Q Acoustics 3020
They were always great speakers – now they’re stunning value for money too
The winner has to be the Q Acoustics 3020s. These speakers have been with us some time now, and were pipped to our budget-speaker Award by the Mission LX 2s a couple of years ago. Yet a massive £70 price drop means they now represent stupendous value for money.
Nothing else in this test is so well made or as insightful. The 3020s are refined and subtle, and yet they deliver plenty in the way of dynamic contrasts. They work better across a wider range of systems than either rival and are surprisingly unfazed by harsh and aggressive recordings. Give the Qs a suitably high-quality signal, and they’ll deliver a performance closer to speakers costing £300 than most contenders at this level. In short, they’re a brilliant buy.
Close, but no cigar
“They work better across a wider range of systems than either rival and are unfazed by harsh recordings”
Where does that leave the competition? Beaten, but still well worth considering. We’ve given both the Missions and Dalis five stars each and rightly so – they’re not far behind and well worth an audition. While both contenders are edged out by the 3020s’ combination of ability and aggressive price, they still do enough to earn a warm recommendation.
The Dalis are a massive amount of fun to listen to. Their sound brims with enthusiasm and, given the right recording, will give you the broadest smile from anything in this group. They’re also notably smaller than their rivals, which means they will fit into places the others can’t. That’s a big plus for those short of space or unwilling to move their furniture around to accommodate their hi-fi.
What of the Mission LX 2s? They remain composed, dynamic and entertaining performers. At times they have the ability to make the 3020s sound a little too mature and sensible. However, despite a £30 price drop, they have lost their previously held price advantage over the Qs and so can’t win this test. They remain fine performers and a great alternative though.