PSB iQ2 speaker review: A seriously capable pair of all-in-one powered speakers

I’ll admit it: before the PSB iQ2 BluOS Streaming Powered Speakers landed on my desk, I had never heard of PSB. As it turns out, the Canadian speaker company has been around for more than 50 years, so I was curious to see what I’d been missing.

The PSB iQ2 is a $1,399 pair of powered speakers built for the modern listener. PSB packs in amplification, BluOS streaming, and enough connectivity to make the iQ2 the center of just about any setup. That’s an ambitious pitch, but does the PSB iQ2 actually deliver? Let’s get connected and find out.

What’s it like to use the PSB iQ2?

I’ve mostly been using the iQ2 speakers at my desk, connected to the RCA outputs of my Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 audio interface. I produce music at home and use the Scarlett for recording guitars and other instruments, so it’s an important part of my desktop setup. The iQ2 speakers slotted into that existing workflow without requiring me to rearrange anything. I left everything connected overnight, turned on my computer the next morning, and after a brief moment for the speakers to wake up, I was able to throw on YouTube and get some music going while I worked.

The speakers are compact at roughly 145 x 246 x 192mm each, so I had no trouble fitting them on my desk. My review unit came in Boreal Green, but PSB offers seven finishes, including Ember Red, Sandstone Beige, and Walnut.

One of the nice things about the iQ2 is that you don’t need to worry about adding an external amplifier, DAC, or streamer. There’s quite a lot packed inside each speaker, including a 4-inch woofer and 0.75-inch aluminum-dome tweeter, with dedicated Class-D amplification for each driver. PSB rates the speaker system at 270W.

You also don’t need a speaker cable running between the left and right channels. The two speakers communicate wirelessly, so each one only needs power. That gives you more freedom when deciding where to put them, although you’ll still need access to two power outlets.

The touch controls on top of the primary speaker are conveniently positioned for desktop use, with playback, selectable presets, and volume controls right within reach. That said, I still find myself reaching for the big physical volume knob on my Scarlett 4i4. Touch controls might look more at home on a modern $1,399 wireless speaker system, but sometimes it’s hard to beat a good old-fashioned knob.

What are the key features of the PSB iQ2?

I’ve found AirPlay 2 particularly convenient during everyday use. While I keep the iQ2 speakers wired to my Scarlett 4i4 when I’m at my desk, I can quickly send music from my phone to the speakers without touching my computer or swapping any cables. It’s nice being able to move between producing music at my desk and casually listening from my phone without changing my setup.

BluOS is a big part of what makes the iQ2 more than a conventional pair of powered speakers. The BluOS Controller app lets you manage playback, switch sources, and access streaming services from your phone or computer. The system supports playback up to 24-bit/192kHz, along with Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and AirPlay 2.

The tradeoff is that the iQ2 is an app-heavy system. BluOS handles much of the functionality, so I’ve found myself keeping my phone handy, especially when I want to dig into settings. You can assign commonly used sources to the presets on top of the primary speaker, which cuts down on how often you need the app, but BluOS is still a big part of the experience.

BluOS also lets you connect the iQ2 to other BluOS products as part of a larger multi-room setup. You certainly don’t need to go down that rabbit hole, but it’s nice knowing the option is there if you decide to add more speakers around the house later.

And BluOS is really only half the story here, because PSB has packed the iQ2 with just about every physical connection I could ask for.

How does the PSB iQ2 connect?

This is where the PSB iQ2 really starts to earn its all-in-one credentials. Between the wired and wireless options, there aren’t many audio devices around my house that I couldn’t find some way to connect to these speakers.

RCA phono/line input

The stereo RCA input can work as either a standard line input or a phono input for a turntable. I use the line input with my Focusrite Scarlett 4i4, but you can also connect a compatible turntable directly to the iQ2 without needing a separate phono preamp. You can select the input through the BluOS app or assign it as a preset on the touch control strip for quicker access.

USB-C

If you’re using the iQ2 at a desk, you don’t need an audio interface as I do. You can connect a laptop or desktop directly to the primary speaker over USB-C and call it a day.

HDMI eARC

HDMI eARC lets you connect the iQ2 directly to a compatible TV, so these speakers can also pull double duty as an alternative to a soundbar. With separate left and right speakers, you also have more freedom to position them on either side of your TV.

Optical

You also get an optical input for TVs, computers, and other compatible sources. This is a handy fallback if your TV doesn’t have HDMI eARC, or if you’d rather save its HDMI ports for something else.

AirPlay 2 and BluOS

As I mentioned earlier, AirPlay 2 has been my go-to when I want to quickly send something from my phone to the iQ2. You can also stream music directly through BluOS without physically connecting a playback device.

Bluetooth with aptX Adaptive

Of course, you also get Bluetooth with aptX Adaptive support. It gives you another straightforward wireless option when AirPlay 2 or BluOS isn’t available.

Ethernet and Wi-Fi

BluOS requires a network connection, which you can provide over Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Ethernet is particularly useful if you have the speakers somewhere with unreliable Wi-Fi or simply prefer a wired network connection.

USB-A

There’s even a USB-A port for external storage. The iQ2 supports FAT32- and NTFS-formatted drives, so BluOS can access locally stored music without another playback device.

Subwoofer output

Finally, there’s a dedicated subwoofer output if you want to turn the iQ2 into a 2.1 system. BluOS includes crossover controls for integrating a subwoofer, so you have the option to add more bass depth later.

How does the PSB iQ2 sound?

Overall, I really enjoyed listening to the PSB iQ2. Music sounds clear and detailed, with good width between the left and right speakers. Listening to “Home at Last” by Steely Dan over AirPlay, I could easily pick out details such as the reverb in the recording. At the same time, the rest of the instruments remained easy to distinguish across the stereo image.

The iQ2 can also deliver plenty of punch. On “Sunset” by The Midnight, the kick drum lands with a satisfying impact, and the speakers can also get decently loud without leaving me wanting more. I’d have no problem using them to provide music for a medium-to-large indoor gathering.

What stood out most while listening to music was how little I felt the need to adjust anything. The iQ2 delivers a full sound, and I never felt like something obvious was missing from the bass, midrange, or treble. BluOS gives you EQ controls if you want to make adjustments, but for music, I was happy leaving them alone.

Movies were also enjoyable. I watched The Terminator and The Dark Knight with the iQ2 connected to my TV, and the speakers provided enough bass strength during action scenes to keep me invested. Having two separate speakers on either side of my TV also gives me much more left-to-right width than I typically get from a soundbar. I did find myself wanting a little more treble strength during parts of The Dark Knight to make dialogue easier to hear. Fortunately, I could quickly increase the treble through the BluOS app.

I also spent some time playing Star Wars Outlaws, where I enjoyed the iQ2’s clarity and width. Environmental details were easy to pick out while exploring Tatooine, and I could hear the hum of my ship and other little details during the quieter stretches of space travel.

Should you buy the PSB iQ2?

At $1,399, the PSB iQ2 is a serious investment, and there’s no getting around that. These aren’t powered speakers I’d recommend buying just to play music from your laptop. To justify the price, you need to take advantage of what makes the iQ2 different.

Fortunately, there’s a lot here to work with. The iQ2 sounds clear and full, can get plenty loud, and I rarely felt the need to touch the EQ when listening to music. More importantly, PSB offers enough connectivity to integrate the speakers into almost any home audio setup. They can sit on a production desk connected to an audio interface, connect directly to a computer over USB-C, anchor a turntable setup, or replace a soundbar in front of your TV. BluOS and AirPlay cover streaming, while the subwoofer output gives you room to expand.

You’ll need to be comfortable keeping your phone handy, because the BluOS app still plays a big role when you want to dig into settings. You can assign commonly used sources to the touch control presets, which does help, so you don’t need to reach for your phone every time you want to use the speakers.

What makes the price easier to swallow is how adaptable the iQ2 can be if your setup changes down the road. Maybe the speakers start next to your TV, move to your desk a few years later, or eventually end up connected to a turntable somewhere else in the house. With so many ways to connect, it’s easy to imagine finding a new home for them rather than replacing them.