Before now, the 3000i range had seemed complete – but it seems there’s always space for a speaker with the low-end presence to fill a room without quite the sort of physical presence that makes a room seem full. The Q Acoustics 3030i bookshelf speakers are able to sound much bigger than they are because they actually have similar features as floorstanding speakers. The 3030i bookshelf speaker is bigger than the 3010i shelf and 3020i shelf speakers. Dimensions (hwd) 32.5 x 20 x 33cm The 3030i’s 16.5cm mid/bass (up from 12.5cm in the junior model) is actually based on the one used in the 3050i floorstanders, but tweaked to work in this installation. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. You can see the size comparison of 3000i Stand mount speaker range including the stands; 3030i (this product) – 3020i and 3010i Bookshelf Speakers. News; Reviews; TV. Like a guest throwing open the church doors ten minutes after the wedding ceremony has started, the Q Acoustics 3030i standmounting stereo speakers are noticeably late. Username: Jan_b_vigne Here, the 3030i's propensity to extract detail worked against the speaker and the song disintegrated into a collection of individual instruments. It hands over to a 22mm dome tweeter at 2.4kHz. Platinum Member. Q Acoustics makes a dedicated wall bracket that seems to hold the speaker away from the wall so that the rear-firing port has a bit of room to breathe. The 3030i offers excellent detail retrieval and a high-level of get up and go, while never straying into fatiguing territory, which is quite a feat. Improving on a class leader is a tall task, but the QB12 proves it has precisely what it takes. The kicks had way more impact and when the bass dropped, it slammed. -- the sound coalesced over a week and resulted in a dynamic, cohesive speaker. We designed a special 3030FSi floor stands for the new model. It is designed to work with Q Acoustics’ 3000i suite – the 3010i and 3050i surround packages that have just won What Hi-Fi? With the down-beat opener The Adults Are Talking, the Bowers and Wilkins was better able to present the band members as a unit. The 3030i hopes to continue the trend. Just add music, B&W tinker with exotic materials for their main drivers, Future of the Left's stop-start track Bread, Cheese, Bow and Arrow. The 3030i slots into the range between the 3020i bookshelf speaker and 3050i floorstander. For me CD player I got a Sony UBP-X800. Awardsagain – as well as the Concept 5.1 speaker range. There have the same generously curved edges that … This increased internal volume has enabled Q Acoustics to gain an extended low frequency response from the ported design so that more-than-ever the smaller enclosures in the range. Jan Vigne. Now - my main purpose for listening is music. Sony KD-48A9 Review: The best 48-inch 4K TV. The smoothness of the hand-over between the tweeter and the mid/bass driver is impressive, too, and there’s plenty of space in the presentation for individual elements of a recording to be easy to follow. The latest album from The Strokes is a welcome return to form. While it's not the last word in transparency, the Q Acoustics 3030i offers tremendous fun from your favorite movies and rock tracks. Despite missing this detail, the B&Ws offered a more even-handed presentation while also keeping the excitement factor. You can see the size comparison of 3000i Stand mount speaker range including the stands; 3030i (this product) – 3020i and 3010i Bookshelf Speakers. Beneath the grille is a 30cm driver powered by a 220W Texas Instruments TPA3255 Class D amplifier, more than ready to shake the floor of your livin… Unfortunately I'm not able to compare the Q Acoustics against its main competition, the slightly cheaper Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 ($350 at Best Buy). Hi all, I am using a Sony PS-LX300USB USB turntable with Q Acoustics BT3 speakers. If you want an attractive set of bookshelf speakers with a peppy, enticing sound, the Q Acoustics 3030i is the best option for the money. Hitachi HAK5751 Review: Affordable TV in a simple package. It follows that the 3030i have the dynamic potency to deal with both the ‘quiet/LOUD/quiet’ broad strokes and the more subtle harmonic dynamics in a recording with equal skill. If you’re a pair of Q Acoustics’ 3030i, the answer is ‘about 30cm’. At the back of the cabinet, just above those slim speaker binding posts, there’s a bass reflex port. #mergeRow-gdpr {margin-top: 20px;} Either way, they deserve to be heard. The key was to not let the Q B12 overpower the soundstage. Once through Kendrick Lamar’s Alright demonstrates a well-judged level of high-frequency attack, with the 3030i able to bite into treble sounds without getting in any way edgy or coarse about it. The 3030i stick so closely to the design template set by their range-mates that in the pictures you’re hard-pressed to tell them apart from the 3010i or 3020i standmounters. The nice low-profile speaker binding posts mitigate the depth a bit – just a bit, mind. This 1 dB difference makes Q Acoustics 3030i a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts. It's the same 6.5-inch driver that previously appeared in the 3050i floorstander. The cabinet itself measures 7.9 inches wide, 12.8 inches high and 13 inches deep. An