In this review, we will be comparing Concept 30 and Concept 300, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics Concept 30 and Q Acoustics Concept 300 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics Concept 30 | Q Acoustics Concept 300 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1.1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Paper composite | 6.5" Paper composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 54-30k Hz | 55-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 84 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 25-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.90kg / 17.4lbs | 14.50kg / 31.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-3/16" x 7-1/16" x 12-9/16"
284.0 x 180.0 x 319.0mm | 14" x 7-7/8" x 15-3/4"
355.0 x 200.0 x 400.0mm |
|---|
Concept 30 and Concept 300 are members of Q Acoustics's Concept series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Q Acoustics Concept Series
History
What size room are the Q Acoustics Concept 30 and Q Acoustics Concept 300 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 Concept 30 |
Q Acoustics Concept 300 |
| 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 Concept 30 and Concept 300 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics Concept 30Q Acoustics Concept 300
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 Concept 30 |
Q Acoustics Concept 300 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Concept 30 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Paper composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz. On the other hand, the Concept 300 features a 1.1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Paper composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Concept 30 has a frequency range of 54-30k Hz whereas Concept 300 has a frequency range of 55-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 54Hz, the Concept 30 can go slightly deeper then the Concept 300's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
Concept 30 and Concept 300 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Concept 30 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Concept 300's is at 84 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics Concept 30 a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics Concept 300, 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.
Concept 300 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Concept 30 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Concept 300.
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
Both Concept 30 and Concept 300 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Concept 30 and Concept 300 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 Concept 30's and Q Acoustics Concept 300's external dimensions. Q Acoustics Concept 30 has external dimensions of 284.0 x 180.0 x 319.0mm (11-3/16 x 7-1/16 x 12-9/16inch) whereas Q Acoustics Concept 300 has external dimensions of 355.0 x 200.0 x 400.0mm (14 x 7-7/8 x 15-3/4inch).
Q Acoustics Concept 300 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 20mm wider, 71mm taller and 81mm deeper than Q Acoustics Concept 30.
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 Concept 300 needs about 39% more floor or shelf area. Q Acoustics Concept 300 is 81mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Q Acoustics Concept 300 is 71mm 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 Concept 30 is approximately 574.2cm2 / 89.0inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics Concept 300 is approximately 800.0cm2 / 124.0inch2. The Concept 30 requires 28% less surface area than the Concept 300 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 Concept 30 weighs 7.90kg / 17.4lbs and the Q Acoustics Concept 300 weighs 14.50kg / 31.9lbs. This makes the Concept 300 84% heavier than the Concept 30.
Here is a comparison of how Concept 30 and Concept 300's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
54 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
284mm
vs
355mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
574cm2
vs
800cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
2749USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.7 ohms
vs
3.9 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Q Acoustics Concept 30 |
Q Acoustics Concept 300 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
84 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.9 ohms |
4.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
54-30k Hz |
55-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper composite |
Paper composite |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
284.0mm (11.2") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
319.0mm (12.6") |
400.0mm (15.7") |
| Weight |
7.90kg (17.4lbs) |
14.50kg (31.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in Q Acoustics's Concept series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (54Hz vs 55Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Q Acoustics Concept 30 is more sensitive (87dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Q Acoustics Concept 300 takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics Concept 30 is easier to place; Q Acoustics Concept 300 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Q Acoustics Concept 30: bi-amping; Q Acoustics Concept 300: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Q Acoustics Concept 30 is cheaper - $899 against $2,749, about 67% less; arguably a different class. |
A Q Acoustics Concept 30 B Q Acoustics Concept 300
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Match it to your room: we rate Q Acoustics Concept 30 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Q Acoustics Concept 300 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, Q Acoustics Concept 300 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Q Acoustics Concept 30 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.