Q Acoustics Media 4
£200 FOR Great sound dispersion; weighty, powerful bass; aptx AGAINST No HDMI inputs; size won’t suit everyone
Back in the spring of 2014, having made its mark in speakerland with a talented set of standmounters and floorstanders, Q Acoustics decided to make a foray into the brave new world of soundbars. Smart move, as it turned out.
Just a few months later, the resulting product garnered the company a What
Hi-fi? Best Soundbar Award. Since then, the Media 4, or ‘QM4’ as it’s referred to in the company’s literature, has twice won our Product of the Year Award.
Yes, it’s into the autumn years of its life now but even at its launch price of £400 it was good value, so now, at just £200 and still sounding sweet, it’s a steal.
The Media 4 should be a good fit for 40in TVS and larger – it looks reasonably compact from the front, but the trapezoidal cabinet actually extends back around 14cm.
On-board sub
Using this shape allows enough room for a large elliptical bass driver to sit in the back of the cabinet. A couple of 65mm BMR drivers (Balanced Mode Radiators) are the final pieces in this 2.1 soundbar.
The relatively simple, unfussy design is mirrored in the features and functionality on offer. Some may be disappointed by the lack of HDMI inputs – this means you have to connect all your kit into the TV, then run a digital optical cable (supplied in the box) from the back of the set into the soundbar.
On the plus side, you do get aptx Bluetooth support and the convenience of near-field communication (NFC) pairing, which works with compatible smartphones and tablets. There’s also a pair of analogue RCA inputs and a single 3.5mm socket should you want to connect any extra sources.
There’s a wall-mounting bracket included in the box and a small, plastic remote, which handles basic controls.
Simple but effective
Unlike a number of its rivals, the Media 4 doesn’t have any optional sound modes or pseudo-surround options with which to experiment, but in all honesty, this isn’t a bad thing really. In fact, the simplicity works in this soundbar’s favour, as the Media 4 just gets on with delivering excellent sound quality. It’s a huge step up from conventional flatscreen sound, bringing the fullbodied, nicely rounded character we’ve come to expect from the company’s stereo speakers into a soundbar setting. Play the last couple of chapters of G.I.
Joe: Retaliation and, as our heroes gatecrash Cobra Command’s world summit and Roadblock blasts his way through the enemy tanks, the soundbar’s bass gets to work to good effect. It reinforces explosions and heavy gunfire with real weight and delivers the action with great gusto.
Compared with a rival product, such as the Yamaha YSP-1400 for example, you get less of a sense of sound-effects panning around you, but the Q Acoustics does a better job of delivering solidity and authority. It manages to convey a real sense of excitement and drama.
And, even in the midst of all that on-screen action, the Media 4 keeps its composure. Highs don’t sound bright or aggressive and dialogue doesn’t struggle, but instead manages to come across clearly, and when we play Eminem’s
Without Me over Bluetooth the Media 4 shows a tuneful side to its character, too. There’s a decent level of detail in the track and the soundbar’s powerful and agile bass keeps the music bouncing along. Turn up the volume and the soundbar doesn’t flinch at the challenge, and at low levels there’s no shortage of detail or dynamics.
Enduring appeal
It seems that Q Acoustics can hardly put a foot wrong. By applying a canny price drop to the Media 4, the company has boosted the appeal of an old favourite. Despite the quality of newer rivals, this little gem continues to be an attractive option. And even though it’s no longer a spring chicken, we would still happily part with our hard-earned cash for it.