In this review, we will be comparing 5010 and 5020, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 5010 and Q Acoustics 5020 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 5010 | Q Acoustics 5020 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-dome | 1" Soft-dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Continuous Curved Cone | 5" Continuous Curved Cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-30k Hz | 53-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86.3 dB | 87.9 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-90 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.59kg / 12.3lbs | 7.00kg / 15.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-7/16" x 6-5/16" x 10-7/16"
266.0 x 161.0 x 266.0mm | 11-1/4" x 7-1/8" x 11-1/2"
286.0 x 181.0 x 293.0mm |
|---|
5010 and 5020 are members of Q Acoustics's 5000 series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Q Acoustics 5000 Series
History
What size room are the Q Acoustics 5010 and Q Acoustics 5020 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 5010 |
Q Acoustics 5020 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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 5010 and 5020 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 5010Q Acoustics 5020
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 5010 |
Q Acoustics 5020 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
5010 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz. On the other hand, the 5020 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz.
Frequency Response
5010 has a frequency range of 56-30k Hz whereas 5020 has a frequency range of 53-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 53Hz, the 5020 can go slightly deeper then the 5010's min frequency of 56Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
5010 and 5020 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 5010 sensitivity is rated at 86.3 dB and the 5020's is at 87.9 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 5020 a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 5010, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
5020 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas 5010 has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the 5020.
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
5010 features Binding post type posts and 5020 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Q Acoustics 5010's Binding post terminals
Q Acoustics 5020's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 5010 and 5020 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 5010's and Q Acoustics 5020's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 5010 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 161.0 x 266.0mm (10-7/16inch x 6-5/16inch x 10-7/16inch) whereas Q Acoustics 5020 has external dimensions of 286.0 x 181.0 x 293.0mm (11-1/4nch x 7-1/8inch x 11-1/2inch).
Q Acoustics 5020 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 20mm wider, 20mm taller and 27mm deeper than Q Acoustics 5010.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 5010 and Q Acoustics 5020 in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 5010 and Q Acoustics 5020 Size and External Dimensions
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 5010 is approximately 428.3cm2 / 66.4inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 5020 is approximately 530.3cm2 / 82.2inch2. The 5010 requires 19% less surface area than the 5020 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Q Acoustics 5010 and Q Acoustics 5020 on a Media Console
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 5010 weighs 5.59kg / 12.3lbs and the Q Acoustics 5020 weighs 7.00kg / 15.4lbs. This makes the 5020 25% heavier than the 5010.
Here is a comparison of how 5010 and 5020's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 5010?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 5010:
- 2x 5010 loudspeaker
- 1x Owners manual
- 2x Foam bung
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 5020?
Here are the items that come with the 5020:
- 2x 5020 loudspeaker
- 1x Owners manual
- 2x Foam bung
 Height |
266mm
vs
286mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
428cm2
vs
530cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
749USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
90 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
53 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Q Acoustics 5010 |
Q Acoustics 5020 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-90 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86.3 dB |
87.9 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.3 ohms |
3.3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
56-30k Hz |
53-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuous Curved Cone |
Continuous Curved Cone |
| 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 |
2500 Hz |
2500 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
266.0mm (10.5") |
286.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
161.0mm (6.3") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
266.0mm (10.5") |
293.0mm (11.5") |
| Weight |
5.59kg (12.3lbs) |
7.00kg (15.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Relfex |
Bass Relfex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
Holme Oak,Satin Black,Satin White,Santos Rosewood |
Holme Oak,Satin Black,Satin White,Santos Rosewood |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 years |
Siblings in Q Acoustics's 5000 series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Q Acoustics 5020 digs deeper - 53Hz against 56Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Q Acoustics 5020 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (90W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics 5010 is easier to place; Q Acoustics 5020 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Q Acoustics 5010 is cheaper - $749 against $899, about 17% less. |
A Q Acoustics 5010 B Q Acoustics 5020
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 5020 measures better, Q Acoustics 5010 costs about about 20% 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 your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Q Acoustics 5020 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.