In this review, we will be comparing 3040c and 3050c, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Q Acoustics
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3040c and Q Acoustics 3050c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Q Acoustics 3040c Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 0.9" Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 4.75" Paper composite Woofer
- 43-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Weight:14.60kg
- 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 )
Q Acoustics 3050c Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 0.9" decoupled Tweeter
- 2 x 5.5" Coated paper Woofer
- 42-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Weight:17.91kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 40.2" x 12.4" x 12.4" ( 1020 x 315 x 316 mm )
3040c and 3050c 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 3050c 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 3050c |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 3040c and Q Acoustics 3050c compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both 3040c and 3050c are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Q Acoustics 3040c |
Q Acoustics 3050c |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
0.9-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.75-inch
|
2 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 3050c features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz.
Frequency Response
3040c has a frequency range of 43-30k Hz whereas 3050c has a frequency range of 42-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the 3050c can go slightly deeper then the 3040c's min frequency of 43Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
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
3040c and 3050c have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3040c sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the 3050c's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3050c a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 3040c, 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. 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.
3040c can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 3040c has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the 3050c.
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
3040c features Binding post type posts and 3050c has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3040c and 3050c 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 3040c's and Q Acoustics 3050c'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 3050c has external dimensions of 1020 x 315 x 316 mm ( 40.2 x 12.4 x 12.4 in) .
Q Acoustics 3050c is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 30mm wider, 78mm taller and 35mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3040c.
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 3050c is approximately 995.4cm2 / 154.3inch2. The 3040c requires 20% less surface area than the 3050c which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.