In this review, we will be comparing NS-333 and 3020i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Yamaha and Q Acoustics.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Yamaha NS-333 and Q Acoustics 3020i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Yamaha NS-333 | Q Acoustics 3020i |
|---|
| Brand | Yamaha
Japan · founded 1887 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Aluminum Dome With Waveguide Horn | 0.9" decoupled |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" PMD Cone | 5" Coated paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-35k Hz | 64-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 60-150 watts | 25-75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.49kg / 12.1lbs | 4.80kg / 10.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.625" x 7.875" x 8.375"
320.7 x 200.0 x 212.7mm | 10.9" x 6.6" x 11.1"
278.0 x 170.0 x 282.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Yamaha NS-333 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* |
Yamaha NS-333 |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both NS-333 and 3020i are 2-way speakers.
Yamaha NS-333Q Acoustics 3020i
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Yamaha NS-333 |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.9-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
NS-333 features a 1" Aluminum Dome With Waveguide Horn Aluminum Dome With Waveguide Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5" PMD Cone 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
NS-333 has a frequency range of 65-35k Hz whereas 3020i has a frequency range of 64-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 64Hz, the 3020i can go slightly deeper then the NS-333's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
NS-333 and 3020i have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. NS-333 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 3020i's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Q Acoustics 3020i a more sensitive speaker compared to Yamaha NS-333, 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.
NS-333 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas 3020i has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the NS-333.
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
NS-333 features Binding post type posts and 3020i has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Yamaha NS-333's and Q Acoustics 3020i's external dimensions. Yamaha NS-333 has external dimensions of 320.7 x 200.0 x 212.7mm (12.625 x 7.875 x 8.375inch) 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 30mm narrower and 42.7mm shorter than Yamaha NS-333 but it is also 69.3mm deeper.
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 3020i needs about 13% more floor or shelf area. Q Acoustics 3020i is 69mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Yamaha NS-333 is 43mm 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 Yamaha NS-333 is approximately 425.4cm2 / 65.9inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics 3020i is approximately 479.4cm2 / 74.3inch2. The NS-333 requires 11% less surface area than the 3020i 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 Yamaha NS-333 weighs 5.49kg / 12.1lbs and the Q Acoustics 3020i weighs 4.80kg / 10.6lbs. This makes the NS-333 14% heavier than the 3020i.
Here is a comparison of how NS-333 and 3020i's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
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
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
425cm2
vs
479cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
360USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
64 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
278mm
vs
320mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Yamaha NS-333 |
Q Acoustics 3020i |
| Brand |
Yamaha |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
60-150 watts |
25-75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-35k Hz |
64-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
PMD Cone |
Coated paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.9" |
| Tweeter Type |
Aluminum Dome With Waveguide Horn |
decoupled |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
320.7mm (12.6") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
170.0mm (6.7") |
| Depth |
212.7mm (8.4") |
282.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
5.49kg (12.1lbs) |
4.80kg (10.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Walnut, Black, White, Grey |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
4 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
4 Years |
A generation apart: Q Acoustics 3020i is the newer design, against a 2003 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (65Hz vs 64Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Yamaha NS-333 takes more power (150W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($360 vs $399 a pair). |
A Yamaha NS-333 B Q Acoustics 3020i
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?
Yamaha NS-333 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.