Disclosure: I’d like to thank PSB for loaning me the iQ2 for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and PSB had no say or input on the contents of this review.

The appeal of a powered, wireless, all-in-one speaker system is easy to understand: fewer boxes, less wiring, and no need to work out which amplifier or streamer to buy. The challenge is making that convenience feel like a proper hi-fi system rather than something you have to compromise on. PSB’s iQ2 is its latest attempt to get this kind of balance right.

PSB, for those who do not know, is a Canadian speaker company founded in 1972 and based in Pickering, Ontario, just east of Toronto. Its speakers are designed and engineered in Canada, so as someone who lives in Toronto, it’s nice to review a product from a company with roots so close to home, especially one with more than five decades of speaker design behind it.

At $1399 USD / $1699 CAD per pair, the iQ2 has to do more than sound good on a desk or under a TV. Each speaker has its own amplification, with the primary speaker handling the BluOS streaming and all of the input connections. The two speakers communicate wirelessly, although both still need power. If you have used a BluOS device before, the streaming side will feel familiar. If you haven’t, the iQ2 could be your entire first system.

PSB also sells the less expensive iQ1, which uses the same basic driver and power platform but connects its speakers with a cable and comes in fewer finishes. The iQ2’s premium buys a cable-free stereo link and a more elaborate finish. The question is whether that flexibility, combined with the sound and BluOS experience, makes the asking price worthwhile. Let’s get into things and find out, then.

• PSB iQ2 speakers
• One pair of power cord for North America
• One pair of power cord for Europe
• Ethernet cable
• Eight pieces of rubber feet
• Quick Setup Guide, warranty documentation
• Cloth driver covers

PSB has given the iQ2 a clean, understated appearance, with removable magnetic cloth grilles and a useful range of finishes. Alongside black and white, there is Ember Red, Boreal Green, Granite Grey, and Sandstone Beige. A premium Walnut veneer version adds copper accents. PSB currently lists that finish for November 2026 at $1,499 USD.

I like having color choices. A speaker that sits in a living room or on a desk becomes part of that space, and a softer color can make more sense than another black box. The fingerprint-resistant paint is also a sensible detail, especially when the speakers have controls you will occasionally reach over to use.

Top-panel controls on the primary speaker cover playback, volume, and two programmable presets. Having favourite stations or playlists within reach is useful when you just want something playing without finding your phone.

The compact form factor, though, is central to the iQ2’s appeal. It gives you more freedom on a desk or media cabinet, although stands or isolation supports may still be useful to get the most out of them. Getting the drivers to a sensible listening height and keeping the speakers clear of obstructions will still matter more than finding the neatest-looking corner to squeeze them into.

The wireless connection between the speakers helps with that flexibility, though you do still need a power outlet for each cabinet.

Initial setup runs through the BluOS Controller app. Both speakers need power. The primary speaker joins your network, and the app guides you through pairing and assigning the primary speaker to the left or right channel. This is immensely helpful as it gives you flexibility with your space. Ethernet is available if you have a convenient network connection nearby, though I imagine most who are interested in the iQ2 will be using WiFi.

The rear ports need breathing space. Move the speakers in small increments and listen for changes in bass weight and vocal clarity. A compact cabinet can fit neatly on a shelf without that being its best acoustic position. PSB recommends at least three inches of clearance behind the back of both speakers, which allows for heat dissipation and air circulation for the rear-firing ports. This type of setup guidance may be obvious for some, but if this is your first bookshelf speaker set, you may not know these details.

In terms of connectivity, the primary speaker handles all of the inputs. I primarily used the RCA input (with audio coming from a Fosi Audio S3 streamer), Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, and Roon playback via Apple AirPlay 2 (more on Roon support in a bit).

The iQ2 includes WiFi 5 support, and I am able to get a 433mbps connection with my Ubiquiti U6 Pro access point. Technically, you don’t need a lot of bandwidth for wireless audio, so this is more than sufficient. More importantly, the WiFi connection was rock solid, and I had no connectivity issues of any kind.

In regard to Bluetooth, the iQ2 supports the SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive codecs. All of these codecs worked very well in my testing (though I didn’t test SBC), and I had no connectivity issues or dropouts, so I can say that the Bluetooth performance is consistent and reliable.

BluOS is a substantial part of what you are paying for here. It brings supported streaming services, personal music libraries, and multi-room playback into one platform. You can build around the iQ2 later by adding other BluOS equipment, or bring it into an existing system. For someone already using compatible NAD or Bluesound gear, that is an obvious attraction, and the BluOS ecosystem seems to be getting better all the time.

Apple AirPlay 2 and the Spotify, Tidal, and Qobuz Connect options give you alternatives to browsing everything through BluOS. I appreciate that flexibility in principle. A good streaming system should make it easy to get to your music, particularly when different people in the household prefer different apps.

Check your preferred service, though. Apple Music is not listed as a native BluOS music service, so Apple users will generally look to AirPlay, while Bluetooth or a suitable wired connection provides other routes.

