In this review, we will be comparing 3090c and 5090, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 3090c and Q Acoustics 5090 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 3090c | Q Acoustics 5090 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.9" Soft-dome | 1" Soft-dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" Coated paper | 2 x 4.5" Coated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 68-30k Hz | 57-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 90.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.50kg / 14.3lbs | 8.50kg / 18.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6.3" x 16.9" x 8.5"
159 x 430 x 216 mm | 6-1/2" x 16-15/16" x 9-5/8"
166.0 x 431.0 x 245.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 3090c and Q Acoustics 5090 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 |
Q Acoustics 5090 |
| 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 5090 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 3090cQ Acoustics 5090
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 |
Q Acoustics 5090 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.9-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 4.5-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 5090 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 2 x 4.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100 Hz.
Frequency Response
3090c has a frequency range of 68-30k Hz whereas 5090 has a frequency range of 57-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 57Hz, the 5090 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 and 5090 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 3090c sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the 5090's is at 90.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3090c a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 5090, 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.
5090 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 5090.
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 Binding post type posts and 5090 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Q Acoustics 5090's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 3090c and 5090 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 3090c's and Q Acoustics 5090'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 Q Acoustics 5090 has external dimensions of 166.0 x 431.0 x 245.0mm (6-1/2inch x 16-15/16inch x 9-5/8inch).
Q Acoustics 5090 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 1mm wider, 7mm taller and 29mm 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.
Q Acoustics 5090 needs about 14% more floor or shelf area. Q Acoustics 5090 is 29mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 Q Acoustics 5090 is approximately 1056.0cm2 / 163.7inch2. The 3090c requires 12% less surface area than the 5090 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 Q Acoustics 5090 weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs. This makes the 5090 31% heavier than the 3090c.
Here is a comparison of how 3090c and 5090'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 Q Acoustics 5090?
Here are the items that come with the 5090:
- 1x 5090 loudspeaker
- 1x Owners manual
- 2x Foam bung
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.7 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
159mm
vs
166mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
928cm2
vs
1056cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
4.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
57 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Q Acoustics 3090c |
Q Acoustics 5090 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
90.5 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
68-30k Hz |
57-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Coated paper |
Coated paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.9" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
Soft-dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900 Hz |
2100 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
159.0mm (6.3") |
166.0mm (6.5") |
| Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
431.0mm (17") |
| Depth |
216.0mm (8.5") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Weight |
6.50kg (14.3lbs) |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Relfex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Oak |
Holme Oak,Satin Black,Satin White,Santos Rosewood |
| 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 |
Both are Q Acoustics, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Q Acoustics 5090 digs deeper - 57Hz against 68Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (92dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Q Acoustics 5090 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | A | Q Acoustics 3090c is cheaper - $399 against $599, about 33% less. |
A Q Acoustics 3090c B Q Acoustics 5090
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?
The usual trade-off: Q Acoustics 5090 measures better, Q Acoustics 3090c costs about about 50% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 68Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Q Acoustics 3090c much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics 3090c the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Q Acoustics 5090 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.