In this review, we will be comparing Active 200 and LS50 Wireless II, 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 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 | KEF LS50 Wireless II |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS (280-watt peak) | 380-watt RMS (760-watt peak) |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 2 x 2-1/4" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-20k Hz | 45-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | Yes / 384 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.1 | Built-in |
|---|
| App control | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs | 20.10kg / 44.2lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 10.9375" x 7.875" x 12.6875"
277.8 x 200.0 x 322.3mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Active 200 and LS50 Wireless II are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics Q Active 200KEF LS50 Wireless II
TweeterWoofer
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 |
KEF LS50 Wireless II |
|
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 II features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woofer.
Frequency Response
Active 200 has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz whereas LS50 Wireless II has a frequency range of 45-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the LS50 Wireless II 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 LS50 Wireless II 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 KEF LS50 Wireless II'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 II has external dimensions of 277.8 x 200.0 x 322.3mm (10.9375 x 7.875 x 12.6875inch).
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is 28mm narrower and 31.3mm less deeper than KEF LS50 Wireless II but it is also 7.2mm 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 Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is approximately 500.5cm2 / 77.6inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 Wireless II is approximately 644.6cm2 / 99.9inch2. The Active 200 requires 22% less surface area than the LS50 Wireless II 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 II weighs 20.10kg / 44.2lbs. This makes the LS50 Wireless II 168% heavier than the Active 200.
Here is a comparison of how Active 200 and LS50 Wireless II'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 II?
Here are the items that come with the LS50 Wireless II:
- 2 Wireless powered speakers
- Two 6.5' AC power cords
- 10' Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
- Remote control
- 2 \"AAA\" batteries
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Information
- Warranty Information
 Base Surface Area |
500cm2
vs
644cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2098USD
vs
2999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
277mm
vs
285mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
| General |
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 System |
KEF LS50 Wireless II |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered stereo speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
46-20k Hz |
45-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
380-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
280-watt RMS |
760-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
Yes |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
384 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| 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") |
277.8mm (10.9") |
| Width |
172.0mm (6.8") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
291.0mm (11.5") |
322.3mm (12.7") |
| Weight |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
20.10kg (44.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, White |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
|
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
No |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
Update only |
Service only |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
1 |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
eARC |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Year w/ registration |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Year w/ registration |
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 45Hz). |
| Built-in power | B | KEF LS50 Wireless II has the bigger amplifier (380W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 adds phono. |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is easier to place; KEF LS50 Wireless II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Q Acoustics Q Active 200: a sub output; KEF LS50 Wireless II: a sub output. |
| Price | A | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is cheaper - $2,098 against $2,999, about 30% less. |
A Q Acoustics Q Active 200 B KEF LS50 Wireless II
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $901 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.