PSB iQ1 BluOS Streaming Powered Speakers

PSB's Smallest Streaming System: BluOS, HDMI and a Phono Input in Two Speakers

The iQ1 is the entry point to PSB's iQ series of streaming powered speakers. Each cabinet has a 4-inch woofer and a 0.75-inch aluminum dome tweeter, each with its own amplifier. The pair carries BluOS network streaming, HDMI eARC, optical, a moving-magnet phono input and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth. Finishes are black or white.

BluOS is the streaming platform PSB shares with its sister brands NAD and Bluesound. It runs from the BluOS Controller app, so the iQ1 can stand alone or join other BluOS players around the house. PSB says there is no need for extra components to get started: the amplifiers, a high-resolution DAC and the streamer are inside.

Why Each Driver Has Its Own Amplifier

Each speaker has 45 watts for the tweeter and 90 watts for the woofer, 270 watts in total from two power supplies. Powering the drivers separately lets PSB match each amplifier to its driver. The left and right speakers connect with a single included cable. The rear baffle is aluminum, the cabinet MDF, and the design is bass reflex.

The Numbers, and What They Ask of You

PSB quotes 64 Hz to 20 kHz within 3 dB, with a minus 10 dB cutoff of 35 Hz. Each cabinet measures 5.7 inches wide, 9.7 tall and 7.6 deep, and the pair weighs 16.2 pounds. These are desk and small-room dimensions, sized for a shelf or a media console.

The input list is short and covers the common sources. HDMI eARC takes the TV. Optical takes a disc player or an older TV. The phono input takes a turntable with a moving-magnet cartridge. BluOS streams over the network, and Bluetooth takes a phone. There is no separate amplifier to match, so the question of power is settled.

Finish and Build

The cabinets are wrapped in black or white vinyl with an aluminum rear panel. At under 10 inches tall they sit on a desk without crowding a monitor, and on a shelf without a stand. PSB designs and measures its speakers at Canada's National Research Council acoustics lab.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Ryan Waniata of eCoustics reviewed the iQ series on August 1, 2026, with the larger iQ2 as his test pair: "PSB's iQ1 and iQ2 deliver big sound and BluOS flexibility, but persistent HDMI eARC issues prevent an otherwise strong recommendation."

His caveat is the one to act on: "As it stands, I can't recommend the iQ1 or iQ2 until PSB Speakers can ensure simple, reliable connections for all your components." Optical is the workaround for TV sound.

Who Are These Powered Speakers Best For?

• You want a streaming system with no other boxes — amplifiers, DAC and BluOS streamer are inside, so the speakers and your phone are the whole system
• You already run BluOS — the iQ1 groups with NAD, Bluesound and PSB players in the same app for whole-house music
• You own a turntable — the phono input takes a moving-magnet cartridge directly, with no separate preamp
• You have a desk or a small room — under 10 inches tall, with 270 watts and a 35 Hz cutoff that do not need a bigger box
• TV sound is the main job — eCoustics found the HDMI eARC link unreliable in August 2026; connect the TV by optical, or add an HDMI cable only once PSB's firmware settles it

How Do They Connect to Your System?

The primary speaker plugs into the wall and connects to the second speaker with the included cable. Install the BluOS Controller app, add the iQ1 to your network, and the streaming services appear in the app. A turntable goes to the phono input and a phone pairs over Bluetooth.

For the TV, HDMI eARC is the intended connection and optical is the fallback. Set the speakers with the tweeters near ear height and leave a few inches behind the rear port. Then open the app and press play.

Pairs Well With

What completes the system. These are the categories most iQ1 owners shop next.

• Turntables — the phono input takes a moving-magnet deck with one RCA cable
• Speaker stands — to put the tweeter at ear height when the speakers leave the desk
• Interconnect cables — an RCA pair for the turntable or another analog source
• HDMI cables — for the eARC connection to the TV

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an amplifier or receiver?

Everything is built in. Each speaker has its own amplifiers for the tweeter and the woofer, and the primary speaker holds the DAC, the phono preamp and the BluOS streamer.

What is BluOS?

The streaming platform shared by PSB, NAD and Bluesound. The BluOS Controller app runs the music services, internet radio and multi-room grouping, and the iQ1 appears alongside any other BluOS player you own.

Can I connect a turntable directly?

Yes. The phono input is built for a moving-magnet cartridge, so the turntable connects with a standard RCA cable and nothing else.

Will HDMI eARC work with my TV?

It is designed to. In August 2026 eCoustics reported dropouts over eARC with its TVs and withheld a recommendation until PSB fixes it. If TV sound matters most, plan on the optical input until PSB's firmware settles the issue.

Do they stream over Wi-Fi?

Yes, through BluOS on your home network. Bluetooth aptX Adaptive is there too for a quick connection from a phone.

Which finishes are available?

Black vinyl or white vinyl. Check the title of this listing for the finish you are ordering.

See It in Action

PSB introduces the iQ series:

Taps Das gives first impressions of the iQ series:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about powered speakers, connecting a TV or turntable, or when to add a subwoofer? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.