In this review, we will be comparing Active 200 and Navis ARB-51, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and ELAC. 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 Q Acoustics Q Active 200 and ELAC Navis ARB-51 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Q Acoustics Q Active 200 and ELAC Navis ARB-51 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Active 200 is a 2-way design whereas the Navis ARB-51 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 |
ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 2-1/4-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Active 200 features a " Tweeter , a 2-1/4" Midrange and 1 x 4.5" Woofer . On the other hand, the Navis ARB-51 features a 1" Fabric Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Active 200 has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz whereas Navis ARB-51 has a frequency range of 44-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Navis ARB-51 can go slightly deeper then the Active 200's min frequency of 46Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Active 200 and Navis ARB-51 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Q Acoustics Q Active 200's and ELAC Navis ARB-51's external dimensions. 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) whereas ELAC Navis ARB-51 has external dimensions of 350.8 x 192.1 x 287.3mm ( 13.8125 x 7.5625 x 11.3125inch) .
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is 20.1mm narrower and 65.8mm shorter than ELAC Navis ARB-51 but it is also 3.7mm deeper.
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 Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is approximately 500.5cm2 / 77.6inch2 and base area of the ELAC Navis ARB-51 is approximately 551.9cm2 / 85.5inch2. The Active 200 requires 9% less surface area than the Navis ARB-51 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 Q Acoustics Q Active 200 weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs and the ELAC Navis ARB-51 weighs 8.10kg / 17.8lbs. This makes the Navis ARB-51 8% heavier than the Active 200.
Here is a comparison of how Active 200 and Navis ARB-51's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics Q Active 200?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 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
What's in the Box of ELAC Navis ARB-51?
Here are the items that come with the Navis ARB-51:
2 Powered bookshelf loudspeakersTwo 8-feet AC power cordsOperating Instructions
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
285mm
vs
350mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
500cm2 (172x291mm)
vs
551cm2 (192x287mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
1998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
Update only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
 Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 XLR Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via XLR input |
| General |
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 System |
ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered stereo speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
46-20k Hz |
44-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
280-watt RMS |
600-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
n/a |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
2-1/4" |
4" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
285.0mm (11.2") |
350.8mm (13.8") |
| Width |
172.0mm (6.8") |
192.1mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
291.0mm (11.5") |
287.3mm (11.3") |
| Weight |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
8.10kg (17.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, White |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
No |
XLR, RCA |
| USB Port |
Update only |
No |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
No |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |