In this review, we will be comparing Reva 1 and 3020i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Reva 1 and Q Acoustics 3020i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale Reva 1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer
- 52-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-60watts
- Weight:5.64kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 318.0" x 6-13/16" x 11-3/16"( 318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm )
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 Reva 1 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 Reva 1 |
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 Reva 1 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 Reva 1 and 3020i are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.9-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Reva 1 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber 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
Reva 1 has a frequency range of 52-20k Hz whereas 3020i has a frequency range of 64-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the Reva 1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 3020i's min frequency of 63Hz.
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
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Reva 1 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. Reva 1 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 Reva 1, 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. 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.
Reva 1 can handle a max power of 75 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Reva 1 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
Reva 1 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. 3020i has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Reva 1's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Reva 1 has a bottom firing port whereas 3020i has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale Reva 1'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 Reva 1's and Q Acoustics 3020i's external dimensions. Wharfedale Reva 1 has external dimensions of 318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm ( 12-1/2 x 6-13/16 x 11-3/16inch) whereas Q Acoustics 3020i has external dimensions of 278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm ( 10.9 x 6.6 x 11.1inch) .
Wharfedale Reva 1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 4mm wider, 40mm taller and 3mm deeper than Q Acoustics 3020i.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Reva 1 and Q Acoustics 3020i in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 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 Reva 1 is approximately 495.9cm2 / 76.9inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3020i is approximately 479.4cm2 / 74.3inch2. The Reva 1 requires 3% more surface area than the 3020i which gives it a small disadvantage 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:
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 and Q Acoustics 3020i on a Media Console