In this review, we will be comparing 3090c and ES35, 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 ES35 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3090c | Polk ES35 |
|---|
| 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 | 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 68-30k Hz | 66-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.50kg / 14.3lbs | 6.36kg / 14lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6.3" x 16.9" x 8.5"
159 x 430 x 216 mm | 4-3/16" x 24-7/16" x 6-1/16"
107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3090c and Polk ES35 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 ES35 |
| 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 ES35 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3090cPolk ES35
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 ES35 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
6 x 3-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 ES35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer.
Frequency Response
3090c has a frequency range of 68-30k Hz whereas ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 66Hz, the ES35 can go slightly deeper then 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 ES35 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 ES35's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3090c a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES35, 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.
ES35 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas 3090c has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the ES35.
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 ES35 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES35's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3090c and ES35 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 ES35 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 ES35'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 ES35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm (4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 6-1/16inch).
Polk ES35 is 52mm shorter and 62mm less deeper than Q Acoustics 3090c but it is also 191mm wider.
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.
Near-identical footprints. Q Acoustics 3090c is 62mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Q Acoustics 3090c is 52mm 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 ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2. The 3090c requires 3% less surface area than the ES35 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 ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs. This makes the 3090c 2% heavier than the ES35.
Here is a comparison of how 3090c and ES35'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 ES35?
Here are the items that come with the ES35:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
4 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
928cm2
vs
956cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
6
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
66 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
107mm
vs
159mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3090c |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
68-30k Hz |
66-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
6 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
3" |
| 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") |
107.0mm (4.2") |
| Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
621.0mm (24.4") |
| Depth |
216.0mm (8.5") |
154.0mm (6.1") |
| Weight |
6.50kg (14.3lbs) |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
| 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (68Hz vs 66Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Q Acoustics 3090c is more sensitive (92dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk ES35 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | Polk ES35 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk ES35 is easier to place; Q Acoustics 3090c is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES35 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($399 vs $399 a pair). |
A Q Acoustics 3090c B Polk ES35
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 ES35 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 3090c the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Polk ES35 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, Q Acoustics 3090c has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Polk ES35 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.