Q Acoustics Q Active 200 Bookshelf Speakers White (Pair)

The Q Active 200 is Q Acoustics’ first fully wireless active speaker system, designed from the ground up to deliver uncompromised hi-fi sound without external amplification. Sitting at the standmount level of the Q Active series — complemented by the Q Active 400 floorstander — it combines Q Acoustics’ Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) driver technology with a wireless Control Hub that acts as the system’s brain, handling source selection, streaming and wireless signal distribution to the speakers.

BMR Driver Technology

Each Q Active 200 speaker houses twin 58mm BMR full-range drivers arranged in an offset configuration. Unlike conventional pistonic drivers that beam at higher frequencies, BMR drivers maintain wide, even dispersion across their operating range, creating what Q Acoustics describes as “widescreen sound dispersal and a huge sweet spot.” The offset positioning of the two drivers further broadens the stereo image, ensuring consistent sound quality regardless of listening position.

Integrated Amplification & Subwoofer

Each speaker is powered by bespoke Class D amplification delivering 100W continuous and 280W peak, with individual amplifiers driving each of the three drivers independently. A rear-firing 114mm high-excursion subwoofer in each cabinet extends bass response down to 46Hz (-6dB), crossing over at 150Hz. Q Acoustics’ “Dart” bracing provides the mechanical stiffness needed to control the rear-firing subwoofer, minimising cabinet resonances and maintaining bass precision.

The Control Hub

The compact Control Hub (180 × 112 × 40mm, 0.5kg) serves as the central source selector and wireless transmitter. It communicates with the speakers over a dedicated 5.8GHz hi-res wireless link, keeping the audio path separate from the home Wi-Fi network. The hub accepts sources up to 32-bit/192kHz resolution and supports AAC, WAV, FLAC, MP3, Vorbis, WMA and ALAC codecs.

Wired connectivity includes HDMI ARC (96kHz/16-bit), digital optical Toslink (96kHz/24-bit), analogue line-level and a dedicated MM phono input with built-in RIAA equalisation — allowing direct turntable connection without a separate phono stage. A subwoofer output (0–300Hz) is also provided for optional bass reinforcement.

Wireless Streaming & Voice Control

The Q Active 200 system supports Google Chromecast built-in, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Roon, alongside Bluetooth 4.2 for quick pairing from mobile devices. Wi-Fi connectivity covers 802.11 a/b/g/n and 802.11ac standards. Voice control is available through Google Assistant and Apple Siri, and a 2.4GHz RF remote control is included — operating without line-of-sight for flexible placement.

Placement Flexibility

The BMR driver’s inherently wide dispersion makes the Q Active 200 remarkably forgiving of less-than-ideal placement. A rear-panel EQ switch allows optimisation for three common positions: free-space, near-wall and corner, adjusting the bass response to compensate for boundary reinforcement. Optional Q Acoustics floor stands (FS50) are available separately.