Dancing On The Ceiling - Q Acoustics E300A Alexa-Powered Hi-Fi
Easy install, easy life: Q Acoustics E300A is a voice-controlled, installed hi-fi amplifier that's ready to be the heart of your smart home ecosystem.
We had a sneaky preview and demo of Q Acoustics' E300A at High End Munich earlier this year so it is great to see it finally officially announced.
The ceiling-installed hi-fi amplifier combines the British brand's hi-fi know-how with the convenience of Amazon Alexa voice control. It boasts 2 x 25W of power at 6ohms and is naturally optimised for Q Acoustics' in-ceiling and in-wall speakers range.
The company proudly states that the new in-ceiling amp can power a single-room setup or expansive multi-room system or drive an entire smart home habitat.
We are told that it can power up to four speakers in the same room or across multiple rooms. Furthermore, any pair of passive speakers, including cabinet designs between 6 - 8 ohms, can also be connected.
Promising to be "a simple and elegant solution," the E300A and speakers are fitted in the ceiling during building work or renovation. Q Acoustics also points out that they are ideal for pre-fitting into new builds or extensions. To that end, the E300A maintains a fire barrier without fitting a separate fire hood and is certified with a 60-minute fire-resistant rating.
Three far-field microphones activate Amazon Alexa voice control, ensuring 360-degree coverage across even the largest open-plan living space. An LED light ring confirms voice interaction.
In addition to voice, a supplied remote control gives quick and easy control of E300A. Meanwhile, a free iOS or Android Q Net app is used for WIFI setup, EQ (bass, treble, balance), and source selection.
You can connect the E300A via cabled Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Bluetooth 5.2 is also on board for alternative wireless streaming. Meanwhile, all the expected music services are supported, including Amazon Music, Apple AirPlay 2, TIDAL Connect, and Spotify Connect Hi-Fi.
Additionally, you can add your TV into the mix thanks to the E300A's combined mini Toslink socket for optical digital audio and a 3.5mm stereo analogue jack; this input is manually selected using the remote control or app.
Q Acoustics E300A is available for preorder now, priced: E300A - £599/ €749 in the UK & Europe. A bundle package of E300A and a stereo pair of Qi65C in-ceiling speakers is also offered for £749/ €949. The E300A will be available in the US in early 2025 - US pricing is yet to be confirmed.
Visit Q Acoustics for more information
Jay Garrett
StereoNET’s resident rock star, bass player, and gadget junkie. His passion for gadgets and Hi-Fi is second only to being a touring musician.
Posted in: Hi-Fi Lifestyle Integration Technology Smart Homes & IoT
Tags: q acoustics fidelity imports
JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION
Want to share your opinion or get advice from other enthusiasts? Then head into the Message
Forums where thousands of other enthusiasts are communicating on a daily basis.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP
Trending
applause awards
Each time StereoNET reviews a product, it is considered for an Applause Award. Winning one marks it out as a design of great quality and distinction – a special product in its class, on the grounds of either performance, value for money, or usually both.
Applause Awards are personally issued by StereoNET’s global Editor-in-Chief, David Price – who has over three decades of experience reviewing hi-fi products at the highest level – after consulting with our senior editorial team. They are not automatically given with all reviews, nor can manufacturers purchase them.
The StereoNET editorial team includes some of the world’s most experienced and respected hi-fi journalists with a vast wealth of knowledge. Some have edited popular English language hi-fi magazines, and others have been senior contributors to famous audio journals stretching back to the late 1970s. And we also employ professional IT and home theatre specialists who work at the cutting edge of today’s technology.
We believe that no other online hi-fi and home cinema resource offers such expert knowledge, so when StereoNET gives an Applause Award, it is a trustworthy hallmark of quality. Receiving such an award is the prerequisite to becoming eligible for our annual Product of the Year awards, awarded only to the finest designs in their respective categories. Buyers of hi-fi, home cinema, and headphones can be sure that a StereoNET Applause Award winner is worthy of your most serious attention.