Q Acoustics M20 HD Review
Verdict
Another winning performance from a Q Acoustics' organisation, the M20 HD speakers are versatile performers with a warm sonic performance that's thoroughly enjoyable with music, movies and games.
Pros
- Powerful, engaging audio
- Versatile characteristic-set
- Affordable asking price
Cons
- Could benefit from more definition, dynamic agility
- Stands add together a fair flake to overall cost
Availability
- UK RRP: £399
- United states of america RRP: $599
- Europe RRP: €499
Cardinal Features
- AptX-Hd Bluetooth Can stream up to aptX-Hard disk (24-bit/48kHz)
- Betoken-to-Point bracing Reinforces internal structure to minimise vibration for a cleaner performance
- Remote control Includes remote control for playback, switching inputs
Introduction
After ploughing lesser-known fields with its Q Active series, Q Acoustics' latest set of speakers see the British hi-fi brand return to like ground with its powered wireless speaker system.
The M20 HD arrive with hopes of elevating the operation of music, movies and games, and a focus on delivering class-leading high-definition playback over Bluetooth at a very enticing price.
Design
- Unassuming looks
- Multifariousness of placement options possible
- Requires speaker cablevision to connect speakers
The M20 Hard disk's appearance will be familiar to those who have previously bought a pair of Q Audio-visual speakers. The glossy silverish 'Q' logo matched by a smart-looking silver trim that outlines the baffle and the curvature of the cabinet – to assist in dispersing reflections from the tweeter – speaks to a refined artful.
With its matte black terminate, the M20 HDs are rather inconspicuous. There's some common ground with the Q Active 200; a trio of buttons that includes volume and a multi-function button. The multi-role push button is lit up by an LED ring that flashes or changes color, depending on the input.
Used as TV speakers, though, you won't exist able to encounter it from a seated position. The remote is of Q Agile ilk, too; information technology'south responsive to presses, if you remember to indicate it at the powered speaker.
The cabinet is reassuringly solid but not too heavy, and information technology'south rear-ported, which can affect bass levels. If positioned close to a wall (within 200mm), at that place are foam bungs to plug upward the ports if you detect the speaker'due south bass excessive.
At 296mm, the cabinet is fairly deep, just non by and then much that information technology couldn't fit onto a bookshelf. The speakers are compatible with the 3000i speaker stands (£159) and the Q300WB bracket (£39.92/pair) for more placement options. Q Acoustics recommends a space of between 2m to 4m to get the total outcome of the stereo image – although this is a proposition, not a mandate.
One last thing to mention is the cable that connects the speakers. It's i of the less conspicuous effectually and shouldn't pose much of a trouble; just it may aggravate those afterward a 'truly' wireless experience.
Features
- Betoken-to-Point internal bracing
- AptX-HD Bluetooth
- EQ switch for adjusting sound profile
There's no Wi-Fi here, which rules out 'casting', AirPlay 2 or Spotify Connect-esque functionality. A Bluetooth v.0 connection is the sole wireless option, with the M20 accepting sources up to aptX-Hard disk (24-bit/48kHz). Employ the USB input and the ceiling raises to 24-bit/192kHz.
Like the Q Active series, both speakers can operate as the left or right channel, past flicking a switch on the rear of the powered speaker. Also on the powered speaker you'll notice binding posts, an EQ switch, optical, USB, 3.5mm aux, stereo RCA input and a sub out. Bated from a pair of binding posts, the passive speaker has no other connections.
The EQ switch is another feature borrowed from the Q Active model. Offering three positions, information technology can bespeak to the speaker the space it'southward in, allowing it to accommodate the sound with a selection of next to a wall, in a corner, or freestanding. However, it's rather piece of cake to forget near if you move the speaker often.
Powered past 2 x 32W of continuous power and able to hit a peak of 2 ten 65W, the M20s take a 125mm mid-bass driver and a 22mm tweeter that's decoupled to reduce the effects of vibrations on it. Q Acoustics' P2P (Betoken-to-Point) bracing returns to stiffen the enclosure and eliminate distortion, while too helping to improve the accuracy of the speaker's stereo prototype.
