Short answer: the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini. It ranks #2 of 179 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.7/5, at $900. The Q Acoustics 3020c ranks #130, rated 2.6/5, at $519, $381 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the Q Acoustics 3020c does well: A compact bookshelf speaker that is easy to drive from a small amplifier, offered in four finishes. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
The Philharmonic Ceramic Mini is the better-sounding option. A beautifully finished bookshelf speaker with near reference accuracy, low distortion, a touch of warmth and a wide soundstage. The catch: Somewhat limited output capability for its size: audible woofer compression (“flopping”) around 95dB at 3 meters for a stereo pair, so keep to moderate levels or pair with a subwoofer for home theater use.
Buy the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $381 you would save on the Q Acoustics 3020c does not close the gap.
About the ratings: the Q Acoustics 3020c’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 2.4 to 2.8, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Efficiency: the Q Acoustics 3020c is rated at 87 dB sensitivity against 82 dB for the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini, so it plays as loud with roughly a third of the amplifier power.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Q Acoustics 3020c | Philharmonic Ceramic Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $519.00 per pair | $900 per pair |
| Ranked | #130 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #2 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 120mm (4.75”) C3 cone woofer, 22mm soft dome tweeter | 5.25” ceramic woofer, 1” ceramic dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz-30kHz, -6dB (manufacturer specified) | 55Hz - 20kHz (+1.5/-3dB, Manufacturer specified, ported) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 82dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) | 4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms min, 15 ohms max) (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 25-90W | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.6kHz | 2kHz (Linkwitz-Riley 4th order) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Dimensions | 11”H x 6.9”W x 11.1”D (279 x 175 x 281 mm) | 12” x 8.5” x 11.3” (305 x 216 x 286 mm) |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg) each | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) |
| Cabinet Color | white, walnut, oak, black | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Country | - | USA (Vienna, Virginia) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 5.77 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.78 |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Q Acoustics 3020c: manufacturer specifications and listening comparisons; no independent measurement has been published yet.
- Philharmonic Ceramic Mini: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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