Not Fashionable, Definitely Ferocious

Q Acoustics, purveyor of high-value soundbars, has launched its first soundbase. Steve May takes to the M2…

- Steve May

Q Acoustics has made quite a name for itself with its M3 and M4 soundbars, but now it’s turned its attention to the sound base. These all-in-one TV upgrades have struggled to ape the success of their cousins, but following the launch of the Sonos Playbase, there’s renewed interest in the form factor.

Like the Sonos offering (see HCC #273), the M2 is a neat and tidy alternative to sound planks and larger audio systems. Unlike the Playbase, there’s no network connectivity (although there is a crafty workaround) or inherent multi room functionality, but it compensates with a much more approachable ticket price.

Soundbases typically double as a plinth for the telly. But this Q Acoustics debutant is actually quite compact, so it’s worth getting the measuring tape out before you buy. The â€‹cabinet is sufficiently robust to take the weight of sets up to 25kg, although the chances of finding a 50in TV with a pedestal base that fits are slim. One possible solution would be to swap out the default TV stand for a third party VESA mount alternative, from the likes of Sanus. Smaller screen sizes (43in, etc) should be fine.

Alternatively, given it stands just 93mm tall, the M2 should easily slip onto the shelf of an AV cabinet, or sit on top, if, for example, your TV is wall-mounted.

The M2 tips the scales at a substantial 5.8kg. With rolled-off edges it doesn’t quite have the cosmetic brutalism of the brand’s soundbar line, but it’s still pretty blokey.

Rear-side connections include a single HDMI with ARC, plus an optical digital audio input and analogue stereo phonos. There’s also a 3.5mm mini jack. This makes it quite a versatile proposition.