PSB iQ2 white (pack of 2)

Two speakers, one app, and almost an entire hi-fi system fits on a shelf. PSB pushes further the formula introduced by the Alpha iQ in 2022: a pair of active speakers that do without the slightest cable between them, handle streaming, television and vinyl, and deliver left-right stereo. The iQ2 version adds the wireless link between the two cabinets and seven finishes.

Stereo without a cable between the speakers

That is the difference that justifies the model name. On the iQ2, the left speaker and the right speaker communicate via a low-latency radio link. No wire connects one to the other; only the mains power supply goes to each cabinet. You place the two speakers where they fit best, on a shelf, a console or a desk, without calculating the length of a linking cable.

Each cabinet has its own amplification and its own converter, which gives two truly separate channels rather than widened mono. Voices stay centered, instruments are positioned in space, and the soundstage extends beyond the physical width of the speakers. All connections are on the main speaker, configurable as left or right during setup; the second receives only mains power and a reset button.

More watts for a pocket-sized format

The iQ2 takes the acoustic foundation of the Alpha iQ but changes the engine. The new Texas Instruments Class-D amplification platform delivers 270 W in total, versus 180 W for the Alpha iQ. The detail matters: each woofer gets a dedicated 90 W, and each tweeter its own 45 W block. One amplifier per driver, after the crossover, therefore, which is the logic of a truly active speaker.

On the driver side, the 19 mm aluminum dome tweeter combines a neodymium magnet and ferrofluid cooling, while the 100 mm polypropylene woofer is built on a steel chassis with rubber surround. The crossover is handled by a digital active crossover (DSP), and the bass-reflex loading relies on a tuned port extended by DSP processing. True to the Alpha line, PSB places the tweeter below the woofer: the balance between the two drivers remains consistent whether you are sitting or standing.

The response covers 64 Hz to 20 kHz at plus or minus 3 dB, with a measured extension down to 35 Hz at the -10 dB threshold. A 100 mm woofer in a 24 cm-high cabinet will not go as low as a floorstanding speaker; that is the price of the compact format. PSB embraces this and provides a dedicated subwoofer output, with high-pass and low-pass filters managed by the DSP, for anyone who wants more low-end foundation or to fill a larger room.

Television, turntable and other sources

The iQ2 is not reserved for streaming. The rear panel of the main speaker groups together an HDMI eARC socket for television sound, an optical input, a USB-C port for a digital source (computer, smartphone) and a USB-A port to read a storage drive. For vinyl, the phono input includes a moving magnet (MM) preamp, bypassable from the BluOS app when the source already outputs line level, such as a CD player or a turntable with a built-in preamp. Network connection is via Ethernet or Wi-Fi depending on your setup.

HDMI eARC deserves a mention for anyone considering these speakers as a replacement for a soundbar: the low-latency link between the two cabinets avoids the lag between picture and sound, a classic weak point of wireless pairs connected to a television.

BluOS at the heart of listening

The system runs on BluOS, Lenbrook’s platform also found on Bluesound and NAD. In practical terms, you get access to more than twenty streaming services, in lossless and high-resolution quality, from a single app available on Android, iOS, macOS and Windows. The internal converter handles files up to 24-bit and 192 kHz. AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect are all present, and Bluetooth supports the aptX Adaptive codec for direct streaming from a phone.

Multiroom allows streaming to 63 other BluOS devices spread throughout the house. On top of the main speaker, touch controls provide access to volume, playback and two presets (a station, a playlist or a service at your fingertips). Voice control works via Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri (through AirPlay 2), and smart home integration covers Control4, Crestron, ELAN, RTI and URC, with infrared code learning for universal remotes.

Seven finishes and a compact cabinet

The cabinet combines MDF, a front baffle in MDF on aluminum and a rear baffle in aluminum, a combination aimed at rigidity without making the whole thing heavier. Fabric grilles are included. PSB applies an anti-fingerprint treatment to the finishes, a welcome detail in everyday use on a speaker placed at hand height.

The iQ2 comes in seven finishes: black, white, ember red, boreal green, granite gray, sandstone beige, plus a walnut veneer highlighted with copper accents. Dimensions remain compact, 145 x 246 x 192 mm per speaker, for 7.36 kg the pair. Enough to find its place in a small or medium-sized room, on a low cabinet as well as on a bookshelf.

Technical specifications

Frequency response

• On-axis response at 0° (± 3 dB): 64 Hz to 20 kHz
• Low-frequency cutoff (-10 dB): 35 Hz

Amplification

• Power per speaker
  • Tweeter: 45 W
  • Woofer: 90 W
• Total system power: 270 W (dual power supply)
• Amplification platform: Class-D (TI-based)

Acoustic design

• Tweeter: 19 mm aluminum dome, ferrofluid, neodymium magnet
• Woofer: 100 mm polypropylene cone, rubber surround, steel frame
• Crossover: active DSP crossover
• Enclosure type: bass-reflex (tuned port, DSP extension)

Connectivity

• Analog: MM phono
• Digital: HDMI eARC, optical, USB-C (playback), USB-A (storage)
• Network: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, BluOS
• Wireless: Bluetooth aptX Adaptive
• Output: subwoofer (DSP low-pass and high-pass filters)

Streaming and features

• Platform: BluOS multiroom, more than 20 services (lossless and high resolution)
• Converter: high-resolution DAC up to 24-bit / 192 kHz
• Compatibility: AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect
• Multiroom: streaming to 63 additional BluOS devices
• Phono preamp: integrated MM, bypassable for line-level sources
• Home automation: Control4, Crestron, ELAN, RTI, URC, IR learning
• Voice control: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri (via AirPlay 2)
• Speaker-to-speaker connection: low-latency wireless stereo

Construction

• Cabinet: MDF
• Front baffle: MDF on aluminum
• Rear baffle: aluminum
• Grilles: fabric, included

Available finishes

• Black, white, ember red, boreal green, granite gray, sandstone beige, walnut veneer

Dimensions and weight

• Net dimensions (W x H x D): 145 x 246 x 192 mm
• Packaging dimensions: 268 x 402 x 385 mm
• Net weight: 7.36 kg per pair
• Gross weight: 8.27 kg per pair