Design

• Choice of four finishes
• Slightly bigger than 3020c
• Supports FS50 stand

Like the other Q Acoustics’ speakers that I’ve reviewed, the 3020c adheres to a design established many moons ago with its rounded cabinet and concentric circles around the drive units. It’s a familiar look that greets you once the speakers are out of the packaging.

Compared to the 3020i, the 3020c is slightly taller and wider but effectively the same depth. At 5.5kg they’re less heavy than the 5020 I reviewed in 2023.

Around the back is the external bass port – place it near (or further) from a wall to manage the bass levels, or you can block the port entirely with the foam bungs supplied in the box. There’s no bi-wiring possible as the 3020c only supports single-wired operation.

If you have the existing FS50 floor stands (£159/per pair), you’re in luck. For anyone who had the 3020i, you can plonk this newer speaker on top.

They look fantastically elegant and come in four finishes to choose from: Pin Oak, Claro Rosewood, along with Satin White and Black finishes.

Specification

• Borrows drivers from the 5000 series
• P2P-point bracing
• Easy to partner with

The 3020c has borrowed technology from Q Acoustics’ more expensive speakers – sort of like genetic traits passed down from generation to generation.

And that makes the 3000c series the latest to receive the Continuous Curved Cone design – C-cubed – the mid/bass driver that appeared in the 5020 speaker and M40 wireless speakers that, without getting into techno-babble, has designs on presenting high frequencies with more detail, controlled but powerful bass dynamics and an articulate midrange.

The 22mm high-frequency tweeter is hermetically sealed and mechanically isolated from the baffle to protect against the pressure generated within the cabinet, as well as any resonances from the mid/bass driver.

There’s Q Acoustics’ P2P (Point-2-Point) internal bracing, which stiffens the cabinet where necessary to reduce lower frequency vibrations and produce a more accurate stereo image.

Frequency response covers 60Hz to 30kHz, sensitivity is 87dB, and impedance ranges from 3.7ohms to a nominal impedance of 6. These are all fairly similar specs to the 5020 speaker, so you could arguably pair this speaker with a similar kit.

A power supply of 25 – 90W from an amplifier is recommended, so the 3020c is not the most demanding of speakers either.

Performance

• Clear, balanced sound
• Not the most dynamic sound

Partnered with the Cambridge Audio CXN v2 streamer and CXA61 amplifier connected via QED Reference XT25 cables – the same kit I’ve used to test other Q Acoustics’ speakers – I was expecting the same, familiarly rich sound from the 3020c. What I heard was slightly different to those expectations.

Other Q Acoustics’ speakers have offered a rich presentation, but the 3020c sounds slightly warm with more balance eked out across the frequency range.

Let’s start with the highs. There’s certainly a smoothness to the top end of the frequency range that’d be typical of a Q Acoustic speaker, but it’s still tonally bright. It’s not a neutral performance, but at least compared to my 3010i (which isn’t a direct comparison), it wrings out more clarity, detail, and high-frequency variation than that older speaker does.

The treble is well-integrated with the rest of the frequency range. It’s not the most incisive listen due to its smoothness, but the 3020c doesn’t get flustered with high frequencies, sounding composed with the many tracks I fling at it.

The bass extension is not as extensive as I thought it’d be, or at least doesn’t showcase as much depth as I expected. It’s not as weighty as the 5020, which is expected considering it’s the more expensive and larger speaker, but the bass here feels more taut and punchy than digging down deep.

There are moments where I don’t think the speakers deliver the bass quite as articulately as they could. The end of Childish Gambino’s This Is America sounds a little off, but with Masego’s You Never Visit Me, there’s a nice weighty thump to the bass laid down in this track that the Q Acoustics 3020c does well to reproduce. It conveys the richness of the lows without impinging on the vocals, allowing more of the emotion in his voice to come through.

The speaker displays an enjoyable sense of rhythm and flow with Lake Street Drive’s Hypotheticals, but in terms of scale and dynamism, it’s never particularly convincing. Commitment from Michael Giacchino’s Jupiter Ascending album lacks the kind of power and punch I’d like; the larger swells of the orchestra sound timid, and the difference between quiet and loud falls on the minor side.

It’s more adept at dealing with smaller-scale dynamism, such as with Norah Jones’ voice in I Don’t Know Why. Vocals are dealt with clarity, and I like the tone of the singers’ voices through the 3020c, but the one thing that keeps popping up in my notes is that the speakers lack a little energy.

The stereo image comes together well with The Cars’ Just What I Needed. I can place exactly where instruments are, and there’s depth to the soundstage. The 3020c exhibit a sense of control, mixed with good levels of clarity and detail, but if there’s one takeaway, it’s that the Q Acoustics 3020 are an enjoyable if not quite thrilling listen.

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