In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Q Acoustics. Q Acoustics 3040c is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the 3030c is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3040c and Q Acoustics 3030c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3040c | Q Acoustics 3030c |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.9" Dome | 1" decoupled |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4.75" Paper composite | 5.5" Coated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 43-30k Hz | 48-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 25-90 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 14.60kg / 32.1lbs | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 37-1/16" x 11-1/4" x 11-1/16"
942.0 x 285.0 x 281.0mm | 12.8" x 8.1" x 13"
325 x 205 x 329mm |
|---|
3040c and 3030c are members of Q Acoustics's 3000c series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Q Acoustics 3000c Series
History
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3040c and Q Acoustics 3030c 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 3040c |
Q Acoustics 3030c |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 3040c and 3030c are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3040cQ Acoustics 3030c
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 3040c |
Q Acoustics 3030c |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.75-inch
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
3040c features a 0.9" Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4.75" Paper composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz. On the other hand, the 3030c features a 1" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
3040c has a frequency range of 43-30k Hz whereas 3030c has a frequency range of 48-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 43Hz, the 3040c can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
3040c and 3030c have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3040c sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the 3030c's is at 86.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3040c a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 3030c, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
3040c can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas 3030c has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the 3040c.
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
3040c features Binding post type posts and 3030c has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3040c and 3030c 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 3040c's and Q Acoustics 3030c's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 3040c has external dimensions of 942.0 x 285.0 x 281.0mm (37-1/16 x 11-1/4 x 11-1/16inch) whereas Q Acoustics 3030c has external dimensions of 325 x 205 x 329mm (12.8 x 8.1 x 13inch).
Q Acoustics 3030c is 80mm narrower and 617mm shorter than Q Acoustics 3040c but it is also 48mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Q Acoustics 3040c needs about 19% more floor or shelf area. Q Acoustics 3030c is 48mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Q Acoustics 3040c is 617mm taller.
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 3040c is approximately 800.9cm2 / 124.1inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3030c is approximately 674.5cm2 / 104.5inch2. The 3040c requires 19% more surface area than the 3030c which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 3030c?
Here are the items that come with the 3030c:
- 2 x 3030c bookshelf speakers
- 2 x Speaker Grilles
- 2 x Foam Bungs
- 1 x User Manual