In this review, we will be comparing 3050c and 3040c, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3050c and Q Acoustics 3040c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3050c | Q Acoustics 3040c |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.9" decoupled | 0.9" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.5" Coated paper | 2 x 4.75" Paper composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-30k Hz | 43-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.91kg / 39.4lbs | 14.60kg / 32.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40.2" x 12.4" x 12.4"
1020 x 315 x 316 mm | 37-1/16" x 11-1/4" x 11-1/16"
942.0 x 285.0 x 281.0mm |
|---|
3050c and 3040c 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 3050c and Q Acoustics 3040c 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 3050c |
Q Acoustics 3040c |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both 3050c and 3040c are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3050cQ Acoustics 3040c
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 3050c |
Q Acoustics 3040c |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
0.9-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
2 x 4.75-inch
|
3050c features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz. On the other hand, the 3040c features a 0.9" Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4.75" Paper composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
3050c has a frequency range of 42-30k Hz whereas 3040c has a frequency range of 43-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the 3050c can go slightly deeper then the 3040c's min frequency of 43Hz.
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
3050c and 3040c have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3050c sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the 3040c's is at 88 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
3050c can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas 3040c has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the 3050c.
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
3050c features Binding post type posts and 3040c has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3050c and 3040c 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 3050c's and Q Acoustics 3040c's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 3050c has external dimensions of 1020 x 315 x 316 mm (40.2 x 12.4 x 12.4 in) whereas 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).
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 3050c is approximately 995.4cm2 / 154.3inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3040c is approximately 800.9cm2 / 124.1inch2. The 3050c requires 24% more surface area than the 3040c which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 3050c weighs 17.91kg / 39.4lbs and the Q Acoustics 3040c weighs 14.60kg / 32.1lbs. This makes the 3050c 23% heavier than the 3040c.
Here is a comparison of how 3050c and 3040c's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 3050c?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 3050c:
- 1x 3050c loudspeaker
- 1x Owners manual
- 2x Foam bung
- 4x Spike feet
- 4x Spike cover
- 4x M5 screw
- 2x Rear stabiliser
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
4.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
43 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.8 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
942mm
vs
1020mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
800cm2
vs
995cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3050c |
Q Acoustics 3040c |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-30k Hz |
43-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
4.75" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated paper |
Paper composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
0.9" |
0.9" |
| Tweeter Type |
decoupled |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400 Hz |
2400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1020.0mm (40.2") |
942.0mm (37.1") |
| Width |
315.0mm (12.4") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Depth |
316.0mm (12.4") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
17.91kg (39.4lbs) |
14.60kg (32.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Oak |
n/a |
| 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 |
Siblings in Q Acoustics's 3000c series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (42Hz vs 43Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Q Acoustics 3050c is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Q Acoustics 3050c takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics 3040c is easier to place; Q Acoustics 3050c is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Q Acoustics 3040c is cheaper - $599 against $1,199, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A Q Acoustics 3050c B Q Acoustics 3040c
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?
The usual trade-off: Q Acoustics 3050c measures better, Q Acoustics 3040c costs about about 100% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 3050c the better fit for a large room, and Q Acoustics 3040c for a small room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Q Acoustics 3050c is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.