In this review, we will be comparing 3020i and Prime Bookshelf, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and SVS. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3020i and SVS Prime Bookshelf 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 )
SVS Prime Bookshelf Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Woofer
- 48-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Weight:7.03kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 337.8" x 8.0" x 10.2"( 337.8 x 203.2 x 261.6mm )
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3020i and SVS Prime Bookshelf 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 |
SVS Prime Bookshelf |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Poor |
(* 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 SVS Prime Bookshelf compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both 3020i and Prime Bookshelf are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
SVS Prime Bookshelf |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
1-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 and 2400Hz. On the other hand, the Prime Bookshelf features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
3020i has a frequency range of 64-30k Hz whereas Prime Bookshelf has a frequency range of 48-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the 3020i can go slightly deeper then the Prime Bookshelf's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
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 Prime Bookshelf which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 3020i sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Prime Bookshelf's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3020i a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Prime Bookshelf, 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. 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 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 3020i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS , 75 watts less than the Prime Bookshelf.
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
3020i features 5-way post type posts and Prime Bookshelf has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
SVS Prime Bookshelf's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3020i and Prime Bookshelf 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 SVS Prime Bookshelf'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 SVS Prime Bookshelf has external dimensions of 337.8 x 203.2 x 261.6mm ( 13.2 x 8.0 x 10.2inch) .
Q Acoustics 3020i is 33.2mm narrower and 59.8mm shorter than SVS Prime Bookshelf but it is also 20.4mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3020i and SVS Prime Bookshelf in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3020i and SVS Prime Bookshelf 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 SVS Prime Bookshelf is approximately 531.6cm2 / 82.4inch2. The 3020i requires 10% less surface area than the Prime Bookshelf 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:
Size Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3020i and SVS Prime Bookshelf 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 SVS Prime Bookshelf weighs 7.03kg / 15.5lbs. This makes the Prime Bookshelf 46% heavier than the 3020i.
Here is a comparison of how 3020i and Prime Bookshelf'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 SVS Prime Bookshelf?
Here are the items that come with the Prime Bookshelf:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles (pre-installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber bumpers Owners Manual SVS brochure Online Product Registration Card