

Passive Bookshelf | 50-25k Hz

MartinLogan Motion 35XTi
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Q Acoustics 3020i Q Acoustics 3020i
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MartinLogan 35XTi MartinLogan 35XTi
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Q Acoustics 3020i
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MartinLogan 35XTi
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Q Acoustics 3020i vs MartinLogan 35XTi Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing 3020i and Motion 35XTi, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and MartinLogan.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Q Acoustics 3020i and MartinLogan 35XTi first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Q Acoustics 3020i Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 0.9" decoupled Tweeter
  • 5" Coated paper Woofer
  • 64-30k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:25-75watts
  • Weight:4.80kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 278.0" x 6.6" x 11.1"( 278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm )

MartinLogan 35XTi Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter
  • 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
  • 50-25k Hz Frequency Response
  • 92 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:20-250watts
  • Weight:8.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 343.0" x 7.5" x 11.8"( 343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm )

What size room are the Q Acoustics 3020i and MartinLogan 35XTi 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 MartinLogan 35XTi
Near-field Good Poor
Small Room Good Poor
Mid-size Room Average Good
Large Room Poor Good
Very Large Room No way Average

(* 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 3020i and MartinLogan 35XTi 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 3020i and Motion 35XTi are 2-way speakers.

Driver Q Acoustics 3020i MartinLogan 35XTi
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 0.9-inch 1.25 x 2.4-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 5-inch 1 x 6.5-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 Motion 35XTi features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.

Frequency Response

3020i has a frequency range of 64-30k Hz whereas Motion 35XTi has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Motion 35XTi can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 3020i's min frequency of 63Hz.

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

3020i
Motion 35XTi
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Q Acoustics 3020i
MartinLogan 35XTi
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

3020i is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Motion 35XTi 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 Motion 35XTi can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 3020i sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Motion 35XTi's is rated at 92 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the MartinLogan 35XTi a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 3020i, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

3020i
Motion 35XTi
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.

3020i can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 3020i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS , 175 watts less than the Motion 35XTi.

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

Motion 35XTi features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. 3020i has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

MartinLogan 35XTi Terminals
MartinLogan 35XTi's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both 3020i and Motion 35XTi 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 3020i's and MartinLogan 35XTi'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 MartinLogan 35XTi has external dimensions of 343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm ( 13.5 x 7.5 x 11.8inch) .

MartinLogan 35XTi is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 22mm wider, 65mm taller and 18mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3020i.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3020i and MartinLogan 35XTi in scale.

Q Acoustics 3020i vs MartinLogan 35XTi Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3020i and MartinLogan 35XTi 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 MartinLogan 35XTi is approximately 576.0cm2 / 89.3inch2. The 3020i requires 17% less surface area than the Motion 35XTi which gives it a small advantage 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 3020i vs MartinLogan 35XTi Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3020i and MartinLogan 35XTi 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 MartinLogan 35XTi weighs 8.40kg / 18.5lbs. This makes the Motion 35XTi 75% heavier than the 3020i.

Here is a comparison of how 3020i and Motion 35XTi's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Q Acoustics 3020i
MartinLogan 35XTi
Min
Average
Max

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 MartinLogan 35XTi?

    Here are the items that come with the Motion 35XTi:
  • Bookshelf loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 4 Rubber feet
  • 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
  • Users Manual
  • Warranty/Registration Information

  • Reasons to choose Q Acoustics 3020i over MartinLogan Motion 35XTi
    Nominal Impedance 6 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    High Frequency Response 30k Hz vs 25k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 278mm vs 343mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 479cm2 vs 576cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 399USD vs 1500USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose MartinLogan Motion 35XTi over Q Acoustics 3020i

    Max Input Power 250 watts vs 75 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 92 dB vs 88 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 50 Hz vs 63 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Q Acoustics 3020i vs MartinLogan 35XTi Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Q Acoustics 3020i MartinLogan Motion 35XTi
    Brand Q Acoustics MartinLogan
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 25-75 watts 20-250 watts
    Sensitivity 88 dB 92 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 4 ohms
    Impedance 4 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 64-30k Hz 50-25k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 5" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Coated paper Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 0.9" 1.25 x 2.4"
    Tweeter Type decoupled Folded Motion XT
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 2400Hz 2200Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Suggested Break-in Period n/a Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB
    Physical Specs
    Height 278.0mm (10.9") 343.0mm (13.5")
    Width 170.0mm (6.7") 192.0mm (7.6")
    Depth 282.0mm (11.1") 300.0mm (11.8")
    Weight 4.80kg (10.6lbs) 8.40kg (18.5lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish n/a MDF/Lacquer
    Available Colors Walnut, Black, White, Grey Gloss Black, Matt White, Red Walnut
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height n/a 24-26"
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 4 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 4 Years 5 Years

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