Q Acoustics 3030i: These speakers will have you wondering, “Where’s the subwoofer, Waldo?”
Building a sound system on a tight budget and high hopes? Cast your eyes and ears on Q Acoustics’ newest and biggest passive bookshelf speaker, the 3030i. These stylish speakers deliver an acoustic performance way out of proportion to their $399-per-pair price tag.
Designed in Britain, the Q Acoustics 3030i deliver detailed and robust audio reproduction accurate enough that they could be used as studio monitors. Be forewarned, however; such honest articulation and dynamic range also has a downside: They will lay bare any performance or production weaknesses present in a recording. And with added oomph comes the potential for real-world environmental issues, as these mighty mites could expose the quirks of smaller listening-room resonances, demanding a bit of sleuthing (and tweaking) to resolve. Not to worry, mates. We’ve cracked the case!
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
A bump-up from the $299-per-pair Q Acoustics 3020i speakers that got me frothing in an , the 3030i share the same shapely looks and two-way reflex speaker design—only with the sturdy MDF
