In this review, we will be comparing 3090c 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 3090c and Polk ES30 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3090c | Polk ES30 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.9" Soft-dome | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" Coated paper | 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 68-30k Hz | 55-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.50kg / 14.3lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6.3" x 16.9" x 8.5"
159 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 3090c 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 3090c |
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.
Drivers
Both 3090c and ES30 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3090cPolk 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 3090c |
Polk ES30 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
3090c features a 0.9" Soft-dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900 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
3090c has a frequency range of 68-30k 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 3090c's min frequency of 68Hz.
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
3090c is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the ES30 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 3090c sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the ES30's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3090c a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES30, 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.
ES30 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas 3090c has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 5 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
3090c features 5-Way post type posts and ES30 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES30's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3090c 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 3090c's and Polk ES30's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 3090c has external dimensions of 159 x 430 x 216 mm (6.3 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, 32mm taller and 54mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3090c.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Polk ES30 needs about 48% more floor or shelf area. Polk ES30 is 54mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Polk ES30 is 32mm taller.
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 3090c is approximately 928.8cm2 / 144.0inch2 and base area of the Polk ES30 is approximately 1377.0cm2 / 213.4inch2. The 3090c 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 3090c weighs 6.50kg / 14.3lbs and the Polk ES30 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the ES30 33% heavier than the 3090c.
Here is a comparison of how 3090c 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 3090c?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 3090c:
- 1x 3090c 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
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
159mm
vs
191mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
928cm2
vs
1377cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
120 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
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3090c |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES30 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
68-30k 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 |
0.9" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
159.0mm (6.3") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
216.0mm (8.5") |
270.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
6.50kg (14.3lbs) |
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 68Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Q Acoustics 3090c is more sensitive (92dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk ES30 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 125W). |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics 3090c 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 | B | Polk ES30 is cheaper - $299 against $399, about 25% less. |
A Q Acoustics 3090c B Polk ES30
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?
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 68Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 3090c 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.