PSB iQ Series Powered Speakers Bring BluOS, HDMI eARC and Phono From $999

The traditional two-channel system is not dead. It has simply been asked to justify the rack, cable clutter, stack of black boxes, and the inevitable moment when someone asks which remote turns on the music. We have all been there.

And judging by the growing number of active streaming speaker systems from KEF, Acoustic Energy, Cambridge Audio, and DALI, PSB is not exactly diving into an empty pool. The category is getting crowded quickly, with more brands recognizing that many listeners want real stereo performance without turning the living room into a small electronics store.

PSB is not entering this category cold. Its Alpha iQ gave the Canadian manufacturer an early and credible foothold in the compact streaming speaker market, pairing BluOS, HDMI eARC, phono connectivity, and genuine stereo imaging in a system that we found notably capable for its size. 

The new PSB iQ Series builds on that foundation. Combining active amplification, BluOS streaming, HDMI eARC, a built-in MM phono stage, USB-C audio, and subwoofer integration, the iQ1 and iQ2 aim to deliver most of the experience of a traditional PSB/NAD system in a format that might be more acceptable for new buyers or audiophiles looking to add a secondary system or scale down.

Launching June 23, 2026, the iQ Series includes the $999 USD iQ1 and the more upscale $1,399 USD iQ2. Both are based on the acoustic platform first used in the Alpha iQ, but PSB has upgraded the amplification, cabinet finishes, connectivity, and overall system flexibility.

Related Review: PSB Alpha IQ Wireless Loudspeakers Review

One System for Music, Vinyl, TV and Everything Else

The strongest argument for the iQ Series is not that it eliminates components. It is that PSB has included the right ones that you might actually need or want to use in the future.

Both models support BluOS streaming up to 24-bit/192kHz, with access to more than 20 streaming services, internet radio, personal libraries, multi-room playback, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, and Bluetooth with aptX Adaptive. BluOS remains one of the better whole-home streaming platforms, particularly for people who want to mix a compact stereo system with other Bluesound, NAD, or BluOS-enabled products elsewhere in the house.

PSB has also made the iQ Series unusually practical. HDMI eARC makes either pair a legitimate television audio upgrade without requiring a soundbar. There is an MM phono preamp for turntables, RCA and optical inputs for legacy sources, USB-C audio for laptops and mobile devices, USB-A connectivity, and a subwoofer output with DSP-controlled high-pass and low-pass filters.

That last feature matters. A compact active speaker can deliver far more than its size suggests, but a properly integrated subwoofer still makes sense for larger rooms, movie playback, and anyone craving a little more impact while dancing in the dark to Deadmau5 or Sia. That would be me and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

iQ1 Keeps the Price Down Without Cutting the Right Corners

The PSB iQ1 is the entry point at $999 USD and $1,299 CAD. It is available in Black or White vinyl finishes and connects its two speakers with a wired stereo cable.

That might sound slightly less glamorous than “true wireless,” but it is not a compromise in the ways that matter. The wired connection keeps both channels synchronized and lets PSB focus the budget on amplification, drivers, DSP, streaming, and inputs rather than turning the product into an expensive networking experiment. They are also not the only manufacturer using this methodology.

The iQ1 uses a 4-inch polypropylene mid-bass driver with a steel basket and rubber surround, paired with a 0.75-inch aluminum dome tweeter using a neodymium magnet and ferrofluid damping. Total system power is rated at 270 watts per pair, including 90 watts dedicated to each woofer and 45 watts per channel for the tweeters.

At this price, the combination of BluOS, HDMI eARC, phono, USB-C, subwoofer management, and genuine stereo separation is more compelling than yet another all-in-one box pretending it can image like two properly placed speakers.

iQ2 Adds Wireless Stereo and Finishes That Do Not Look Like Office Equipment

The $1,399 iQ2 shares the same core driver complement, 270-watt amplification platform, BluOS ecosystem, and connectivity, but adds a low-latency wireless link between the left and right speakers.

That is the model for people who want the cleaner installation without giving up a real stereo pair. More importantly, PSB has given the iQ2 a much broader range of finishes: Black, White, Ember Red, Boreal Green, Granite Grey, Sandstone Beige, and Premium Walnut Veneer.

The Walnut version gets copper-finished accents, and PSB says the iQ2 cabinets receive a fingerprint-resistant coating. A small detail, perhaps, but anyone who has lived with glossy speakers, children, dogs, or other humans understands why that matters.

Specifications Compared

The Bottom Line

PSB is not reinventing the active speaker category with the iQ Series, but it is making a smart and timely move. The iQ1 and iQ2 build on the Alpha iQ platform with a new Burr-Brown Class D amplification stage, more refined cabinets and finishes, USB-C audio, broader BluOS integration, and a clearer distinction between a lower-cost wired model and a more design-conscious wireless version.

The $999 iQ1 looks particularly well positioned. It offers the kind of system flexibility that many compact active speakers still lack: BluOS streaming, HDMI eARC, an MM phono stage, USB-C, optical and RCA inputs, aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, multi-room capability, and DSP-enabled subwoofer management. That is a lot of system for the money, especially for listeners trying to replace both a compact stereo system and a soundbar without giving up proper left-right separation.

The $1,399 iQ2 adds low-latency wireless stereo operation and a much broader selection of finishes, including Ember Red, Boreal Green, Granite Grey, Sandstone Beige, and a Walnut Veneer option with copper accents. The additional $400 is not insignificant, but it may be worth it for buyers who want fewer cables, more placement flexibility, and something that looks less like traditional hi-fi equipment.

Competition is not lacking. KEF’s LSX II LT is the most obvious alternative at the same price, while the LSX II offers a more upscale version of the same basic concept. Audioengine’s HD4 Next Gen is less expensive and well suited to desktop or small-room use, but it lacks the iQ Series’ streaming ecosystem, HDMI eARC, and phono connectivity. Cambridge Audio and DALI are also moving aggressively into active wireless systems, although their newer L/R and VEGA designs sit in a very different price and performance bracket.

The iQ Series appears to be a more polished, better differentiated, and more lifestyle-friendly follow-up rather than a ground-up detour.

We already have a review pair in house, and readers can expect Ryan Waniata’s full review next week. That should tell us whether PSB has merely improved the feature list or created one of the more convincing compact streaming speaker systems at this price.

Price & Availability

The PSB iQ1 will be available beginning August 10, 2026 in Black or White vinyl finishes for $999 USD and $1,299 CAD.

The PSB iQ2 starts at $1,399 USD and $1,699 CAD in the painted finishes. The Premium Walnut Veneer version will arrive in November 2026 for $1,499 USD and $1,849 CAD.

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