Q Acoustics debuts first Q Active speaker range

Q Acoustics has announced its first active loudspeakers: the Q Active 200 bookshelf speakers and Q Active 400 floorstanders.

Designed to work with multiple sources, including TV, network streamers, smartphones, tablets, laptops and turntables, the speakers ship with a compact central Control Hub, featuring Google Chromecast built-in. Class D amplification removes the need for an external amp or receiver.

The Hub can be connected to your home network using ethernet or Wi-Fi. Amazon Alexa compatible models will be released next year.

Wireless streaming options include Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, Roon and Spotify Connect. There’s support for all popular music streaming services (Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Qobuz, Spotify and Tidal) and the speakers can also operate as a UPnP media player capable of playing music from a computer or NAS drive.

A Control Hub offers an HDMI ARC input, an optical digital input, an analogue line level input and a subwoofer output. The Hub also features a built-in moving magnet phono stage.

The Control Hub links to the Q Active speakers via a wireless connection where all incoming audio is converted to 24-bit/96kHz hi-res audio.

A switch at the back of the Q Active speakers designates left or right channels, while another tells the speakers where they are positioned in a room – close to a wall, in a corner or out in free space.

The Q Active 200 standmount speakers feature two 2.25in BMR drive units and a rear-firing 4.5in long throw subwoofer. There are six discrete amplifiers powering the Q Active 200, resulting in a total power output of 280W.

The Active 200 are priced £1,499. The speaker can be equipped with the optional Q FS75 floor stands (£349), inspired by the Concept 300’s Tensegrity stand.

The Q Active 400 floorstanding speakers have the same 180-degree sound dispersion Balance Mode Radiator (BMR) drive unit arrangement as the Active 200 bookshelf speakers, but feature eight discrete amplifiers with 440W of total power output.

The other key difference with the Q Active 400, besides its taller cabinet size, is that it features two rear-firing 4.5in subwoofers: one subwoofer at the top of the cabinet, one at the bottom. This arrangement neutralises the cabinet’s internal standing waves, which in turn reduces unwanted resonance and delivers a more powerful and cleaner, tighter bass sound.

The Q Active 400 with Google Cast sell for £2,299.

Q Acoustics is distributed by AllTrade.