Q Acoustics M2 Soundbase with Built in Subwoofer and Bluetooth, 2019 Best Soundbase

Initially, I thought I made a mistake with this purchase. The first go round out of the box the sound was so-so at best.After I put about a hundred or so hours on it playing both music and listening to TV it opened up. The overall sound had a definite improvement. I really like it now especially with music. I started out with the Cambridge Audio TV5 (V2) but it was damaged on arrival, the pegs that were holding the cloth grill on were sheared off on both ends. A closer look at the TV5 reviews revealed that the broken pegs seem to be an issue with more than one buyer. I did listen to the TV5 before returning it and it did sound slightly better out of the box. The TV5 also has 2 subwoofers compared to one on the M2.My only complaint with the M2 is the lack of any real bass or treble controls. There is a 3 position switch on the back panel that is supposed to optimize the units sound depending on the M2's placement above or inside a cabinet enclosue. To me it seemed to merely reduce the bass output.If you are going to buy this and place a TV on it, make sure you measure your TV's base the M2 has a fairly small footprint and the manual states that your TV's base should NOT hang over the dimensions of the M2.

The sound detail is really excellent, you can hear detail that I'd normally expect only from much more expensive speakers or studio monitors. The bass is strong with the built in subwoofer. I do wish there were some more EQ options, I ended up adding a graphic EQ to my setup to boost the bass a little. It's capable of very big bass, well down to 20hz, but the default tune is a little to true and flat for me, so I boosted it a bit.

The sound quality is okay. Not great. If you’re an audiophile you will be disappointed. It’s not up to a Bose surround system by any means. I’ve now lost the tiny little remote control so need to get up to turn volume or switch source inputs.

I hooked it up did all the switches no sound whatsoever and it won’t let me revert back to the TV speakers . I want customer service to send me a phone number where I can call them

Better function than the Cambridge Audio soundbase (no popping and snapping while in standby) but does not sound as good or as loud. A previous review stated the manual discourages placing a TV on top but the manual actually states the soundbase will accommodate up to 25 pounds.

Was a gift 🎁 he said it was what he wanted.

This isn't a surround sound system but it does serve to drastically improve your existing stereo experience from your TV. I have used many surround sound systems at various budgets and from a practicality and clutter point of view I am very pleased with the M2. The sound output is very clear, the dialogue is crisp and the bass is immersive without being overpowering. I set it up out of the box in less than 5 minutes using an optical toslink cable (not supplied) and other than adjusting a couple of switches at the rear of the unit, it was ready to go. Operation is simple and colour coded with an light indicator at the top front of the unit. Pleasingly it automatically turns on and off when I turn on my TV - similar operation can be achieved using the HDMI (ARC) cable (included) if compatible with your TV. I didn't use this option as I didn't have a spare HDMI input on my TV. This unit is very very loud and may not be for you if you want to use at very low volumes at a night time. Bluetooth/NFC operation is also very simple using the pairing button at the back (which can be a pain to access if you are placing it in a TV cabinet). It also has a very nice natural sound when used as a bluetooth speaker for music. The remote is small and cheap feeling but otherwise I am very pleased with the M2 as a very good compromise on a surround sound system or much more expensive Sonos/Bose sound bar/base.

Rather than repeat other reviews, for me there's two issues really. Room placement and 3.5mm AV input. Soundbases tend to be put under the TV so where the TV is sited is where the soundbase goes. Initially this really didn't work with where the TV was sited originally. The M2 was on top of a AV unit with the TV on top of that. The output went very loud but was harsh in the mid range and there was little bass response. Adjusting the bass adjust slider on the rear didn't do anything to the perceived level of bass in the listening position. After incrementally moving the TV and soundbase about a foot nearer, eventually the sound changed for the better. Movie EQ is the default sound and its really good for movies and I was surprised that Music (classical and rock) is best left on Movie EQ too. Voice is now good in this revised position. I was in two minds about just returning it but persevering with the room siting (took about a week moving it about) made a massive difference. Just a note on the AV 3.5mm input - if you are going to use this for TV sound from the TV's 3.5mm headphone/AV output, the TV is likely to be set to Headphone which is no good for the M2. Change the Headphone/AV setting to Audio System or similar and set the volume to "variable" from "Fixed".

I am so happy with my Q Accoustics M2 Soundbase. This is a fabulous piece o equipment. The sound is so clear and non fatiguing. I was watching Silent Witness last night which has a theme tune that would make most TVs and soundbars shudder. Not the M2. It just sailed brilliantly through this audio test. Never a quiver, never a step out of line. No you don't get surround sound, fireworks or theatrics (unless they in the plot). What you do get is wonderful sound quality, vocal and instrument separation with no fatigue. As a hifi buff I've heard many audio systems and this is the nearest thing I've heard to hifi in TV sound. It doesn't smack you round the ears. It just gently makes you wonder whether you would want to listen to TV any other way. Congratulations to Q Accoustics who incidentally I'd never heard of before.

UPDATE: downgraded to 3 star from initial 5Had this for 9 months now, and a few issues have started to plague me.The auto power off is infuriating, and it won’t always power back on via the remote (batteries are fine) or sometimes even has to be power cycled. This has now started to happen more often - currently about every 3 weeks it needs a full power off.Also just to note, I recently purchased a circa 1990 Sony micro stereo (CD/MD/Tuner) from a Heart Foundation shop for £16 mainly because the speaker grilles match the decor in my kitchen. Hooked it up to the small TV in the kitchen just for fun initially, and I have to say this 1990’s stereo that had been thrown in the bin by someone is better than this £300 soundbarI've been living with this for a week and thought I'd update my review accordingly.At the price, there's nothing better in my opinion. Clear and balanced sound throughout the frequency spectrum. However, it's not hyped. Nor does it fill your room with earth shattering bass, but the bass is still there. There's also quite a bit of mid range detail that appears to be lacking in many sub £600 sound bars. It's important to say this certainly isn't a surround system and although it's definitely stereo it's a very centred stereo.I have it essentially inside a wooden cabinet which works pretty well. It doesn't work so well on a glass surface.All in all I'm very happy for the price (I paid £234 new). It's great for TV and perfectly fine for music and occasional movie. Makes dialogue very clear.

This sound base has won a number of awards. The sound produces is crisp and of a high quality.It is so easy to set up that it doesn't need a manual... Plug in the power and the ARC3 cable and set the switch at the back to the location. e.g. In a cabinet, in a large cabinet, on a shelf. This selects some equaliser settings to compensate. Turn on the TV and your done.It doesn't really need the handset if you are connecting with HDMI ARC3. Perhaps only to set the unit to 'Movie' sound setting which is the only sound setting available. However if you have different sound settings on your T.V. such as 'Night' with compressed acoustics, or Speech, then set them there and they will come through to the Sound Base.It has the Apt.x blue tooth codec. So sound streamed in from another device using Blue Tooth should be almost CD quality - as good as it gets using Blue Tooth. I tried this and the sound was good.Two issues:I found the base to be weak. Not the sub woofer, which was not really in evidence - just the base.There is no Sub woofer out connection, so a sub woofer cannot be added. So that weak base cannot be fixed using a sub woofer, or a bigger active speaker.Overall do not expect anything like a surround sound field.Final comment - For the money it is superb... If you want emulated surround sound, or just a bigger sound field more money must be spent.