In this review, we will be comparing 3030c and 3030i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3030c and Q Acoustics 3030i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3030c | Q Acoustics 3030i |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" decoupled | 1" decoupled |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.5" Coated paper | 6.5" Coated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-30k Hz | 46-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86.5 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-90 watts | 25-75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs | 6.20kg / 13.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.8" x 8.1" x 13"
325 x 205 x 329mm | 12.7" x 7.8" x 12.9"
325.0 x 200.0 x 329.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3030c and Q Acoustics 3030i 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 3030c |
Q Acoustics 3030i |
| Near-field |
Average |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.
Drivers
Both 3030c and 3030i are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3030cQ Acoustics 3030i
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 3030c |
Q Acoustics 3030i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
3030c features a 1" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the 3030i features a 1" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
3030c has a frequency range of 48-30k Hz whereas 3030i has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the 3030i can go slightly deeper then the 3030c's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
3030c and 3030i have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3030c sensitivity is rated at 86.5 dB and the 3030i's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3030i a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 3030c, 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.
3030c can handle a max power of 90 watts RMS, whereas 3030i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 15 watts less than the 3030c.
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
3030c features Binding post type posts and 3030i has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3030c and 3030i 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 3030c's and Q Acoustics 3030i's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 3030c has external dimensions of 325 x 205 x 329mm (12.8 x 8.1 x 13inch) whereas Q Acoustics 3030i has external dimensions of 325.0 x 200.0 x 329.0mm (12.7 x 7.8 x 12.9inch).
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3030c and Q Acoustics 3030i in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3030c and Q Acoustics 3030i 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 3030c is approximately 674.5cm2 / 104.5inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3030i is approximately 658.0cm2 / 102.0inch2. The 3030c requires 3% more surface area than the 3030i 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 3030c and Q Acoustics 3030i 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 3030c weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs and the Q Acoustics 3030i weighs 6.20kg / 13.6lbs. This makes the 3030c 21% heavier than the 3030i.
Here is a comparison of how 3030c and 3030i'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 3030c?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 3030c:
- 2 x 3030c bookshelf speakers
- 2 x Speaker Grilles
- 2 x Foam Bungs
- 1 x User Manual
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 3030i?
Here are the items that come with the 3030i:
- 2 x 3030i bookshelf speakers
- 2 x Speaker Grilles
- 2 x Foam Bungs
- 1 x User Manual
 Max Input Power |
90 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.9 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
658cm2
vs
674cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
699USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3030c |
Q Acoustics 3030i |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-90 watts |
25-75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86.5 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.9 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-30k Hz |
46-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated paper |
Coated paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
decoupled |
decoupled |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
2400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
325.0mm (12.8") |
325.0mm (12.8") |
| Width |
205.0mm (8.1") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
329.0mm (13") |
329.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
6.20kg (13.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Oak |
Walnut, Black, White |
| 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 |
A generation apart: Q Acoustics 3030c is the newer design, against a 2020 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (48Hz vs 46Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (90W vs 75W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | Q Acoustics 3030i is cheaper - $499 against $699, about 29% less. |
A Q Acoustics 3030c B Q Acoustics 3030i
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 3030i the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $200 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.