In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Q Acoustics. Q Acoustics 3050i is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the 3020i is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3050i and Q Acoustics 3020i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
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 )
Q Acoustics 3020i Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 0.9" decoupled Tweeter
- 5" Coated paper Woofer
- 64-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-75watts
- Weight:4.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 278.0" x 6.6" x 11.1"( 278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm )
3050i and 3020i are members of Q Acoustics's 3000i series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Q Acoustics 3000i Series
History
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3050i and Q Acoustics 3020i 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 |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Good |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
No way |
(* 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 3050i and Q Acoustics 3020i 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 3050i and 3020i are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Q Acoustics 3050i |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
0.9-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-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 3020i features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
3050i has a frequency range of 44-30k Hz whereas 3020i has a frequency range of 64-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the 3050i can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 3020i's min frequency of 63Hz.
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
3050i and 3020i have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3050i sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the 3020i's is at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3050i a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 3020i, 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.
3050i can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 3020i 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
3050i features Binding post type posts and 3020i has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3050i and 3020i 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 3050i's and Q Acoustics 3020i'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 Q Acoustics 3020i has external dimensions of 278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm ( 10.9 x 6.6 x 11.1inch) .
Q Acoustics 3050i is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 140mm wider, 742mm taller and 38mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3020i.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3050i and Q Acoustics 3020i in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3050i and Q Acoustics 3020i 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 Q Acoustics 3020i is approximately 479.4cm2 / 74.3inch2. The 3050i requires 107% more surface area than the 3020i which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 3050i?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 3050i:
1x 3050i loudspeaker1x Owners manual 2x Foam bung4x Spike feet 4x Spike cover 4x M5 screw 2x Rear stabiliser
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 3020i?
Here are the items that come with the 3020i:
2 x 3020i bookshelf speakers 2 x Foam Bungs 2 x Speaker Grilles 1 x User Manual 1 x Handling Gloves 8 x Rubber Speaker Grips