In this review, we will be comparing 3090Ci and Spektor Vokal, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Q Acoustics and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3090Ci and DALI Spektor Vokal first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3090Ci | DALI Spektor Vokal |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" Coated paper | 2 x 4.5" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 75-30k Hz | 66-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 40-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.00kg / 13.2lbs | 5.30kg / 11.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6" x 16.9" x 8.5"
153 x 430 x 216 mm | 6" x 17.1" x 8"
152.0 x 435.0 x 204.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3090Ci and DALI Spektor Vokal 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 3090Ci |
DALI Spektor Vokal |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 3090Ci and Spektor Vokal are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3090CiDALI Spektor Vokal
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 3090Ci |
DALI Spektor Vokal |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 4.5-inch
|
3090Ci features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700 Hz. On the other hand, the Spektor Vokal features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4.5" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz.
Frequency Response
3090Ci has a frequency range of 75-30k Hz whereas Spektor Vokal has a frequency range of 66-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 66Hz, the Spektor Vokal can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 3090Ci's min frequency of 75Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
3090Ci and Spektor Vokal have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3090Ci sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Spektor Vokal's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3090Ci a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Spektor Vokal, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Spektor Vokal can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas 3090Ci has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Spektor Vokal.
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
3090Ci features Binding post type posts and Spektor Vokal has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Q Acoustics 3090Ci's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3090Ci and Spektor Vokal 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 3090Ci's and DALI Spektor Vokal's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 3090Ci has external dimensions of 153 x 430 x 216 mm (6 x 16.9 x 8.5 in) whereas DALI Spektor Vokal has external dimensions of 152.0 x 435.0 x 204.0mm (6 x 17.1 x 8inch).
DALI Spektor Vokal is 1mm shorter and 12mm less deeper than Q Acoustics 3090Ci but it is also 5mm wider.
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 3090Ci is approximately 928.8cm2 / 144.0inch2 and base area of the DALI Spektor Vokal is approximately 887.4cm2 / 137.5inch2. The 3090Ci requires 5% more surface area than the Spektor Vokal 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 3090Ci weighs 6.00kg / 13.2lbs and the DALI Spektor Vokal weighs 5.30kg / 11.7lbs. This makes the 3090Ci 13% heavier than the Spektor Vokal.
Here is a comparison of how 3090Ci and Spektor Vokal's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 3090Ci?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 3090Ci:
- 1x 3090ci loudspeaker
- 1x Owners manual
- 2x Foam bung
What's in the Box of DALI Spektor Vokal?
Here are the items that come with the Spektor Vokal:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- Rubber Feet
- Manual
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
4.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
66 Hz
vs
75 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
152mm
vs
153mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
887cm2
vs
928cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3090Ci |
DALI Spektor Vokal |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
75-30k Hz |
66-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated paper |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700 Hz |
2100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
153.0mm (6") |
152.0mm (6") |
| Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
435.0mm (17.1") |
| Depth |
216.0mm (8.5") |
204.0mm (8") |
| Weight |
6.00kg (13.2lbs) |
5.30kg (11.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Oak |
Black Ash, Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 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 |
DALI Spektor Vokal digs deeper - 66Hz against 75Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Q Acoustics 3090Ci is more sensitive (89dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (100W vs 120W). |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
A Q Acoustics 3090Ci
B DALI Spektor Vokal
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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 75Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 3090Ci the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and DALI Spektor Vokal for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.