In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Q Acoustics. Q Acoustics Concept 300 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Concept Centre is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics Concept 300 and Q Acoustics Concept Centre first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics Concept 300 | Q Acoustics Concept Centre |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Paper composite | 2 x 4" Paper composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-30k Hz | 75-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-200 watts | 25-75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 14.50kg / 31.9lbs | 6.80kg / 15lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14" x 7-7/8" x 15-3/4"
355.0 x 200.0 x 400.0mm | 6-1/8" x 16-15/16" x 9-1/16"
156.0 x 430.0 x 230.0mm |
|---|
Concept 300 and Concept Centre 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 300 and Q Acoustics Concept Centre 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 300 |
Q Acoustics Concept Centre |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 300 and Concept Centre are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics Concept 300Q Acoustics Concept Centre
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 300 |
Q Acoustics Concept Centre |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 4-inch
|
Concept 300 features a 1.1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Paper composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Concept Centre features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" Paper composite Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
Concept 300 has a frequency range of 55-30k Hz whereas Concept Centre has a frequency range of 75-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Concept 300 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Concept Centre's min frequency of 75Hz.
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 300 and Concept Centre have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Concept 300 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the Concept Centre's is at 88 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics Concept Centre 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 Centre has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 125 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.
Q Acoustics Concept Centre
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Concept 300 and Concept Centre features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Concept 300 and Concept Centre 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 300's and Q Acoustics Concept Centre's external dimensions. 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) whereas Q Acoustics Concept Centre has external dimensions of 156.0 x 430.0 x 230.0mm (6-1/8 x 16-15/16 x 9-1/16inch).
Q Acoustics Concept Centre is 199mm shorter and 170mm less deeper than Q Acoustics Concept 300 but it is also 230mm 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.
Q Acoustics Concept Centre needs about 24% more floor or shelf area. Q Acoustics Concept 300 is 170mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Q Acoustics Concept 300 is 199mm 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 300 is approximately 800.0cm2 / 124.0inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics Concept Centre is approximately 989.0cm2 / 153.3inch2. The Concept 300 requires 19% less surface area than the Concept Centre which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.