In this review, we will be comparing Q Acoustics 5090 and R-30C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Q Acoustics and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 5090 and Klipsch R-30C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Q Acoustics 5090 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-dome Tweeter
- 2 x 4.5" Coated paper Woofer
- 57-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 90.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Weight:8.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 166.0" x 16-15/16" x 9-5/8"( 166.0 x 431.0 x 245.0mm )
Klipsch R-30C Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 4 x 3.5" spun-copper TCP Woofer
- 78-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 96 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 100watts
- Weight:5.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 126.0" x 26-1/16" x 6-13/16"( 126.0 x 662.0 x 174.0mm )
What size room are the Q Acoustics 5090 and Klipsch R-30C 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 5090 |
Klipsch R-30C |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Q Acoustics 5090 and Klipsch R-30C compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Q Acoustics 5090 and R-30C are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Q Acoustics 5090 |
Klipsch R-30C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.5-inch
|
4 x 3.5-inch
|
Q Acoustics 5090 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 2 x 4.5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100 Hz. On the other hand, the R-30C features a 1" LTS (Linear Travel Suspension) titanium diaphragm Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 4 x 3.5" spun-copper TCP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1650 Hz.
Frequency Response
Q Acoustics 5090 has a frequency range of 57-30k Hz whereas R-30C has a frequency range of 78-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 57Hz, the Q Acoustics 5090 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-30C's min frequency of 78Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Q Acoustics 5090 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R-30C which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Q Acoustics 5090 sensitivity is rated at 90.5 dB and the R-30C's is rated at 96 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-30C 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. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Q Acoustics 5090 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-30C has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Q Acoustics 5090.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Q Acoustics 5090 features Binding post type posts and R-30C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Q Acoustics 5090's Binding post terminals
Klipsch R-30C's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q Acoustics 5090 and R-30C 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 5090's and Klipsch R-30C's external dimensions. 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 ) whereas Klipsch R-30C has external dimensions of 126.0 x 662.0 x 174.0mm ( 4-15/16inch x 26-1/16inch x 6-13/16inch ) .
Klipsch R-30C is 40mm shorter and 71mm less deeper than Q Acoustics 5090 but it is also 231mm wider.
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 5090 is approximately 1056.0cm2 / 163.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-30C is approximately 1151.9cm2 / 178.5inch2. The Q Acoustics 5090 requires 8% less surface area than the R-30C which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.