In this review, we will be comparing 3020i and D310, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3020i and Wharfedale D310 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3020i | Wharfedale D310 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.9" decoupled | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Coated paper | 4" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 64-30k Hz | 65-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-75 watts | 20-60 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.80kg / 10.6lbs | 4.00kg / 8.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.9" x 6.6" x 11.1"
278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm | 10-7/16" x 6-1/8" x 8-13/16"
266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3020i and Wharfedale D310 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 |
Wharfedale D310 |
| 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 D310 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3020iWharfedale D310
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 |
Wharfedale D310 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
1-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 D310 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woven Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
3020i has a frequency range of 64-30k Hz whereas D310 has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 64Hz, the 3020i can go slightly deeper then the D310'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 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the D310 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 D310's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3020i a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale D310, 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.
3020i can handle a max power of 75 watts RMS, whereas D310 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 15 watts less than the 3020i.
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 Post type posts and D310 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale D310's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
3020i has a rear firing port whereas D310 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale D310'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 Wharfedale D310'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 Wharfedale D310 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm (10-7/16 x 6-1/8 x 8-13/16inch).
Q Acoustics 3020i is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 14mm wider, 12mm taller and 58mm deeper than Wharfedale D310.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3020i and Wharfedale D310 in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3020i and Wharfedale D310 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 Wharfedale D310 is approximately 349.4cm2 / 54.2inch2. The 3020i requires 37% more surface area than the D310 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 Wharfedale D310 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 Wharfedale D310 weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs. This makes the 3020i 20% heavier than the D310.
Here is a comparison of how 3020i and D310'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 Wharfedale D310?
Here are the items that come with the D310:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)
- 2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)
- User-feets Manual
- Installation Guide
 Max Input Power |
75 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
64 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
266mm
vs
278mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
349cm2
vs
479cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
199USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
Wharfedale D310 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Compact bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-75 watts |
20-60 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
3.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
64-30k Hz |
65-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated paper |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foamed Polyether |
| Tweeter Size |
0.9" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
decoupled |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
278.0mm (10.9") |
266.0mm (10.5") |
| Width |
170.0mm (6.7") |
156.0mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
282.0mm (11.1") |
224.0mm (8.8") |
| Weight |
4.80kg (10.6lbs) |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Grey |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
4 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
4 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Q Acoustics 3020i costs roughly 2x what Wharfedale D310 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 | 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. |
| Amplifier match | B | Wharfedale D310 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Q Acoustics 3020i takes more power (75W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Wharfedale D310 is easier to place; Q Acoustics 3020i is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale D310 is cheaper - $199 against $399, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A Q Acoustics 3020i B Wharfedale D310
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 3020i is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 101% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Wharfedale D310 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Q Acoustics 3020i appeals to you. In a large or open-plan room, Q Acoustics 3020i has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Wharfedale D310 is the easier speaker to get right. 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.