In this review, we will be comparing Active 200 and LSX, 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 LSX first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 | KEF LSX |
|---|
| 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) | 200-watt RMS |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 0.75" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 2 x 2-1/4" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" | 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-20k Hz | 59-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.1 | Built-in 4.2 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs | 3.50kg / 7.7lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 9.4375" x 6.125" x 7.1"
239.7 x 155.6 x 180mm |
|---|
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 LSX are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics Q Active 200KEF LSX
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 LSX |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 2-1/4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
Active 200 features a " Tweeter, a 2-1/4" Midrange and 1 x 4.5" Woofer. On the other hand, the LSX features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer.
Frequency Response
Active 200 has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz whereas LSX has a frequency range of 59-28k 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 LSX's min frequency of 59Hz.
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 LSX 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 LSX'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 LSX has external dimensions of 239.7 x 155.6 x 180mm (9.4375 x 6.125 x 7.1inch).
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 16.4mm wider, 45.3mm taller and 111mm deeper than KEF LSX.
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.
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 needs about 79% more floor or shelf area. Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is 111mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is 45mm 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 LSX is approximately 280.1cm2 / 43.4inch2. The Active 200 requires 79% more surface area than the LSX 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 Q Acoustics Q Active 200 weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs and the KEF LSX weighs 3.50kg / 7.7lbs. This makes the Active 200 114% heavier than the LSX.
Here is a comparison of how Active 200 and LSX'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 LSX?
Here are the items that come with the LSX:
- 2 Powered wireless audio speaker
- Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
- 10-feet Ethernet cable
- Remote control (CR2032 3V battery pre-installed)
- Maintenance Guide
- Specifications
- Warranty Information
- Important Safety Information
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
59 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
239mm
vs
285mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
280cm2
vs
500cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1250USD
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 |
| General |
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 System |
KEF LSX |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered stereo speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
46-20k Hz |
59-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
280-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
0.75" |
| 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") |
239.7mm (9.4") |
| Width |
172.0mm (6.8") |
155.6mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
291.0mm (11.5") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Weight |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
3.50kg (7.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, White |
Black, Olive Green, Gloss White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
No |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
Update only |
Charge only |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Q Acoustics Q Active 200 costs roughly 1.7x what KEF LSX 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 | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 digs deeper - 46Hz against 59Hz. |
| Built-in power | B | KEF LSX has the bigger amplifier (200W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Q Acoustics Q Active 200 adds HDMI and phono. |
| Size | depends | KEF LSX is easier to place; Q Acoustics Q Active 200 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Q Acoustics Q Active 200: a sub output; KEF LSX: a sub output. |
| Price | B | KEF LSX is cheaper - $1,250 against $2,098, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Q Acoustics Q Active 200 B KEF LSX
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 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 68% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - KEF LSX looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Q Acoustics Q Active 200 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 59Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF LSX much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Q Acoustics Q Active 200 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF LSX 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.