In this review, we will be comparing LSX II and Active 200, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Q Acoustics. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF LSX II and Q Acoustics Q Active 200 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF LSX II | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 200-watt RMS | 100-watt RMS (280-watt peak) |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 11th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Hard-Dome | — |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2 x 2-1/4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy | 4.5" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 54-28k Hz | 46-20k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 384 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.2 | Built-in 4.1 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 3.60kg / 7.9lbs | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9.5" x 6.1" x 7.1"
240 × 155 × 180 mm | 11-3/16" x 6-3/4" x 11-7/16"
285.0 x 172.0 x 291.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both LSX II and Active 200 are 2-way speakers.
KEF LSX IIQ Acoustics Q Active 200
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
KEF LSX II |
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
2 x 2-1/4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
LSX II features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer. On the other hand, the Active 200 features a " Tweeter, a 2-1/4" Midrange and 1 x 4.5" Woofer.
Frequency Response
LSX II has a frequency range of 54-28k Hz whereas Active 200 has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Active 200 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LSX II's min frequency of 54Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both LSX II and Active 200 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
KEF LSX II Port
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare KEF LSX II's and Q Acoustics Q Active 200's external dimensions. KEF LSX II has external dimensions of 240 × 155 × 180 mm (9.5 × 6.1 × 7.1 inch) whereas Q Acoustics Q Active 200 has external dimensions of 285.0 x 172.0 x 291.0mm (11-3/16 x 6-3/4 x 11-7/16inch).
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 17mm wider, 45mm taller and 111mm deeper than KEF LSX II.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 needs about 79% more floor or shelf area. Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is 111mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is 45mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the KEF LSX II is approximately 279.0cm2 / 43.2inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is approximately 500.5cm2 / 77.6inch2. The LSX II requires 44% less surface area than the Active 200 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The KEF LSX II weighs 3.60kg / 7.9lbs and the Q Acoustics Q Active 200 weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Active 200 108% heavier than the LSX II.
Here is a comparison of how LSX II and Active 200's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF LSX II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of LSX II:
- 2 Wireless powered speakers
- Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
- 10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Information
- Warranty Information
- Maintenance Guide
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics Q Active 200?
Here are the items that come with the Active 200:
- 2 Powered speakers
- Two 6-feet AC power cords
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Important Safety Informtion and Warnings Wireless hub
- USB/AC power adapter with US connector
- EU/UK/AU AC adapter plugs
- 40-inch USB-C to USB-A cable
- 5-inch HDMI cable
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Quick Start Guide
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
240mm
vs
285mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
279cm2
vs
500cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1299USD
vs
2098USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
| General |
KEF LSX II |
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 System |
| Brand |
KEF |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered stereo speakers |
| Frequency Response |
54-28k Hz |
46-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
280-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
384 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
|
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
2-1/4" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
240.0mm (9.4") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Width |
155.0mm (6.1") |
172.0mm (6.8") |
| Depth |
180.0mm (7.1") |
291.0mm (11.5") |
| Weight |
3.60kg (7.9lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Carbon Black, Mineral White, Cobalt Blue, Lava Red, and Soundwave |
Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
No |
| USB Port |
USB-C (connects to your computer) |
Update only |
| Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
ARC |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Q Acoustics Q Active 200 costs roughly 1.6x what KEF LSX II does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 digs deeper - 46Hz against 54Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | A | KEF LSX II has the bigger amplifier (200W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | B | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 adds phono. |
| Size | depends | KEF LSX II is easier to place; Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF LSX II: a sub output; Q Acoustics Q Active 200: a sub output. |
| Price | A | KEF LSX II is cheaper - $1,299 against $2,098, about 38% less; arguably a different class. |
A KEF LSX II B Q Acoustics Q Active 200
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 62% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - KEF LSX II looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Q Acoustics Q Active 200 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 54Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF LSX II much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Q Acoustics Q Active 200 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF LSX II is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.