Floorstanding loudspeakers — PMC QB1-A

The QB1-A is a large active floorstanding loudspeaker from PMC. Its cabinet favours width over height, unlike PMC's more conventionally tower-shaped models. In PMC's active range it sits alongside the BB6 XBD-A.

Key specs that matter

PMC rates the response from 20 Hz to 25 kHz. The built-in amplification is split across three bands, with channels of 275 W, 550 W and 2400 W. Each cabinet measures 82.0 x 109.2 x 52.3 cm and weighs 150 kg, so this is a very heavy speaker to move and place.

Engineering and use context

With the amplifiers built into the cabinet, each of the three frequency bands is driven by its own amplifier channel. The wide, lower-profile shape fits rooms where a tall, narrow tower would be awkward to accommodate.

Pairing

The QB1-A does without an external power amplifier, since a line-level source or preamplifier feeds its internal amplification directly.

Alternatives

The PMC BB6 XBD-A uses the same amplification budget in a taller and narrower cabinet.