In this review, we will be comparing 3050i and 3050i, 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 3050i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3050i | Q Acoustics 3050i |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.9" decoupled | 0.9" decoupled |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Coated paper | 2 x 6.5" Coated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-30k Hz | 44-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-165 watts | 50-165 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.82kg / 39.2lbs | 17.82kg / 39.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40.2" x 12.2" x 12.6"
1020 x 310 x 320 mm | 40.2" x 12.2" x 12.6"
1020 x 310 x 320 mm |
|---|
3050i and 3050i 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 3050i 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 3050i |
| 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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Drivers
Both 3050i and 3050i are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3050iQ Acoustics 3050i
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 3050i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
0.9-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 3050i features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz.
Frequency Response
3050i and 3050i has exactly the same frequency range of 44-30k Hz.
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 3050i have the same Impedance of 6 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 91 dB.
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 and 3050i have the same power range of 50-165 watts.
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 3050i has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3050i and 3050i 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 3050i'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 3050i has external dimensions of 1020 x 310 x 320 mm (40.2 x 12.2 x 12.6 in).
In this case, we can see that Q Acoustics 3050i and Q Acoustics 3050i have the exact same height, width and thickness.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 3050i and Q Acoustics 3050i in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 3050i and Q Acoustics 3050i 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 3050i is approximately 992.0cm2 / 153.8inch2.
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 3050i weighs 17.82kg / 39.2lbs.
Here is a comparison of how 3050i and 3050i'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 3050i?
Here are the items that come with the 3050i:
- 1x 3050i loudspeaker
- 1x Owners manual
- 2x Foam bung
- 4x Spike feet
- 4x Spike cover
- 4x M5 screw
- 2x Rear stabiliser
| General |
Q Acoustics 3050i |
Q Acoustics 3050i |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-165 watts |
50-165 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-30k Hz |
44-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| 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 |
2500 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1020.0mm (40.2") |
1020.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
310.0mm (12.2") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
| Depth |
320.0mm (12.6") |
320.0mm (12.6") |
| Weight |
17.82kg (39.2lbs) |
17.82kg (39.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Grey |
Walnut, Black, White, Grey |
| 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 |
Siblings in Q Acoustics's 3000i 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 (44Hz vs 44Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (175W vs 175W). |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($999 vs $999 a pair). |
A Q Acoustics 3050i
B Q Acoustics 3050i
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?
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.