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Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System – Compact Active Speaker System

The Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System is supposed to be a particularly compact, but at the same time very appealing active speaker system that can be used extremely versatile despite the smallest footprint, and can also come up with the finest sound.

The English specialist Q Acoustics calls the new Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System – nomen est omen – a wireless HD music system, whereby “wireless” refers first and foremost to the possibility of using mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets directly as a source, and in lossless quality. In addition, the new Q Acoustics M20 also offers connection to other sources.

The new Q Acoustics M20 is therefore a compact, yet very flexible solution.

The Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System as a complete system

In fact, one can go so far as to call the new Q Acoustics M20 a complete system, a hi-fi chain in the most compact form. If you use mobile devices as the main source, you don’t need any other components, because the new Q Acoustics M20 is designed as an active speaker system and has everything it needs for high-quality playback.

If you still want to connect other sources, this is of course possible, whether in analog or digital form.

Analog or digital

The new Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System offers Bluetooth as an essential interface, whereby Bluetooth 5.0 is used and, in addition to the lossy codec SBC, aptX and even aptX LL, as well as aptX HD are supported. Thus, a signal transmission with up to 24 bits and 48 kHz is possible, as long as the source devices support this. This is primarily the case for smartphones with Google Android, whereas the Apple iPhone relies on AAC.

An analog input, designed as a classic pair of RCA jacks, is of course found on the connection panel. A record player can be connected here as a source via a phono preamp.

For digital sources such as a TV set, a streaming client or a game console, an optical S/PDIF interface with a so-called TOS link is available.

It is also very essential that the new Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System has a USB port, so that a direct connection to a PC or Mac can be established and the active speaker system is thus used as a high-quality audio interface.

This is particularly exciting because, as already mentioned, it is a particularly compact active speaker system, so the Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System looks very good on a desk in the home office.

And yes, the Q Acoustics M20 can also be used as an ideal audio system in a child’s or teenager’s room, since either a smartphone, tablet or PC will be the central source there as well.

The S/PDIF interface as well as the USB port allow signal transmission in Linear PCM format with up to 24 bits and 19 kHz, which is mentioned for the sake of completeness.

And to complete the list of connections, the Q Acoustics M20 offers the possibility to bring an additional subwoofer into play, for which an RCA connector is available. The connection between the speakers is made using speaker cables, so there are corresponding screw terminals on the back. Power is supplied to one of the speakers, and it should be emphasized that the active speaker can be used on the left or right, depending on where the necessary power outlet is located. Very practical, in our opinion…

Two-way bass reflex system

The new Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System is designed as a two-way bass reflex system, with the developers relying on the combination of a 22 mm tweeter and a 125 mm low-mid driver. The bass reflex system is routed out to the rear.

The manufacturer emphasizes that numerous constructive measures ensure optimal sound, such as a mechanical decoupling of the tweeter from the baffle, so that no vibrations distort the sound.

  • Foto © Q Acoustics - Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System
  • Foto © Q Acoustics - Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System
  • Foto © Q Acoustics - Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System
  • Foto © Q Acoustics - Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System
  • Foto © Q Acoustics - Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System
  • Foto © Q Acoustics - Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System

Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System with Q Acoustics P2P Bracing

Probably the most important design feature of the new Q Acoustics M20 is the so-called Q Acoustics P2P bracing, where this abbreviation stands for Point to Point.

Bracing is used here to stiffen the parts of the cabinet that could otherwise generate unwanted vibrations. Rounded sides of the case are also a not insignificant detail, apart from the fact that this looks particularly elegant. This achieves a particularly stable construction and prevents standing waves inside.

This is the basis for a high precision of the stereo imaging and the wide soundstage, and it should also guarantee a voluminous, nuanced bass as well as balanced, detailed mids and crisp, fresh highs, as the manufacturer itself puts it. Especially for the optimal radiation of the high frequencies, one also relies on rounded contours of the cover grille to reduce unwanted reflections to a minimum.

Foto © Q Acoustics - Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System
Foto © Q Acoustics – Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System

Sufficient power and DSP-based signal processing

The Q Acoustics M20 has amplifiers with a power of twice 65 watts, more than enough to provide rich sound in smaller rooms. It is capable of reproducing a frequency range between 55 Hz and 22 kHz, with a crossover frequency of 2.4 kHz.

What’s particularly exciting is that the Q Acoustics M20 features DSP-based signal processing. This provides the option to adjust the playback of the speaker system to the respective setup. A switch allows you to select whether the system is placed freely in the room, against the wall, or even in a corner and thus optimize the sound characteristics accordingly.

Flexible set-up

This flexibility in placement is also reflected in the range of accessories for the new Q Acoustics M20. Q Acoustics offers not only a suitable stand for this compact active speaker system, but also a wall-mounting device.

The speakers have dimensions of 279 x 170 x 296 mm. The active speaker system of the pair weighs in at 5.5 kg, but the passive twin is only marginally lighter at 5.1 kg. A clear indication of the solid build quality.

The new Q Acoustics M20 is available immediately from retailers. The recommended retail price is a pleasingly affordable € 499.

Getting to the point

With the new Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System, the English specialist Q Acoustics offers a particularly exciting active speaker system, because it is aimed at a wide range of customers who are looking for a flexible, yet very compact, also good sounding and not least elegant active speaker system. The fact that this is available at a very attractive price also speaks for the fact that a broad customer base can be addressed.

Manufacturer:Q Acoustics
Distribution:IDC Klaassen International Distribution & Consulting oHG
Price:€ 499,-
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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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