Here are some screenshots of the BluOS app:

Roon Support

During my testing, the iQ2 appeared as uncertified within Roon. PSB’s representative confirmed that certification was forthcoming, so I am unable to evaluate it as a certified Roon Ready endpoint at this stage.

This matters to me because I use Roon regularly. I would not include it in a list of working features on the strength of a future promise. If Roon is central to your system, confirm that certification has been completed for the iQ2. This limitation reflects my September test period, rather than a prediction about future support.

Thankfully, one of the ways you can work around this is by using AirPlay (if your Roon server is hosted on a Mac, like mine is), or via another endpoint that is Roon-certified and can output audio via RCA (like the Fosi Audio S3 that I have).

The PSB iQ2’s overall character is balanced and easy to live with. It has enough warmth to give voices and instruments body, and retains clarity and rhythmic energy. The interesting part is how complete the presentation can feel for speakers of this size. There is a natural tonal balance and surprisingly capable bass, with decent soundstage performance.

Bass

The bass has good weight through the mid-bass, with enough control to keep basslines intelligible instead of turning them into a single thump. The extra body helps the iQ2 sound like a small stereo system rather than a pair of thin desktop speakers. There are limits, though. Deep electronic bass and movie effects will still benefit from an added subwoofer, especially as volume rises. A sub can also relieve the little woofers of the hardest bass work, leaving more room for clean vocals and dynamics.

That said, I never felt like I really needed any extra bass performance, at least as far as the mid-bass is concerned. Sub-bass extension is somewhat limited, with the biggest impact on electronic music.

Midrange

The midrange is where the iQ2 makes its strongest case for music. Vocals come across with clear presence and believable texture, while guitars and acoustic instruments retain their own character instead of blending together. It is a smooth, approachable presentation, with enough detail to follow an arrangement without pushing every small sound toward the listener.

That warmth can make an already laid-back mix feel a little restrained. If you prefer a more forward midrange, you will probably appreciate the iQ2. If you want something more analytical, you should probably look elsewhere.

I generally do lean towards liking mid-centric sound profiles, so for me, this one sounds almost perfect for the music I listen to.

Treble

The aluminum-dome tweeters bring enough definition to cymbals and strings without making the top end feel edgy or brittle. There is some sparkle, but the iQ2 does not rely on an aggressive treble lift to create the impression of detail. At the same time, a listener who wants maximum high-frequency bite may find it a little too polite, particularly with film dialogue that already sits low in the mix. BluOS tone controls provide a simple adjustment if your room or tastes call for it, and I do believe the driver is capable of more, but for me, the stock treble performance is just right and non-fatiguing.

Soundstage and Imaging

The two separate cabinets give the iQ2 a convincing advantage over a compact all-in-one speaker or many soundbars when it comes to left-to-right placement. Voices can sit between the speakers, while instruments and effects have room to occupy their own positions. The stage is accurate and well separated, though the sense of scale remains tied to the iQ2’s small cabinets and the distance you can place between them.

For normal listening in a desk setup or small to medium-sized room, the iQ2 has a satisfying drive. Drums have snap, changes in intensity come through clearly, and the sound does not immediately collapse when a track gets busy. Those qualities make it enjoyable with a range of genres rather than limiting it to quiet acoustic music.

The 270 W system rating does not turn four-inch woofers into large floor standers. At extreme levels or on bass-heavy material, the cabinet and drivers reach their limits, so listeners wanting effortless output across a large room should plan on bigger speakers or at least a subwoofer.

In the home office of my apartment, I had no issues getting the volume I needed, and I still had plenty of overhead as well. The same goes for placing the speakers in my living room. Those who live in houses with larger rooms may have issues getting the sound to fill the space, but I think generally, unless it is a very large room, volume shouldn’t be an issue.

The PSB iQ2 is most compelling for someone who wants a compact stereo system with several ways to listen and room to expand through BluOS. The overall sound profile is enjoyable, and the convenience has real value if it lets you put the speakers where they work best without accommodating separate amplification and streaming hardware.

At $1399 USD, this is not an impulse buy, so it deserves careful consideration for what you are trying to achieve. I would also look closely at PSB’s $999 USD iQ1. It shares the driver sizes and rated system power, using a wired connection between the speakers. The iQ2’s higher price makes the most sense when its wireless speaker link and broader finish selection solve a practical problem for you.

For a system built mainly around supported music streaming, the iQ2 belongs on the shortlist. I would approach it as a compact hi-fi system to choose carefully around your room and sources, with a subwoofer as a possible future addition. That is a more useful way to judge its value than either the cabinet size or the wattage figure alone.

As far as its sound and actual performance go, I encountered very little friction (aside from it not being Roon certified just yet). That bodes well for anyone who does not want to tweak the sound and placement, and simply wants a convenient, easy-to-use all-in-one streaming set of speakers for their office or living room.

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I’m not always able to cover all the details of a product, both hardware and software, in my reviews. If you have any specific questions about this product, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me directly.

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