The Q Active 400 is Q Acoustics' latest addition to its Q Active range. We are told that this range has been designed with the express intent of delivering an uncompromised, versatile high-resolution system that can play music from any source – TV, network music streamer, smartphone, laptop, and even a turntable.

Connected via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, the compact Control Hub can be configured either for Google's Chromecast built-in or Amazon's Works with Alexa is supplied with each pair of speakers. This enables you to connect to a variety of wired and wireless sources and use voice commands to control playback.

The flexibility continues with connectivity and control options via Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, Roon and Spotify Connect. This leads to the Q Active 400's support for Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Qobuz, Spotify and Tidal, all from each platform's native app, including multi-room control.

Additionally, the speakers can operate as a UPnP media player capable of streaming your digital audio library from a computer or NAS drive.

For wired sources, the Control Hub offers an HDMI ARC input, an optical digital input, an analogue line-level input and a subwoofer output. You can even plug in your turntable, as the hub features a built-in moving magnet phono stage.

The Control Hub links to the Q Active speakers via a wireless connection where all incoming audio (Max Source Resolution 32bit/192kHZ) is converted to 24-bit/96kHz hi-res audio. Furthermore, the wireless design means the Control Hub can be placed out of sight if desired.

The Q Active range is a true active design, with eight discrete class D amplification eliminating the need for a bulky external amp or receiver. As with the Q Active 200, the Q Active 400 feature twin 2.25-inch Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) drive units in an offset configuration that promises “a widescreen sound dispersal and a huge sweet spot” and two rear-firing 4.5-inch long-throw subwoofers with waveguides - one at the top and one at the bottom. The result is 440W total output. The frequency range is TBC for the 400, looking at the spec sheet.

To ensure that the Q Active 400 perform their best no matter where they are placed in your listening room, there is a switch at the back to tell the speakers where they are positioned in a room – close to a wall, in a corner or out in free space. There is another switch to designate left and right channels, too.

The Q Acoustics Q Active 400 is available now for £2,299/ €2,999 in matte white and matte black.

Visit Q Acoustics for more information