In this review, we will be comparing 3050i and 3050c, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3050i and Q Acoustics 3050c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3050i | Q Acoustics 3050c |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.9" decoupled | 0.9" decoupled |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Coated paper | 2 x 5.5" Coated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-30k Hz | 42-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-165 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.82kg / 39.2lbs | 17.91kg / 39.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40.2" x 12.2" x 12.6"
1020 x 310 x 320 mm | 40.2" x 12.4" x 12.4"
1020 x 315 x 316 mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3050i 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 3050i |
Q Acoustics 3050c |
| 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.
Drivers
Both 3050i and 3050c are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3050iQ Acoustics 3050c
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 |
Q Acoustics 3050c |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
0.9-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.5-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 3050c features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz.
Frequency Response
3050i has a frequency range of 44-30k 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 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 and 3050c have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3050i sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the 3050c's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3050i a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 3050c, 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 3050c has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 25 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
3050i 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 3050i 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
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 Q Acoustics 3050c'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 3050c has external dimensions of 1020 x 315 x 316 mm (40.2 x 12.4 x 12.4 in).
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3050i and Q Acoustics 3050c in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3050i and Q Acoustics 3050c 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 3050c is approximately 995.4cm2 / 154.3inch2. The 3050i requires 0% less surface area than the 3050c which gives it a small advantage 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 Q Acoustics 3050c weighs 17.91kg / 39.4lbs. This makes the 3050c 1% heavier than the 3050i.
Here is a comparison of how 3050i and 3050c'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 Q Acoustics 3050c?
Here are the items that come with the 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 |
175 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.8 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
992cm2
vs
995cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3050i |
Q Acoustics 3050c |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-165 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-30k Hz |
42-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated paper |
Coated paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.9" |
0.9" |
| Tweeter Type |
decoupled |
decoupled |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500 Hz |
2400 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1020.0mm (40.2") |
1020.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
310.0mm (12.2") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
| Depth |
320.0mm (12.6") |
316.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
17.82kg (39.2lbs) |
17.91kg (39.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Grey |
Walnut, Black, White, Oak |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
4 Years |
4 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
4 Years |
4 Years |
A generation apart: Q Acoustics 3050c is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (44Hz vs 42Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (175W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | A | Q Acoustics 3050i is cheaper - $999 against $1,199, about 17% less. |
A Q Acoustics 3050i B Q Acoustics 3050c
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it.
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.