In this review, we will be comparing The Sevens and Active 200, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Klipsch 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 Klipsch The Sevens and Q Acoustics Q Active 200 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch The Sevens | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 200-watt RMS (400-watt peak) | 100-watt RMS (280-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | — |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2 x 2-1/4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Fiber-composite | 4.5" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 39-25k Hz | 46-20k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 4.1 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 9.03kg / 19.9lbs | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 16.375" x 8.125" x 13.1875"
416.0 x 207.0 x 335.0mm | 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 The Sevens and Active 200 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch The SevensQ 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 |
Klipsch The Sevens |
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
2 x 2-1/4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
The Sevens features a 1" Titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Fiber-composite Woofer. On the other hand, the Active 200 features a " Tweeter, a 2-1/4" Midrange and 1 x 4.5" Woofer.
Frequency Response
The Sevens has a frequency range of 39-25k Hz whereas Active 200 has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, The Sevens can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Active 200's min frequency of 46Hz.
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 The Sevens 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.
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 Klipsch The Sevens's and Q Acoustics Q Active 200's external dimensions. Klipsch The Sevens has external dimensions of 416.0 x 207.0 x 335.0mm (16.375inch x 8.125inch x 13.1875inch) 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).
Klipsch The Sevens is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 35mm wider, 131mm taller and 44mm deeper than Q Acoustics Q Active 200.
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.
Klipsch The Sevens needs about 39% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch The Sevens is 44mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch The Sevens is 131mm 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 Klipsch The Sevens is approximately 693.5cm2 / 107.5inch2 and base area of the Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is approximately 500.5cm2 / 77.6inch2. The Sevens requires 39% more surface area than the Active 200 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Klipsch The Sevens weighs 9.03kg / 19.9lbs and the Q Acoustics Q Active 200 weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes The Sevens 20% heavier than the Active 200.
Here is a comparison of how The Sevens 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 Klipsch The Sevens?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of The Sevens:
- Powered speaker (Primary)
- Passive speaker (Secondary)
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- 13-feet Proprietary speaker cable
- 6.5-feet Proprietary extension cable
- 58-inch HDMI cable
- 5-feet USB-B to USB-A cable
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Instruction Booklet
- Need Help? Card
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
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
39 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 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 |
 Height |
285mm
vs
416mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
500cm2
vs
693cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
Update only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
| General |
Klipsch The Sevens |
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 System |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Q Acoustics |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered stereo speakers |
| Frequency Response |
39-25k Hz |
46-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
400-watt RMS |
280-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
|
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
2-1/4" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
416.0mm (16.4") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Width |
207.0mm (8.1") |
172.0mm (6.8") |
| Depth |
335.0mm (13.2") |
291.0mm (11.5") |
| Weight |
9.03kg (19.9lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF with genuine wood veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black,Walnut |
Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
No |
| USB Port |
USB-B |
Update only |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
Optical, HDMI |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
ARC |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
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 Klipsch The Sevens 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 | A | Klipsch The Sevens digs deeper - 39Hz against 46Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | A | Klipsch The Sevens has the bigger amplifier (200W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | B | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 adds Wi-Fi and streaming. |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is easier to place; Klipsch The Sevens is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch The Sevens: a sub output; Q Acoustics Q Active 200: a sub output. |
| Price | A | Klipsch The Sevens is cheaper - $1,299 against $2,098, about 38% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch The Sevens 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?
Klipsch The Sevens has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 46Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch The Sevens has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Q Acoustics Q Active 200 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.