In this review, we will be comparing 3090Ci and ES30, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Q Acoustics and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3090Ci and Polk ES30 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3090Ci | Polk ES30 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-dome | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" Coated paper | 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 75-30k Hz | 55-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.00kg / 13.2lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6" x 16.9" x 8.5"
153 x 430 x 216 mm | 7-1/2" x 20-1/16" x 10-5/8"
191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3090Ci and Polk ES30 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 |
Polk ES30 |
| 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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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both 3090Ci and ES30 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3090CiPolk ES30
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 |
Polk ES30 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 5.5-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 ES30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer.
Frequency Response
3090Ci has a frequency range of 75-30k Hz whereas ES30 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the ES30 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 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the ES30 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 89 dBdB.
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.
ES30 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas 3090Ci has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the ES30.
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 5-Way post type posts and ES30 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Q Acoustics 3090Ci's Binding post terminals
Polk ES30's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3090Ci and ES30 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.
Polk ES30 Port
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 Polk ES30'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 Polk ES30 has external dimensions of 191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm (7-1/2 x 20-1/16 x 10-5/8inch).
Polk ES30 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 80mm wider, 38mm taller and 54mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3090Ci.
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 Polk ES30 is approximately 1377.0cm2 / 213.4inch2. The 3090Ci requires 33% less surface area than the ES30 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 3090Ci weighs 6.00kg / 13.2lbs and the Polk ES30 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the ES30 44% heavier than the 3090Ci.
Here is a comparison of how 3090Ci and ES30'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 Polk ES30?
Here are the items that come with the ES30:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Height |
153mm
vs
191mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
928cm2
vs
1377cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
289USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
75 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3090Ci |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES30 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
75-30k Hz |
55-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated paper |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
153.0mm (6") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
216.0mm (8.5") |
270.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
6.00kg (13.2lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Oak |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
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 |
Polk ES30 digs deeper - 55Hz against 75Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Polk ES30 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
B |
Polk ES30 takes more power (125W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Q Acoustics 3090Ci is easier to place; Polk ES30 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES30 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($289 vs $299 a pair). |
A Q Acoustics 3090Ci
B Polk ES30
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?
Polk ES30 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. 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 Polk ES30 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.