Q Acoustics introduces its first-ever floor-standing active loudspeaker system: the Q Active 400. According to the company, active models were designed from the ground up to create a flexible, no-compromise system that delivers high-resolution performance. The new product received amplifiers operating in class D, and dual Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) radiators with a diameter of 2.25 inches, shifted sideways relative to the central axis of the speakers, plus two 4.5-inch subwoofers, complemented by waveguides, are located on the rear wall.
There are two switches on the speaker cabinets: one allows you to “assign” which speaker will take over the functions of the left and right channels, the second is used to select a placement option (near a wall, in a corner or in free space), after which the speakers automatically adjust their sound . A pair of dual BMR (Balanced Mode Radiator) speakers provide a wide soundstage and sweet spot, making the location of listeners in the room less of a factor. Eight separate amplifiers provide 440 watts of output power.
There are two controls on the rear panel of the speakers: one selects the channel, right or left, and the other selects bass calibration depending on the position of the acoustics in the room. With the Q Active series speakers in your home, the number of wires can be reduced to a minimum: a separate hub controller provides connection to digital and analogue sources and wirelessly transmits the signal to the speakers. All acoustics control is done through the hub – interfaces, including wireless ones, are connected to it. The speakers also interact with the hub wirelessly. Connection options include Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Roon, Spotify Connect, HDMI ARC, as well as the usual optical and analog input.
There is a subwoofer output, as well as a built-in MM phono stage. The acoustics themselves support work with the streaming services Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Qobuz, Spotify and Tidal. There is support for connecting to your home network via UPnP. The built-in DAC is ready to process the incoming signal at 32 bit/192 kHz, but converts it to 24 bit/96 kHz. Active speakers Q Acoustics Q Active 400 support voice assistants Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and are also ready to form multiroom based on these ecosystems from Apple, Google, Amazon and Roon.
