In this review, we will be comparing 3020i and 3010i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3020i and Q Acoustics 3010i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3020i | 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 | 5" Coated paper | 4" Coated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 64-30k Hz | 65-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-75 watts | 15-75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.80kg / 10.6lbs | 4.09kg / 9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.9" x 6.6" x 11.1"
278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm | 10" x 5.9" x 10"
253.0 x 150.0 x 252.0mm |
|---|
3020i and 3010i are members of Q Acoustics's 3000i series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Q Acoustics 3000i Series
History
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3020i 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 3020i |
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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both 3020i and 3010i are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3020iQ 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 3020i |
Q Acoustics 3010i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
0.9-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4-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 3010i features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 4" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz .
Frequency Response
3020i has a frequency range of 64-30k Hz whereas 3010i has a frequency range of 65-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 64Hz, the 3020i can go slightly deeper then 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
3020i and 3010i have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3020i sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the 3010i's is at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3020i 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 75 watts RMS, though 3020i is rated 25-75 watts and 3010i 15-75 watts.
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
3020i 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 3020i 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 3020i's and Q Acoustics 3010i'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 Q Acoustics 3010i has external dimensions of 253.0 x 150.0 x 252.0mm (10.9 x 5.9 x 10inch).
Q Acoustics 3020i is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 20mm wider, 25mm taller and 30mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3010i.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3020i and Q Acoustics 3010i in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3020i 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 3020i is approximately 479.4cm2 / 74.3inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3010i is approximately 378.0cm2 / 58.6inch2. The 3020i requires 27% 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 3020i 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 3020i weighs 4.80kg / 10.6lbs and the Q Acoustics 3010i weighs 4.09kg / 9lbs. This makes the 3020i 17% heavier than the 3010i.
Here is a comparison of how 3020i 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 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 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
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
64 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
253mm
vs
278mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
378cm2
vs
479cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
329USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
Q Acoustics 3010i |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-75 watts |
15-75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
64-30k Hz |
65-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
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 |
2400Hz |
2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
278.0mm (10.9") |
253.0mm (10") |
| Width |
170.0mm (6.7") |
150.0mm (5.9") |
| Depth |
282.0mm (11.1") |
252.0mm (9.9") |
| Weight |
4.80kg (10.6lbs) |
4.09kg (9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Grey |
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 |
Siblings in Q Acoustics's 3000i series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (64Hz vs 65Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Q Acoustics 3020i is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (75W vs 75W). |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics 3010i is easier to place; Q Acoustics 3020i is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Q Acoustics 3010i is cheaper - $329 against $399, about 18% less. |
A Q Acoustics 3020i 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?
The usual trade-off: Q Acoustics 3020i measures better, Q Acoustics 3010i costs about about 21% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Q Acoustics 3020i is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.