Q Acoustics M2
Q Acoustics seems to be in for a penny, in for a pound when it comes to boosting TV sound. Following the success of its Award-winning Media 4 soundbar and, to a lesser extent, the M3 follow-up, the British brand weighed in with the M2, its soundbase debut.
As we close the disc tray on a Blu-ray copy of Neon Demon, the M2 doesn’t waste a moment before revealing its talents. The opening credits are a window into not only Cliff Martinez’s eclectic score, but also Q Acoustics’ pleasing tonality and potential elsewhere.
The downward-firing subwoofer digs deep to punch through the bassline, while the twin Balanced Mode Radiator speakers fight just as hard for the credit by delivering clear, sparkly chimes and energetic synth-driven electronica.
As densely sonic as they are visual, the photoshoots of the Los Angeles models sound as lively as they look. And when the soundtrack calms, you can hear that vocal expression is just as impressive.
And, while there’s no DSP trickery good enough to make you believe the sound is coming from anywhere but the base, the soundfield feels adequate, even with a 65in screen.
Detailed, musical, punchy: all faculties that bode well for the M2’s music playback. We Bluetooth a Tidal stream of The Cure’s Six Different Ways to the M2 and that adeptness is confirmed, with textured woodwinds and a jaunty piano line appearing confidently between Robert Smith’s chipper vocal.
The M2 is sturdy enough to sit comfortably underneath a fairly big-screen TV. It can supposedly handle weight up to 25kg, which is a few kilos more than most 65in LCD TVS.
Connectivity is via Arc-compatible HDMI, optical, RCA and 3.5mm inputs. Those going through the first should be able to use their own TV remote to control the M2, too. And that may be the best option, as the credit card-style remote is pretty unremarkable and easy to lose down the back of the sofa.
That’s all we can really criticise the M2 for. It may not be the only soundbase capable of improving on a telly’s tinny sound, but it does so particularly well.