affordable, compact speaker gives a robust, open-hearted performance. The focus of any great loudspeaker is to produce an open, ‘being there’ sound and the Q 3010i do just that despite their compact size. I then turned to the Elac Debut Reference which is a well mannered speaker but what it lacks is rock 'n' roll wallop and punch. Both the aesthetics and the sound (nice warm, mellow). They’re not quite as smoothly realised, in sonic terms, as the 3030i, though. The concept range are a level above the 3000i range. British audio specialists, Q Acoustics, has added a new model to its award-winning 3000i loudspeaker range: the 3030i standmount speaker, engineered to provide more powerful bass performance in a conveniently compact size. That said, with a pair of sympathetic rears, like the 3020i ($315 at Amazon), the Q Acoustics 3030i will dig plenty of detail out of your surround soundtracks and deliver crisp dialogue while avoiding harshness. The promise here is of even greater bass presence than that bigger driver can muster alone, as well as a degree of fine-tuning when it comes to positioning the speakers. You could hear the bass drums and guitar disappear into the space the band were recording in (or perhaps the back corner of the reverb unit). It allows the 3010, 3020, 3090c, 3010i, 3020i and 3090ci models to be mounted almost flat against the wall or angled down and/or sideways. The front of the 3030i features chrome trim and the white speaker grille attaches magnetically. If you’re familiar with the sound of any of the other members of the 3000i range, then the audio characteristics of the 3030i shouldn’t come as any great surprise. I've always been skeptical of "break-in periods" because in some cases they're more about your ears getting used to a new sound than about any change in the component itself. I have the A-S701 powering Q Acoustic Concept 20's and am extremely happy but the A-S301/501 will also do a good job. We designed a special 3030FSi floor stands for the new model. If it’s outright size that’s drawn you to the 3030i in the first place, though, you should check out the Borea BR03 from Triangle. Let’s deal with the ‘big’ issue first. The back has a bass port and a pair of attractive binding posts. The Qts of the driver will ultimately determine the "Q" of the system in a sealed enclosure and, in this case when you use a driver with a Qts of .4, the system Q(tc) will tend to be somewhat overdamped. While the Elac Debut 2.0 is a great speaker too, it needs a little more care with system matching than the easy-going Q Acoustics. Increased Cabinet Size Deliver The Q 3010i maintain the same acoustically optimal front profile, but have been made slightly taller and 25% deeper than previous models. Speakers are Q Acoustics (3030i's in the front, 3020i's in the rear, with a Q Acoustics 3090Ci for the center). Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Featuring a 165mm (6.5 inches) mid/bass driver developed from the powerful 3050i floorstander, along with an optimised motor, 3030i has bass extension and … So what hare-brained excuse do the 3030i have for showing up so late to the party? Bass-heavy material is where the Q Acoustics performed best, with plenty of rumble audible in tracks like Billie Eilish's Bad Guy and Life by the Beta Band. The rest of the 3000i range – which is a) already extensive, and b) very well-regarded – launched two years ago. Q Acoustics 3030i bookshelf speaker is the latest addition to the Award-winning Q Acoustics 3000i speaker range. The Q Acoustics 3030i share the same basic design cues as the other speakers in Q Acoustics’ 3000 range. */ The BR03 are a vigorous and invigorating listen, mind you, with plenty of scale and presence. The performance and finish of these speakers has been quite startling, especially when you factor in the price. The 3000/3000i wall mount bracket is a unique “tilt and turn” loudspeaker bracket that is adjusted via a single allen bolt. I don't know if a speaker can be too big for a room, but reviews point out that these speakers would be ideal for small rooms, around 25 m2, but my room is half that size. But they’re no less good-looking than their slimmer siblings. While the larger cabinet and 6.5″ driver on the Q Acoustics 3030i I was reviewing at the time delivered a large soundstage and dug considerably low given its small size, the Q B12 took things to another level. These aren't big speakers, but on a good set of stands they'll be able to dig deep without too much prodding. Experience the 3030i. This tweeter is shared throughout the range and is a pleasingly detailed and refined unit. The updated 3030i is larger than its predecessor, featuring a new crossover, reinforced internal bracing, as well as recessed binding posts for those who may want to wall-mount or set-up close to the wall. From the top of the frequency range to the bottom, the tonal balance is seamless and just a little on the ‘warm’ side of neutral. The same recording also spotlights the Q Acoustics’ powers of mid-range communication, loading the voice with an absolute stack of detail and sounding prodigiously articulate as a result. They’re the same – but more so. This is another unfashionably large cabinet – though it does look a bit thrown together when put alongside the