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.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 | ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS (280-watt peak) | 300-watt RMS (600-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 2 x 2-1/4" | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-20k Hz | 44-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | — |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.1 | Optional |
|---|
| App control | Yes | — |
|---|
| Weight | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs | 8.10kg / 17.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-3/16" x 6-3/4" x 11-7/16"
285.0 x 172.0 x 291.0mm | 13.8125" x 7.5625" x 11.3125"
350.8 x 192.1 x 287.3mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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.
Q Acoustics Q Active 200ELAC Navis ARB-51
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| 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.
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 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
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 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 loudspeakers
- Two 8-feet AC power cords
- Operating 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
vs
551cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 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 |
 Price per pair* |
1998USD
vs
2098USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your sources and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (46Hz vs 44Hz). |
| Built-in power | B | ELAC Navis ARB-51 has the bigger amplifier (300W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 adds Wi-Fi, streaming, HDMI, phono and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is easier to place; ELAC Navis ARB-51 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Q Acoustics Q Active 200: a sub output. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($2,098 vs $1,998 a pair). |
A Q Acoustics Q Active 200 B ELAC Navis ARB-51
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 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.