Полочная акустика — Psb Alpha iQ

The Alpha iQ is a pair of active streaming speakers from PSB, the Canadian loudspeaker company founded by Paul Barton. It builds a BluOS network streamer, DAC, DSP crossover and amplification into a compact stand-mount pair, drawing on the streaming platform of PSB's sister brands NAD and Bluesound within the Lenbrook group, and it is designed as a complete system for small rooms, desks and TV setups.

Key specs that matter

Each speaker has a 19mm (3/4-inch) black anodised aluminium dome tweeter with a neodymium magnet and ferrofluid, and a 100mm (4-inch) polypropylene mid/bass driver with a steel basket and rubber surround, in a bass-reflex cabinet. Four Class D amplifier channels serve the drivers individually - 30W for each tweeter and 60W for each woofer, 180W in total. The crossover is a fourth-order Linkwitz-Riley at 3kHz, applied in DSP. Frequency response is 64Hz to 20kHz (+/-3dB), with a -10dB point at 35Hz. The DAC handles up to 24-bit/192kHz and decodes MQA. Inputs include HDMI eARC, optical, MM phono with a ground terminal, 3.5mm analogue, USB for storage, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and aptX HD Bluetooth, plus a subwoofer output. Each speaker measures 145 x 246 x 192mm, and the pair weighs 7.36kg.

Engineering and use context

In a fully active design, the crossover acts on the signal digitally before amplification, so there are no passive components between amplifier and driver dissipating power or adding phase shifts, and each amplifier sees only the driver it controls. The DSP also extends bass below the port's natural range, which is how a 4-inch woofer reaches its low -10dB point. Following PSB tradition, the tweeter sits below the woofer on the baffle, keeping the blend between drivers consistent whether the listener is seated or standing. The primary speaker holds the electronics and sends audio to the secondary over a low-latency wireless link, so only a power cable runs to the second speaker. The cabinet sleeve and front baffle are MDF, with an aluminium front plate and rear panel. BluOS integrates more than 20 streaming services and AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect, and can group the Alpha iQ with up to 63 other BluOS devices. It works with Control4, Crestron, ELAN, RTI and URC control systems, learns IR codes and responds to Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri.

Pairing

HDMI eARC makes the Alpha iQ a direct alternative to a soundbar, and the built-in phono stage lets a moving-magnet turntable plug straight in. The DSP-filtered subwoofer output adds a sub such as PSB's SubSeries models for fuller bass.

Alternatives

PSB's own Alpha P5 is a passive stand-mount with a larger 5.25-inch woofer for use with a separate amplifier.