In this review, we will be comparing Active 200 and LS50 Wireless, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and KEF. 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 KEF LS50 Wireless first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 100-watt RMS( 280-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- " Tweeter
- 2-1/4" Midrange
- 4.5" Woofer
- 46-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 96 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 4.1 Bluetooth
- App Control Feature
- Weight:7.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 285.0" x 6-3/4" x 11-7/16"( 285.0 x 172.0 x 291.0mm )
KEF LS50 Wireless Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 230-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer
- 79-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 192 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 4.0 Bluetooth
- App Control Feature
- Weight:10.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 301.6" x 7.875" x 13.25"( 301.6 x 200.0 x 336.5mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Q Acoustics Q Active 200 and KEF LS50 Wireless 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
Both Active 200 and LS50 Wireless are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 |
KEF LS50 Wireless |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 2-1/4-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 LS50 Wireless features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer .
Frequency Response
Active 200 has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz whereas LS50 Wireless has a frequency range of 79-28k 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 LS50 Wireless's min frequency of 79Hz.
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 LS50 Wireless 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 KEF LS50 Wireless'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 KEF LS50 Wireless has external dimensions of 301.6 x 200.0 x 336.5mm ( 11.875 x 7.875 x 13.25inch) .
KEF LS50 Wireless is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 28mm wider, 16.6mm taller and 45.5mm deeper than Q Acoustics Q Active 200.
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 KEF LS50 Wireless is approximately 673.0cm2 / 104.3inch2. The Active 200 requires 26% less surface area than the LS50 Wireless 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 KEF LS50 Wireless weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs. This makes the LS50 Wireless 33% heavier than the Active 200.
Here is a comparison of how Active 200 and LS50 Wireless'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 KEF LS50 Wireless?
Here are the items that come with the LS50 Wireless:
Wireless powered speaker (Right)Wireless powered speaker (Left)Two 6.5-feet AC power cords10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable6.5-feet USB-B to USB-A cable42
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
285mm
vs
301mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
500cm2
vs
673cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 System |
KEF LS50 Wireless |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered stereo speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
46-20k Hz |
79-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
230-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
280-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
192 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
2-1/4" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
285.0mm (11.2") |
301.6mm (11.9") |
| Width |
172.0mm (6.8") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
291.0mm (11.5") |
336.5mm (13.2") |
| Weight |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, White |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
No |
RCA |
| USB Port |
Update only |
USB-B |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
1 Year |