PSB has decided that owning a serious hi-fi system shouldn’t require a degree in cable management. Its new iQ Series, announced on June 25, 2026, packs streaming, amplification and high-resolution audio into a pair of bookshelf speakers — and squares up directly against the five-star wireless all-in-ones from KEF.
The line launches with two models. The iQ1 is the entry point, while the iQ2 steps up to a fuller true-wireless stereo system. Both run on BluOS, the multi-room streaming platform that has earned a loyal following for being genuinely reliable rather than merely feature-stuffed.
Look closer at the iQ1 and the engineering pedigree shows. Each cabinet houses a 4-inch polypropylene mid-bass driver on a steel basket with a rubber surround, mated to a 0.75-inch aluminum dome tweeter using a neodymium magnet and ferrofluid damping. Power is generous: 270 watts per pair, split into 90 watts for each woofer and 45 watts per channel for the tweeters. That’s plenty of headroom for a speaker you can tuck onto a shelf.
Connectivity is where PSB clearly wants to win arguments. Both models cover the full BluOS experience and support high-resolution playback up to 24-bit/192kHz. The input roster is unusually deep for an active speaker:
- HDMI eARC for plugging straight into a TV
- An MM phono stage for turntable fans
- USB-C, optical and RCA inputs
- aptX Adaptive Bluetooth for wireless sources
- Multi-room capability and DSP-enabled subwoofer management for those who want to add low-end muscle
That combination — phono, HDMI, streaming and sub control in one box — is exactly the kind of clutter-killing pitch PSB is making when it promises “high-fidelity sound without the complexity of traditional stereo systems.”
On pricing, the iQ1 comes in at $999 USD (£899). The iQ2 is $1,399 USD (£1,199) in its painted finishes. A Premium Walnut Veneer version of the iQ2 arrives in November 2026 at $1,499 USD (£1,299) for buyers who want their electronics to look like furniture.
Availability splits the two models. The iQ2 went on sale on June 23, 2026, so it’s already shipping. The iQ1 follows, becoming available from August 10, 2026.
It’s a confident move from PSB. Rather than chasing spec-sheet bragging rights, the iQ Series is built around the idea that most listeners want great sound, every source they own connected, and nothing else to think about. Whether that’s enough to peel buyers away from KEF’s polished alternatives will come down to how these compact cabinets actually sing — but on paper, the fight looks fair.
