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Wharfedale D310 vs Q Acoustics 3020i Comparison

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Wharfedale D310

Passive Bookshelf | 65-20k Hz

Wharfedale D310
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Q Acoustics 3020i

Passive Bookshelf | 64-30k Hz

Q Acoustics 3020i
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Wharfedale D310 Wharfedale D310
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Q Acoustics 3020i Q Acoustics 3020i
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Wharfedale D310
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Q Acoustics 3020i
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Wharfedale D310 vs Q Acoustics 3020i Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing D310 and 3020i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Q Acoustics.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Wharfedale D310 and Q Acoustics 3020i first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Wharfedale D310 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 4" Woven Kevlar Woofer
  • 65-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-60watts
  • Weight:4.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 266.0" x 6-1/8" x 8-13/16"( 266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm )

Q Acoustics 3020i Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 0.9" decoupled Tweeter
  • 5" Coated paper Woofer
  • 64-30k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:25-75watts
  • Weight:4.80kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 278.0" x 6.6" x 11.1"( 278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm )

What size room are the Wharfedale D310 and Q Acoustics 3020i 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* Wharfedale D310 Q Acoustics 3020i
Near-field Good Good
Small Room Good Good
Mid-size Room Average Average
Large Room Poor Poor
Very Large Room No way No way

(* 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 Wharfedale D310 and Q Acoustics 3020i compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both D310 and 3020i are 2-way speakers.

Driver Wharfedale D310 Q Acoustics 3020i
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 0.9-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 4-inch 1 x 5-inch

D310 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woven Kevlar Woofer . On the other hand, the 3020i features a 0.9" decoupled Tweeter and 1 x 5" Coated paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz.

Frequency Response

D310 has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas 3020i has a frequency range of 64-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 63Hz, the 3020i can go slightly deeper then the D310's min frequency of 65Hz.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

D310
3020i
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale D310
Q Acoustics 3020i
Min
Average
Max

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

D310 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the 3020i which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. D310 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the 3020i's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3020i a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale D310, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

D310
3020i
Min
Average
Max

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.

D310 can handle a max power of 75 watts RMS from the amp the whereas D310 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS , 15 watts less than the 3020i.

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

D310 features Binding post type posts and 3020i has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Wharfedale D310 Terminals
Wharfedale D310's Post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

D310 has a bottom firing port whereas 3020i has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale D310's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Q Acoustics 3020i with its rear-firing port.

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 Wharfedale D310's and Q Acoustics 3020i's external dimensions. Wharfedale D310 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm ( 10-7/16 x 6-1/8 x 8-13/16inch) whereas Q Acoustics 3020i has external dimensions of 278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm ( 10.9 x 6.6 x 11.1inch) .

Q Acoustics 3020i is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 14mm wider, 12mm taller and 58mm deeper than Wharfedale D310.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D310 and Q Acoustics 3020i in scale.

Wharfedale D310 vs Q Acoustics 3020i Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Wharfedale D310 and Q Acoustics 3020i 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 Wharfedale D310 is approximately 349.4cm2 / 54.2inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3020i is approximately 479.4cm2 / 74.3inch2. The D310 requires 27% less surface area than the 3020i which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Wharfedale D310 vs Q Acoustics 3020i Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale D310 and Q Acoustics 3020i 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 Wharfedale D310 weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs and the Q Acoustics 3020i weighs 4.80kg / 10.6lbs. This makes the 3020i 20% heavier than the D310.

Here is a comparison of how D310 and 3020i's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Wharfedale D310
Q Acoustics 3020i
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Wharfedale D310?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of D310:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)
  • 2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)
  • User-feets Manual
  • Installation Guide
  • What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 3020i?

    Here are the items that come with the 3020i:
  • 2 x 3020i bookshelf speakers
  • 2 x Foam Bungs
  • 2 x Speaker Grilles
  • 1 x User Manual
  • 1 x Handling Gloves
  • 8 x Rubber Speaker Grips

  • Reasons to choose Wharfedale D310 over Q Acoustics 3020i
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Height 266mm vs 278mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 349cm2 vs 479cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 199USD vs 399USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Q Acoustics 3020i over Wharfedale D310

    Max Input Power 75 watts vs 60 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 88 dB vs 86 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Minimum Impedance 4 ohms vs 3.6 ohms Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
    Woofer Size 5 inches vs 4 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 63 Hz vs 65 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 30k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Wharfedale D310 vs Q Acoustics 3020i Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Wharfedale D310 Q Acoustics 3020i
    Brand Wharfedale Q Acoustics
    Speaker Type Compact bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 20-60 watts 25-75 watts
    Sensitivity 86 dB 88 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 6 ohms
    Impedance 3.6 ohms 4 ohms
    Frequency Response 65-20k Hz 64-30k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 4" 5"
    Woofer Composition Woven Kevlar Coated paper
    Woofer Surround Material Foamed Polyether Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 0.9"
    Tweeter Type Soft-Dome decoupled
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency n/a 2400Hz
    Firing Direction bottom rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 266.0mm (10.5") 278.0mm (10.9")
    Width 156.0mm (6.1") 170.0mm (6.7")
    Depth 224.0mm (8.8") 282.0mm (11.1")
    Weight 4.00kg (8.8lbs) 4.80kg (10.6lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood-grain vinyl n/a
    Available Colors Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut Walnut, Black, White, Grey
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 22-26" n/a
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 4 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 4 Years

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