In this review, we will be comparing 3050i and Alpha T20, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Q Acoustics and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3050i and PSB Alpha T20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3050i | PSB Alpha T20 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.9" decoupled | 0.75" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Coated paper | 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-30k Hz | 36-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-165 watts | 15-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.82kg / 39.2lbs | 11.89kg / 26.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40.2" x 12.2" x 12.6"
1020 x 310 x 320 mm | 34-3/16" x 8-5/16" x 9-13/16"
869.0 x 212.0 x 250.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3050i and PSB Alpha T20 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 3050i |
PSB Alpha T20 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both 3050i and Alpha T20 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3050iPSB Alpha T20
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 3050i |
PSB Alpha T20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
3050i features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz. On the other hand, the Alpha T20 features a 0.75" anodized aluminum with front waveguide Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
3050i has a frequency range of 44-30k Hz whereas Alpha T20 has a frequency range of 36-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Alpha T20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 3050i's min frequency of 44Hz.
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
3050i is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Alpha T20 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 3050i sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Alpha T20's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3050i a more sensitive speaker compared to PSB Alpha T20, 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.
3050i can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS, whereas Alpha T20 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 55 watts less than the 3050i.
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
Alpha T20 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. 3050i has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
PSB Alpha T20's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3050i and Alpha T20 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 3050i's and PSB Alpha T20's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 3050i has external dimensions of 1020 x 310 x 320 mm (40.2 x 12.2 x 12.6 in) whereas PSB Alpha T20 has external dimensions of 869.0 x 212.0 x 250.0mm (34-3/16 x 8-5/16 x 9-13/16inch).
Q Acoustics 3050i is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 98mm wider, 151mm taller and 70mm deeper than PSB Alpha T20.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3050i and PSB Alpha T20 in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3050i and PSB Alpha T20 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 3050i is approximately 992.0cm2 / 153.8inch2 and base area of the PSB Alpha T20 is approximately 530.0cm2 / 82.2inch2. The 3050i requires 87% more surface area than the Alpha T20 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 3050i weighs 17.82kg / 39.2lbs and the PSB Alpha T20 weighs 11.89kg / 26.2lbs. This makes the 3050i 50% heavier than the Alpha T20.
Here is a comparison of how 3050i and Alpha T20'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 3050i?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 3050i:
- 1x 3050i loudspeaker
- 1x Owners manual
- 2x Foam bung
- 4x Spike feet
- 4x Spike cover
- 4x M5 screw
- 2x Rear stabiliser
What's in the Box of PSB Alpha T20?
Here are the items that come with the Alpha T20:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- 8 Spike feet
- 8 Hex-nuts
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
 Max Input Power |
175 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
869mm
vs
1020mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
530cm2
vs
992cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3050i |
PSB Alpha T20 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-165 watts |
15-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
44-30k Hz |
36-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated paper |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.9" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
decoupled |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500 Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1020.0mm (40.2") |
869.0mm (34.2") |
| Width |
310.0mm (12.2") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
320.0mm (12.6") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
| Weight |
17.82kg (39.2lbs) |
11.89kg (26.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Grey |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
4 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
4 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
PSB Alpha T20 digs deeper - 36Hz against 44Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
PSB Alpha T20 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
A |
Q Acoustics 3050i takes more power (175W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
PSB Alpha T20 is easier to place; Q Acoustics 3050i is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
B |
PSB Alpha T20: bi-amping. PSB Alpha T20 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
B |
PSB Alpha T20 is cheaper - $799 against $999, about 20% less. |
A Q Acoustics 3050i
B PSB Alpha T20
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
PSB Alpha T20 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Q Acoustics 3050i if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 44Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Q Acoustics 3050i has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, PSB Alpha T20 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.