Sound quality
- Rich character to sound
- Engages with music, movies and games
- Weighty bass functioning
- Some tinkering with volume necessary
Over the course of testing the M20 Hard disk drive, starting with some music, the speakers reveal themselves to be in-keeping with Q Acoustics' tradition – delivering detailed and powerful sound with some warmth, giving music an appealing richness.
Some experimenting is required with the volume to go the preferred performance. The bass in Justin Timberlake's Let'southward Accept a Ride initially lacked punch and was softly described. Pushing the volume up delivered more than grunt; the M20 have a presence that's big, inviting and solidly described.
Vocals are handled smoothly, with the mid-range home to some warmth. The M20 take Anya Taylor-Joy'southward voice in Last Night in Soho'south Downtempo and ekes out detail from the breathy intonations of her wistful vocalisation. Rhythmically, Billy Joel's Nosotros Didn't Start the Fire is given toe-tapping energy and momentum, also as a fine sense of timing.
Bass is weighty and fulsome, and at the top-finish there's clarity, the disuse of loftier-frequency notes handled smoothly if perhaps defective a certain sharpness. Highs and lows are fluidly managed, but the M20 isn't the most active in dancing between the two. Ascension notes are dealt with in a wide sense. Information technology's an expansive, piece of cake-going performance, but the M20 Hd aren't analytical; fine detail is a little loosely defined.
Compare them to Klipsch's The Fives and at that place'due south sharpness and clarity beyond the Q Acoustics' means, but those speakers also toll twice as much.
Use them as speakers with a TV and they strike a fabulously weighty audio. The M20s don't accept Dolby Digital audio, so any sound fed to them must be PCM – this speaker existence strictly a stereo experience, after all. Simply head into the audio settings of your TV to change that.
Watching Reminiscence (4K Blu-ray), the soundstage was large, broad and wide. The M20 HD speakers showcased an fantabulous feel for the tonality of voices, capturing the character of, well, the characters.
Dialogue matches placement on-screen; furnishings pan across the soundstage; and bass response is sonorous and powerful. In the film, glass shatters with intensity, gunshots hit with a thud, and the cadence of Rebecca Ferguson's Mae in her singing scenes is afforded ample clarity. It's a very effective, full-sounding performance.
Games piece of work, too, with the M20s lapping up particular within a spacious soundstage, and effects positioned well to create depth in the stereo presentation. Raise the volume and the M20s avoid distortion – my just asking is perhaps some more than sharpness and definition.
In terms of fulfilling their mission cursory of working across music, movies and games, the M20 Hard disk drive consistently satisfy with a thoroughly engaging and entertaining performance.
Latest deals
Should you lot buy information technology?
You want a versatile system at an affordable toll Like the Q Active series, the M20 Hard disk drive work well across a range of sources. Buy a stand and pair them with your Goggle box, and you have a forepart-room speaker organization for music, movies and games.
You lot're afterwards more dynamism and particular The M20 HD are adeptly skilled for the asking price, but if you lot want something more than belittling or more high-finish, you lot'll accept to pay more.
Final Thoughts
Considering their price, performance and versatility, at that place isn't much to moan about when it comes to what Q Acoustics has laid out with the M20 Hard disk. They're fun and engaging active wireless speakers.
But in that location are a few niggles. I feel there's a shortfall in terms of outright definition, despite their high-resolution promise, and I experience their agility in terms of dynamism and attack is broadly rather than acutely defined. Still, the character of the speakers is rewarding with music, films, and games; its warm and rich mid-range, powerful bass performance and defined top-finish make them a musical performer.
How we examination
We test every hi-fi speaker we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly. We'll ever tell y'all what we find. Nosotros never, always, accept money to review a production.
Find out more than about how we test in our ethics policy.
Tested for more than a calendar week
Tested with existent world employ
Tested with a range of sources
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FAQs
Why does the M20 HD'south LED light flash white every few seconds?
If you've connected the system to a Telly for the first fourth dimension, the LED light may flash white. That's considering the system doesn't accept Dolby Digital audio when connected to a Tv, only PCM.
Can I add a subwoofer to the M20 Hd?
Yeah, you tin can, through the sub-out connectedness.
What is the highest resolution the M20 HD supports?
The M20 HD can support 24-bit/192kHz through the USB input.
Full specs
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Source: https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/q-acoustics-m20-hd
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