In this review, we will be comparing 3030i and S 803, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3030i and Jamo S 803 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3030i | Jamo S 803 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" decoupled | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Coated paper | 5" Aluminized Polyfiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-30k Hz | 57-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-75 watts | up to 80 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.20kg / 13.6lbs | 5.40kg / 11.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.7" x 7.8" x 12.9"
325.0 x 200.0 x 329.0mm | 13.8" x 7.5" x 9.9"
353.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3030i and Jamo S 803 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 3030i |
Jamo S 803 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Bad |
(* 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 3030i and S 803 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3030iJamo S 803
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 3030i |
Jamo S 803 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
3030i features a 1" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz. On the other hand, the S 803 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
3030i has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz whereas S 803 has a frequency range of 57-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the 3030i can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 803's min frequency of 57Hz.
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
3030i is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the S 803 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 3030i sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the S 803's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3030i a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 803, 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.
S 803 can handle a max power of 80 watts RMS, whereas 3030i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the S 803.
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
3030i features Post type posts and S 803 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 803's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
3030i has a rear firing port whereas S 803 has a front firing ports. Jamo S 803's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Q Acoustics 3030i 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 3030i's and Jamo S 803's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 3030i has external dimensions of 325.0 x 200.0 x 329.0mm (12.7 x 7.8 x 12.9inch) whereas Jamo S 803 has external dimensions of 353.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm (13.8 x 7.5 x 9.9inch).
Jamo S 803 is 9mm narrower and 77mm less deeper than Q Acoustics 3030i but it is also 28mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3030i and Jamo S 803 in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3030i and Jamo S 803 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 3030i is approximately 658.0cm2 / 102.0inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 803 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2. The 3030i requires 37% more surface area than the S 803 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 3030i and Jamo S 803 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 3030i weighs 6.20kg / 13.6lbs and the Jamo S 803 weighs 5.40kg / 11.9lbs. This makes the 3030i 15% heavier than the S 803.
Here is a comparison of how 3030i and S 803'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 3030i?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 3030i:
- 2 x 3030i bookshelf speakers
- 2 x Speaker Grilles
- 2 x Foam Bungs
- 1 x User Manual
What's in the Box of Jamo S 803?
Here are the items that come with the S 803:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
325mm
vs
353mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
80 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
481cm2
vs
658cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
229USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3030i |
Jamo S 803 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-75 watts |
up to 80 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
46-30k Hz |
57-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated paper |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
decoupled |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
325.0mm (12.8") |
353.0mm (13.9") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
329.0mm (13") |
252.0mm (9.9") |
| Weight |
6.20kg (13.6lbs) |
5.40kg (11.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White |
Walnut, Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| 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 3030i costs roughly 2.2x what Jamo S 803 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 | A | Q Acoustics 3030i digs deeper - 46Hz against 57Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Jamo S 803 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (75W vs 80W). |
| Size | depends | Jamo S 803 is easier to place; Q Acoustics 3030i is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Jamo S 803 is cheaper - $229 against $499, about 54% less; arguably a different class. |
A Q Acoustics 3030i B Jamo S 803
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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 57Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Jamo S 803 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 3030i the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.