Q Acoustics’. The bookshelf-size 3030i delivers some of the floorstanders' power at a more attractive price. Rhythms and tempos are managed with something approaching nonchalance, too. I'd recommend it to anyone looking to start a new, affordable system. The sample I received came in Arctic White with a pleasing matte finish, but the speaker is also available in Graphite Gray, English Walnut or Carbon Black. CNET editors pick the products and services we write about. © 2021 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. So Q Acoustics took the 3020i and supersized it into the new 3030i, featuring a 6.5-inch woofer and a larger cabinet. That said, they’re a little more affordable – which might sway you. Er, "precision-formed cone made from impregnated and coated paper," according to the company. #mergeRow-gdpr fieldset label {font-weight: normal;} Superior build and sound quality. I think I sould call my room miniature, not small. Bass extension should be adequate though bass volume may be somewhat truncated when compared to the original BA woofer. They’re smoothly finished, agreeably curved, look good with or without grilles, and appear just as pleasant to the touch as they are easy on the eye. Any thoughts on wall mounting vs floorstanding, or suggestions for other speakers, will be welcome. Songs such as the Foals' Mountain at my Gates even managed to challenge my home reference, the much more-expensive Bowers and Wilkins 685. The Q Acoustics 3030i houses a 6.5-inch woofer and 1-inch dome tweeter. The price remains comfortably within reach for most audio enthusiasts at … Q Acoustics 3030i will perform well in your multichannel setup and deliver crisp sound without being too harsh. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Discuss: Q Acoustics 3030i review: Want fun? #mc-embedded-subscribe-form .mc_fieldset{border:none;min-height: 0px;padding-bottom:0px;}. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Not tried the myself Denon though but have used Marantz and Yamaha amps to power Q Acoustics speakers and been happy with the results. The spirit of the Q Acoustics 3030i is pretty much the opposite of well-mannered; it fairly shouts "get up and dance!" We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. They’re less adaptable than the Q Acoustics, though, and there’s a relentless quality to their presentation that’s quite strongly at odds with the more easy-going 3030i sound. I recommend the Yamaha A-S series as you should find something there within your budget. The 3030i are big standmounters – height/width/depth measurements of 325 x 200 x 329mm are considerable for a standmounter these days, … Panasonic TX-65HX940E Review: … This $400 speaker manages to challenge competitors worth even more, including models from Bowers and Wilkins and the Elac Debut Reference. The latest in the company’s 3000i line of speakers, Paul Rigby reviews these new stand-mounters The 3000i series of speakers was launched by Q Acoustics in April of 2018 and has enjoyed roaring success from the off. This is how we make money. I was recently advised to get an amplifier. Yes, they're not hugely expensive, but they sound pretty good to these old ears. Featuring a 165mm mid/bass driver developed from the powerful Q Acoustics 3050i floorstand speaker, along with an optimized motor. We said their smaller siblings, the 3010i, could do with a bit more scale and dynamic reach to trouble the similarly priced, Award-winning Dali Spektor 2s . The 3030i features an oversized 165mm mid/bass driver developed from the big, powerful 3050i floorstander, and it’s also fitted with that speaker’s 22mm decoupled tweeter. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. There are alternative standmounters at this sort of money that are a more vivacious listen than the 3030i; Bowers & Wilkins’ 607s spring to mind, just as a for-instance. Elac’s Debut B5.2 might be a more viable alternative. Line all three up together, though, and it’s almost like a trick of perspective. It’s designed to deliver the biggest, most commanding sound ever achieved by a speaker of this type and cost. Not in the case of the Q Acoustics, for while I was initially disappointed with the sound out of the box -- bass was disjointed and the top end too bright. So they’re a thoroughly engaging listen. Also like the 3050i, the tweeter is decoupled from the woofer, and the cabinet uses Q Acoustics' P2P (Point-to-Point) bracing for a more inert cabinet. That’s 30% more than your average standmount loudspeaker’s physical depth; and a measurement that suggests above-average low-end action…until we take a seat. The 3030i’s woofer is larger at 165mm or 6.5 inches and the overall cabinet dimensions are bigger. … It looks great, sounds great and is relatively affordable. TV. Q Acoustics have gone the extra mile with the finish options as well; the English Walnut, Graphite Grey and Arctic White give the 3030i a modern look that belies its price. In my review of the Elac Debut Reference I found that the Elac was better than the Q Acoustics at jelling as part of my mismatched home system when playing movies, and that was still the case after more time breaking in. #mc-embedded-subscribe-form input[type=checkbox]{display: inline; width: auto;margin-right: 10px;} In a word, yes.