Q Acoustics M20 Wireless Music System Walnut (Pair)

The Q Acoustics M20 is the centrepiece of the brand's M-Series range of active wireless music systems, designed as a compact all-in-one solution for serious listening without the clutter of traditional hi-fi separates. The system comprises one active speaker — housing the amplification, DAC, DSP, and all input circuitry — and one passive speaker connected via the supplied 4-metre speaker cable. It sits alongside the larger M40 micro-tower in the M-Series lineup, offering the same connectivity and amplification philosophy in a smaller bookshelf-friendly enclosure.

Cabinet Construction

Both enclosures use a two-way bass-reflex ported design. Cabinet resonance is managed through P2P™ (Point to Point) internal bracing, a technique Q Acoustics employs across several of its speaker ranges. Rather than relying solely on panel thickness to resist flexing under pressure from the drive units, the P2P bracing connects opposing internal walls at strategic points, breaking up standing waves and stiffening the structure without adding excessive mass. The walnut finish is applied as a real-wood veneer, giving the cabinets a warmer aesthetic than the gloss black and white alternatives in the range.

Drive Units and Performance

Each cabinet carries a 125mm mid-bass driver paired with a 22mm decoupled high-frequency driver. The tweeter is mechanically isolated from the cabinet structure, a design choice intended to prevent unwanted vibrations generated by the bass driver from colouring the treble output. A curved grille over the tweeter aids horizontal dispersion, widening the sweet spot for off-axis listening. The crossover point sits at 2.4kHz, and frequency response is quoted at 55Hz–22kHz.

Amplification is provided by built-in Class-D amplifiers delivering 2 × 65W peak (2 × 32W continuous). A rear-panel EQ switch with three positions — corner, wall, and free space — allows the bass response to be adjusted via DSP for room placement. This is a practical feature given that bass-reflex designs are sensitive to boundary reinforcement; placing a speaker close to a rear wall or in a corner increases low-frequency output, and the EQ switch compensates to maintain a balanced response. Foam port bungs are also included for further bass tuning.

Connectivity

The active speaker provides a comprehensive set of inputs to accommodate both digital and analogue sources. Bluetooth 5.0 with support for aptX™ HD, aptX™ Low Latency, AAC, and SBC codecs handles wireless streaming. aptX HD enables high-resolution audio transmission at up to 24-bit depth, while aptX Low Latency reduces audio delay for synchronised television and gaming use. A USB input accepts lossless audio at up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution. Digital optical input also operates at 24-bit/192kHz, suitable for connection to a television or CD transport. An RCA stereo line-level input and a 3.5mm auxiliary input provide further analogue connectivity for legacy sources. A subwoofer output allows bass extension via an external subwoofer if required.

In the Box

The M20 is supplied as a pair with a remote handset (batteries included), a 4-metre speaker cable for connecting the passive enclosure, UK and EU power cords, foam port bungs for bass tuning, and a user manual.

What the Press Says

• “Q Acoustics more than achieves its aims with this desktop system” — What Hi-Fi? ★★★★★ (March 2022)