Homeaudio speakershave come a long way from their reliance on components and amplifiers and cables to drive the various sounds we rely on them for. The emergence of compact all-in-one speaker setups that do everything — from built-in amplification andmusic streaming servicesto wireless and physical connectivity for just about anything — is on the rise, and Canadian loudspeaker makers PSB have just added their contribution, announcing the launch of the Alpha iQ Streaming Powered Speakers.
Available for online pre-order on October 19, the $1,500 set of powered bookshelf speakers aredriven by BluOS, the multiroom wireless network audio system created by PSB’s parent company, Ontario-basedLenbrook International, which also owns NAD and the Sonos rival Bluesound.
For such a compact set of bookshelf speakers, the Alpha iQs pack in a ton of connectivity options, includingHDMI ARCfor connecting to home theater systems like TVs and AV receivers, anoptical inputfor CD players or gaming consoles, a 3.5mm AUX input for connecting analog sources, and even a built-in phono preamp forconnecting a turntabledirectly to its RCA line input. There’s also a subwoofer-out jack that, when connected, uses low-pass and high-pass filers that allowsa subwooferto do all the heavy low-end lifting for the main speakers, allowing for bigger bass in music and movies.
Wireless connectivity is prevalent in the Alpha iQs as well, most substantially with the BluOS system and Controller app backing it on a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Able to wirelessly transmit lossless music up to 24-bit/192kHz with full MQA decoding and rendering capability, BluOS supports more than 20 streaming services and internet radio stations, including high-resolution audio sources such asAmazon Music Ultra HD(the highest-res tier), Deezer, andTidal, and you can send this audio to any BlueOS-enabled speaker in your home.AirPlay 2compatibility expands that, letting you stream Apple Lossless from Apple Music to the speakers as well. There’s Bluetooth connectivity, too, with support for two-way aptX HD, for wirelessly playing from smartphones and connecting Bluetooth headphones for quiet listening. There’s also an Ethernet port for those who prefer to hardwire.
On the speaker hardware side, there’s nothing to fear here with PSB’s reputation for audiophile-quality “True to Nature” sound. With a total system output of 180 watts from its built-in class D amp pushing each speaker’s 4-inch mid-bass driver and 0.75-inch dome tweeter, we’re pretty certain that these diminutive bookshelf speakers will pack a punch. A lossless wireless link connection pairs the left and right speakers together, eliminating messy wires and giving more options for placement. They come in black and white options.
If the price tag sounds steep, it’s actually on par with some of the other powered streaming speakers in the space, such as the excellent $1,400KEF LSX IIs. Other more affordable options are also emerging, such as the much largerFluance Elite Ai81 tower speakers. And as more consumers search for all-in-one speaker solutions to power the wide variety of sources they now have, we’re only going to see this market grow.
