PSB iQ2 walnut (pack of 2)

Two speakers, one app, and almost an entire hi-fi system fits on a shelf. PSB takes the formula introduced by the Alpha iQ in 2022 a step further: a pair of active speakers that do without even the slightest cable between them, handle streaming, television and vinyl, and deliver true left-right stereo. The iQ2 version adds a 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 mains power runs to each cabinet. You place the two speakers wherever they fit best, on a shelf, a console or a desk, without having to calculate the length of a linking cable.

Each cabinet carries its own amplification and its own converter, which gives two genuinely 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 located on the main speaker, configurable as left or right during setup; the second receives only mains power and a reset button.

More watts in a compact format

The iQ2 takes the acoustic foundation of the Alpha iQ but changes the engine. The new Class-D amplification platform from Texas Instruments delivers 270 W in total, compared with 180 W for the Alpha iQ. The details matter: 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 an active digital 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 measured extension down to 35 Hz at the -10 dB threshold. A 100 mm woofer in a cabinet 24 cm high will not go as low as a floorstander; that is the trade-off of the compact format. PSB owns that 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 port for TV 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 integrates 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 built-in preamp. Network connection runs through 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 audio/video sync lag, a classic weak point of wireless pairs connected to a TV.

BluOS at the heart of listening

The system runs on BluOS, Lenbrook’s platform also found in Bluesound and NAD products. In concrete 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 processes files up to 24-bit and 192 kHz. AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect are all present, and Bluetooth handles the aptX Adaptive codec for direct streaming from a phone.

Multiroom allows streaming to 63 other BluOS devices spread around 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 heavier. Fabric grilles are included. PSB applies an anti-fingerprint treatment to the finishes, an appreciable everyday detail 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 enhanced with copper accents. Dimensions remain compact, 145 x 246 x 192 mm per speaker, for 7.36 kg per 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)
• Link between speakers: 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