Q: Acoustics M20 HD review

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Why select a soundbar when you'll be able to have a handsome pair of bookshelf audio system with a built-in digital amplifier as an alternative? Delivering loads of additional depth (which all the time results in a extra dynamic sound), British audio firm Q Acoustics presents the M20 HD ‘wireless’ music system. 

It’s really nothing of the type, with a speaker cable linking one unit to the opposite, in addition to an influence cable and an unlimited pantheon of cabled choices on the again of the lively speaker. In truth, the one factor wi-fi concerning the M20 HD is that it helps Bluetooth streaming. Nevertheless, the M20 HD is nice at what it does. If you’re as a lot into music as you might be TV, the system’s heat digital sound, treble element and balanced sound delivers a super all-round soundstage that’s as adept with Nirvana as it's with Netflix. 

Bluetooth streaming – full with aptX HD  – impresses, too, with the M20 HD consequently able to dealing with compressed audio recordsdata. In addition, a distant management presents effective management over the quantity, the audio system work nicely when music is performed very quietly (the truth of dwelling in a shared family), and the powered speaker can both be the suitable or left channel, relying on the place the mains outlet is in a room. 

There are just a few niggles, reminiscent of the dearth of HDMI ARC, however the M20 HD presents a powerful and simple to arrange improve to your front room’s soundstage – and one that may simply as simply be moved to a video games room or a house workplace. As a ‘first music system’ for actually any room in a house, and for any sort of residence entertainment, the versatile M20 HD is an thrilling prospect. 

Price and availability

• Costs $599 / £399 / AU$900
• Out now
• Sold by unbiased sellers

The Q Acoustics M20 HD wi-fi music system initially went on sale in August 2021 within the UK and in September 2021 within the US. It sells for $599 / £399 / AU$900 from the Q Acoustics web sites (www.qacoustics.co.uk and www.qacoustics.com) and native unbiased sellers.

Design and setup

• Elegant curved design
• Speaker cable required
• Powered speaker may be both left or proper channel

There are two audio system within the bundle, one lively (with a digital amplifier inside) and one passive. Both measure 279 x 170 x 296mm, with the lively speaker weighing 5.5kg and the passive speaker 5.1kg. 

Both have a 2.2cm tweeter and 12.5cm mid/bass driver with a bass reflex port on the rear, which is able to disperse low-frequency sound if you happen to place them away from a wall. However, if you happen to plan to make use of the M20 HD on a bookshelf, with little or no area between them and the wall, Q Acoustics provides a few foam muffles within the field to insert into the bass reflex ports to dampen any distorted bass. 

Although you'll be able to put these powered loudspeakers anyplace, together with on a bookshelf, desk or TV desk, at 11 inches/285mm deep, this received’t all the time be simple. 

Q Acoustics would possibly name the M20 HD wi-fi, however that is restricted solely to Bluetooth streaming. Elsewhere, the M20 HD system entails important cabling. In the field is a mains cable for the lively speaker and a four-meter speaker cable for linking up the lively and the passive audio system by way of binding posts on the reverse of every. The lively speaker basically powers the passive speaker. 

On the rear of the lively speaker you’ll discover a lot of connections. There’s a alternative of an optical audio enter, a brace of left and proper stereo audio analogue inputs, and an auxiliary 3.5mm stereo jack, all for attaching to a TV, Blu-ray participant, set-top field, report participant or an AV amplifier. 

For hooking up a PC, there’s a USB-B slot in the back of the lively speaker, which allows a high-performance information switch pace. Cue 24bit/192kHz high-res music by way of USB from a PC, which can be potential over optical audio. However, it could have been good to see such an uncommon cable offered within the field, since few could have one. 

There’s additionally an analogue enter for attaching a separate subwoofer, though we’re not satisfied the M20 HD wants one, significantly if you happen to intend to feed it a food regimen of TV, music and gaming.

The excellent news is that the 2 audio system within the bundle – as talked about, one lively that must be hooked up to the mains, and the opposite passive, which doesn’t – can act as left or proper. There’s a change on the rear of the lively speaker to find out whether or not it acts because the left or proper channel. That makes placement far simpler, since you'll be able to have an lively speaker near no matter energy outlet is most handy. It isn’t a function we’ve seen earlier than on related merchandise. 

Performance

• 2 x 65W energy
• Enjoyable plug-and-play sound high quality
• Impressive Bluetooth streaming

Bluetooth music streaming is lossy. It’s extremely compressed information that to our ears isn’t only a case of ‘convenience over quality’, however virtually all the time price avoiding in any respect prices. However, Bluetooth streaming on the M20 HD isn’t in any respect horrible. 

Thankfully, it’s aptX HD-capable – which doesn’t imply it magically creates high-resolution audio. However, it does make tunes streamed over Bluetooth from a smartphone listenable. Of course, this may rely upon the kind of music you play, however the M20 excels with uncomplicated fare, reminiscent of acoustic music. 

The M20 HD’s primary job is de facto to beef up the audio from a TV or residence cinema, and in that regard it performs rather well. We hooked it as much as a Virgin Media set-top field by way of an optical audio cable and loved the depth, heat and precision of the M20 HD’s stereo soundscape. There’s loads of low-frequency motion, but it surely by no means appears overdone or remoted. 

Stereo imaging is great, too, with distinct left-right channels with dialogue firmly within the centre. Not solely does its immaculate mid-range supply an enormous enchancment over a flatscreen TV’s sound high quality, its heat digital sound can be rather well suited to music. However, it’s price noting that there aren’t any digital {surround} sound modes, as you discover on some soundbars; the M20 HD is all and solely about stereo. 

In the field, Q Acoustics provides a small distant management, which impresses. This 2 x AAA battery-powered unit options surprisingly delicate quantity buttons that provide unexpectedly effective management. Most impressively, the M20 HD may be operated very quietly, which is uncommon for powered audio gadgets, most of which have a quite loud minimal quantity.

What we did discover in the course of the review was that the M20 HD switches itself off when a linked TV is switched off, however doesn’t wake except you utilize the distant or bodily go over to the powered speaker to press the standby button. That does imply just a few moments of silence after you turn on the TV, which might turn into a bit of annoying. 

The above is likely one of the few low factors on an all-round audio product for residence entertainment that hardly places a foot improper – albeit one which maybe lacks ambition. 

Should I purchase the Q Acoustics M20 HD?

Buy it if… 

You need to enhance your TV’s built-in audio system
Tired of your TV’s skinny, weedy and downright dull-sounding tweeters? The M20 HD delivers a big enchancment on the vast majority of built-in TV audio programs. 

You need some critical sonics for PC gaming or from vinyl
Although the M20 HD appears most at residence in a dwelling area, most probably positioned both facet of a TV or paired with a desktop PC, these bookshelf-style audio system will do an ideal job with a report participant, too. 

Don't purchase it if… 

You have already got a good soundbar
Although you would argue that the M20 HD’s stereo imaging is well worth the funding, if you have already got considered one of one of the best soundbars in entrance of your TV then it’s unlikely to rock your world. Particularly because it doesn’t embrace any quasi-surround modes, which your soundbar most likely does.

You need one thing wi-fi
Although the ‘wireless music system’ moniker may need you imagine in any other case, this speaker bundle really requires a number of cabling, together with an extended stretch of speaker cable and a mains cable, plus no matter sources you cable it as much as. The solely factor wi-fi about it's Bluetooth streaming.