Q Acoustics 3010i Review
If you pressed for space bookshelf speakers are usually the way to go. If you are even more pressed most people to opt for a computer monitor or switch to a stand-alone unit. But what if you still want stereo separation and take up about half the size of traditional bookshelf monitors? Well the Q Acoustics 3010i might just be an elegant solution in such situations.
The Concept
Q Acoustics wanted to make take their special sauce and apply it to a speaker that takes up less space. To do this they didn’t want to sacrifice much in the way of sound to larger models and created something I think holds a unique space in the market.
Putting the QAcoustics next to my KEF LS50 Meta or the incredible value Emotiva BS+ they look diminutive. But overall volume is increased by making them longer and taller with a lone rectangular side panel. All this is with the intention to keep the frontal area to a minimum. Cabinet volume doesn’t take too much of a hit and they have a few other design tweaks to maintain the sound.
Starting with the back you notice the terminal panels are minuscule, reducing this necessary component in size leads to an overall more rigid cabinet. Internally they have stepped this up using computer mapping to design and optimize the bracing to reduce the internal disruption of the sound.
Everything is finished off in a classic QAcoustics styling.
Specifications
Bass Unit: 4 in
Tweeter: 0.9 in
Frequency Response: 65 Hz – 30 kHz
Nominal Impedance: 6 Ω
Minimum Impedance: 4 Ω
Recommended Power: 15 - 75w
Crossover Frequency: 2.6kHz
Dimensions H/W/D: 253 x 150 x 252 mm (10.0 x 5.9 x 10 in)
Weight (1 unit): 4.1 kg (9.0 lbs)
In addition to the general specifications listed, I want to point out that the banana plug adapters on the rear are extremely low profile which will allow you to place the speaker right next to the wall. The Cabinet material is MDF and the drivers are constructed from Bio-Cellulose Membrane.
Build & Aesthetic Impressions
The Q Acoustics 3010i is very well made and finished. They have a mass production quality to them but that’s not a bad thing as you should think more of Apple instead of low-budget tat. They have impressive quality control right through the line and coming through my local HiFi store I haven’t heard of any defects or returns after speaking to the manager. They say QAcoustics is one of the more popular brands and they do numerous units of the QAcoustics 3020i and 3010I every month.
Tolerances on the seams were consistent throughout and the finishing is to a very high standard on my review unit.
They come in four colorways: white, black, grey, and walnut. In my eyes, the white and grey models have the most stylish aesthetic but to be honest they are all very good-looking and have an element of Scandinavian flair to the design. I suspect most modern homes could easily accommodate the style of the speakers because they are so inoffensive and clean.
I touched on the banana plugs in the specification but it should be mentioned here as well that a clean back panel allows more versatility in the placement of the speakers.
With the grills on as with most bookshelf speakers, they look pretty average but as you can see from the pictures they look great with them removed.
You can mount the QAcoustics 3010i in places where you might not be able to fit larger cabinets but there was one unique drawback to the slimline design. If you intend to use them on stands make sure the width is equal or smaller. All 3 of my stands were too wide on the bass and didn’t make for a good aesthetic match with the 3010.
Sound
The sound is both impressive and limited at the same time. Remember we are dealing with a speaker in the 3010i that is to be used in smaller spaces. It was part of the design brief and to achieve that we have a front 4-inch woofer as opposed to the more standard 5.25 or 5-inch woofers found on larger models. You can definitely hear and feel that lack of surface area when listening to tracks with demanding bass. Quality is there with good detail but the overall impact is depleted.
The Midrange is very crisp and clear, almost cold and analytical. It sounds like a lighter filling version of the Q Acoustics 3020i which we reviewed is known for its accuracy and transparency in its price point. Vocals are very clear and present, almost in your face, the mids are stark and upfront which makes imaging and separation one of the strong points of the speaker. I think living with it works well for a monitor or field experience but In situations where you are trying to fill entire rooms, you will be lacking.
Treble is really nice, considering myself as somewhat of a treble head I love some crystalline highs. While they aren’t up there with my ribbon or electrostatic speakers I like that Q Acoustics didn’t shy away from the treble. I had a few sets in that I really liked with smooth treble like the Polk Audio Signature Elite ES15, musically it’s lovely but it does lack the crispness you get here. It’s present but not overly harsh and adds extra dimensions to the sound.
Negatives
The smaller woofer lacks impact in the sub-bass
Recommended only for near field and monitor listening
Positives
The acoustic performance for its size is impressive
Build quality and Finishing are excellent
Strong details in the midrange
Has excellent treble tuning
Final Thoughts
The Q Acoustics 3010i is designed to meet a need and they do it very well. If you were looking to step up in quality from a DALI Lektor 1 or Wharfdale 210 for example these are significantly better in sound, style, and build. They have all the charm of a bigger speaker slotted into a smaller cabinet.
In this review, I could only find fault with sub-bass performance but that was to be expected due to the smaller frontal area and the driver choice. A solution would be to implement the 3010i with a small subwoofer for added effect but for many that would be overkill and outweigh the space-saving efforts QAcoustics went to.
If you have space and budget consider upgrading to the 3020 but if neither is an option I don’t think you find very many better speakers out there for the money.
Official Website of Q Acoustics 3010i: www.qacoustics.co.uk
