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Q Acoustics 3030i vs Q Acoustics 3050i Comparison

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Q Acoustics 3030i

Passive Bookshelf | 46-30k Hz

Q Acoustics 3030i
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Q Acoustics 3050i

Passive Floor-standing | 44-30k Hz

Q Acoustics 3050i
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Q Acoustics 3030i Q Acoustics 3030i
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Q Acoustics 3050i Q Acoustics 3050i
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Q Acoustics 3030i
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Q Acoustics 3050i
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Q Acoustics 3030i vs Q Acoustics 3050i Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Q Acoustics. Q Acoustics 3030i is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the 3050i is a Floor-standing speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Q Acoustics 3030i and Q Acoustics 3050i first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Q Acoustics 3030i Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" decoupled Tweeter
  • 6.5" Coated paper Woofer
  • 46-30k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:25-75watts
  • Weight:6.20kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 325.0" x 7.8" x 12.9"( 325.0 x 200.0 x 329.0mm )

Q Acoustics 3050i Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 0.9" decoupled Tweeter
  • 2 x 6.5" Coated paper Woofer
  • 44-30k Hz Frequency Response
  • 91 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:50-165watts
  • Weight:17.80kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1020.0" x 12.2" x 12.6"( 1020 x 310 x 320 mm )

3030i and 3050i are members of Q Acoustics's 3000i series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

Q Acoustics 3000i Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Q Acoustics 3020i
  
Bookshelf 64-30k Hz 88 dB6Ω 1 x 5"
Q Acoustics 3050i
Floor-standing 44-30k Hz 91 dB6Ω 2 x 6.5"
Q Acoustics 3030i
Bookshelf 46-30k Hz 88 dB6Ω 1 x 6.5"
Q Acoustics 3010i
  
Bookshelf 65-30k Hz 86 dB6Ω 1 x 4"
Q Acoustics 3090Ci
  
Center Channel 75-30k Hz 89 dB6Ω 2 x 4"

What size room are the Q Acoustics 3030i and Q Acoustics 3050i 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 Q Acoustics 3050i
Near-field Good Bad
Small Room Good Poor
Mid-size Room Average Good
Large Room Poor Good
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 3030i and Q Acoustics 3050i compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both 3030i and 3050i are 2-way speakers.

Driver Q Acoustics 3030i Q Acoustics 3050i
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 0.9-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 6.5-inch 2 x 6.5-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 3050i features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz.

Frequency Response

3030i has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz whereas 3050i has a frequency range of 44-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the 3050i can go slightly deeper then the 3030i's min frequency of 46Hz.

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

3030i
3050i
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Q Acoustics 3030i
Q Acoustics 3050i
Min
Average
Max

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

3030i and 3050i have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3030i sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the 3050i's is at 91 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3050i a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 3030i, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

3030i
3050i
Min
Average
Max

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.

3030i can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 3030i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the 3050i.

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

3030i features Binding post type posts and 3050i has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both 3030i and 3050i 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 3030i's and Q Acoustics 3050i'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 Q Acoustics 3050i has external dimensions of 1020 x 310 x 320 mm ( 40.2 x 12.2 x 12.6 in) .

Q Acoustics 3030i is 110mm narrower and 695mm shorter than Q Acoustics 3050i but it is also 9mm deeper.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3030i and Q Acoustics 3050i in scale.

Q Acoustics 3030i vs Q Acoustics 3050i Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3030i and Q Acoustics 3050i 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 Q Acoustics 3050i is approximately 992.0cm2 / 153.8inch2. The 3030i requires 34% less surface area than the 3050i which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

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 Q Acoustics 3050i?

    Here are the items that come with the 3050i:
  • 1x 3050i loudspeaker
  • 1x Owners manual
  • 2x Foam bung
  • 4x Spike feet
  • 4x Spike cover
  • 4x M5 screw
  • 2x Rear stabiliser

  • Reasons to choose Q Acoustics 3030i over Q Acoustics 3050i
    Height 325mm vs 1020mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 658cm2 vs 992cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 499USD vs 999USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Q Acoustics 3050i over Q Acoustics 3030i

    Max Input Power 175 watts vs 75 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 91 dB vs 88 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Number of Woofers 2 vs 1 More woofers
    Low Frequency Response 44 Hz vs 46 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Q Acoustics 3030i vs Q Acoustics 3050i Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Q Acoustics 3030i Q Acoustics 3050i
    Brand Q Acoustics Q Acoustics
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 25-75 watts 50-165 watts
    Sensitivity 88 dB 91 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 6 ohms
    Impedance 4 ohms 4 ohms
    Frequency Response 46-30k Hz 44-30k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Coated paper Coated paper
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 0.9"
    Tweeter Type decoupled decoupled
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 2400Hz 2500 Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 325.0mm (12.8") 1020.0mm (40.2")
    Width 200.0mm (7.9") 310.0mm (12.2")
    Depth 329.0mm (13") 320.0mm (12.6")
    Weight 6.20kg (13.6lbs) 17.80kg (39.2lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish n/a MDF
    Available Colors Walnut, Black, White 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

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