IQ30

Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (i5, 256GB SSD, 40GB RAM, Sonoma 14), 4TB external SSD with Thunderbolt 3, Audirvana Studio, Qobuz Sublime, Singxer SU-6 USB bridge, LHY Audio SW-8 & SW-6 switch, Sonnet Pasithea, COS Engineering D1, Laiv Audio Harmony; Active filter: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box 2; Power amplifiers: Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos & Gold Note monos on subwoofer; Headamp: Enleum AMP-23R; Phones: Raal 1995 Immanis; Loudspeakers: Qualio IQ [on loan] Cables: Exact Express Flame, Furutech; Power delivery: 2 x Kinki/Vinshine Tai Hang on amps and source stack, Furutech DPS-4.1 between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc amp stands; Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators, AudioQuest FogLifters; Room: 6 x 8m with open door behind listening seat; Room treatment: 2 x PSI Audio AVAA C214 active bass traps
2nd system: Source: FiiO R7 into Soundaware D300Ref SD transport to Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Preamp/filter: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box 2; Amplifier: Kinki Studio EX-M7; Loudspeakers: ModalAkustik MusikBoxx + Dynaudio S18 sub; Cable loom: Exact Express Earth; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra, Akiko Audio Corelli Corundum & Castello Solo; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Sundry accessories: Furutech cable lifts, Furutech NFC Clear Lines; Room: ~3.5 x 8m
2nd headfi system: DAC: Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Headamp: Cen.Grand Silver Fox; Headphones: Raal 1995 Magna, HifiMan Susvara
Desktop system: Source: HP Z2 work station Win11/64; USB bridge: Singxer SU-2; DAC/headamp: iFi iDSD Pro Signature; Speakers: DMAX P61 Headphones: Final D-8000, aune SR7000
Upstairs headfi system: FiiO R7; Headphones: Meze 109 Pro, Fiio FT3
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; All-in-One: Gold Note IS-1000 Deluxe; Loudspeakers: Zu Soul VI; Subwoofer: Zu Submission; Power delivery: Furutech eTP-8, Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail: €14'700/pr

"We just increased your IQ allocation. Do you want it?" Was Doctor Marek kidding? Who wouldn't? As luck might have it, that could just be me. Before I signed up for more smarts, I had to peruse the small print. Huh? Let's rewind. It's August 5th. I'm just about to log off for the day when Marek Kostrzynski of Qualio checks in. "I want to inform you of a new project we plan to launch by September. Our IQ30 runs a 12" woofer, 7½" SB Acoustics Satori midrange and larger Mundorf AMT. We also use a waveguide to improve the midrange quality and time relationship with the tweeter. I'm simultaneously considering another version of the existing IQ with new transducers from SB Acoustics' TexTreme series. Those exploit spread-tow carbon membranes. The proviso is that if a sound which justifies their use isn't achievable, this experiment will remain in the dustbins of R&D. I personally prefer cellulose transducers but never say never to new tech.

"I design drivers and speakers not just for Cube and Qualio but Pylon with whom I've collaborated for 15 years; and for several other companies on an occasional contract basis. Due to NDAs, I can only mention Horn Acoustic. I'd like to arrange a review of the new IQ30. They are currently being refined regarding construction details but are finalized sonically. The first pairs will roll off the production line by late August, photo shoots will take place and then I can ship a pair."

Had this IQ game become lethal for my back and berth? My current rental confines empty review boxes to a spare downstairs bathroom. It won't house a massive crate containing two big speakers, never mind that such a crate would never make it through the front door. With Irish weather being notoriously rainy, unboxing outside and storing anything there not allowed to get soaked and grow moss isn't on. Knowing how capacious the biggest Cube enclosures are and how broad of shoulder already my IQ with 9½" woofer is, I needed dimensions and weight before accepting my IQ injection.

Time for distasteful name drops. Audio Physic Codex. German Physik HRS-120. Albedo Audio Aptica. Cube Nenuphar v2. EnigmAcoustics Mythology M1. Acelec Model One. During a recent spring cleaning, I'd given away the lot. Numerous Irish takers undeterred to often brave day-long round trips picked them up without packing materials. What I kept for my main system are the Qualio IQ, what I got for upstairs are these ModalAkustik MusikBoxx with the same small dipole Mundorf AMT…

… what I got for my office these Virtual Hifi Viper. That's my small print. Learning of IQ30 as the newer bigger badder version of my favourite speaker had me keen as a kite. I just had to insure that I could handle getting this much smarter by taking my IQ all the way to 12; inches. "The speakers will arrive in two OSB crates equipped with transport wheels. The dimensions of each crate are 105x50x 60cm." Arriving in two crates split my worries in half. Those dims were manageable. Low height suggested that the open baffle ships disassembled. Was that still translucent acrylic now with a shallow waveguide machined into it? My mind's eye was still hazy. I clearly needed an IQ infusion. Before the doctor was even back, I had my sleeve up for the long needle. "The acoustic design of the IQ30 is identical to that of IQ, with midrange and tweeter on an open baffle, the 12" woofer bin ported. The Mundorf dipole AMT sits in a short waveguide we CNC. Filter parts are of IQ Ultra pedigree so Mundorf/Janzen calibre. Weight in the crate is ~70kg." I said long needle.