The major marketing disadvantage is the fact that hifi addicts like to change their equiptment, and with 'Active' you cant change your speakers or amps independent of each other. Its the same reason you see such big discounts on the MF one box CD/Preamp on the used market. The greatest advantages are, amps tailored to the speakers, usually a separate amp for each driver, no cables with the inherent problems and variables, and less electronics to find room for. Meridian has been marketing 'active' speakers for as long as I remember, ATC and other companies that produce professional sound reinforcement have been doing so for quite some time also. Most speakers available as 'active' or 'passive' are said to sound their best 'active'. I think its a very good solution to the matching aspect of amp/speaker interaction. Not a fad, a well tested solution for some. I myself would love to have some active ATCs someday.
Active speaker, the future? or another fad?
Active speakers have been around for over thirty years so I guess they really aren't a fad, but they've never caught on.
I am wondering with some of the new computer technology and faster electronics if this might not be the time for someone to do this technology right.
When you think about it, it is a good idea. Rather than having any amp that is not designed to work with any particular speaker/crossover, the amp, crossover(such as it is), and speakers are all designed to function as a unit. The three of them are integrated and contained in one cabinet (generally).
Subtractive networks do more than trim the frequency going to a specific driver. There are many other detrimental results to the sound. If subtractive crossovers can be eliminated and replaced with an amp built to meet the specific need of each driver, it sounds like a win win proposition.
The question is; Am I missing something in my understanding or is the whole 'network' thing encroaching on our audiophile rugged individualism?
I am wondering with some of the new computer technology and faster electronics if this might not be the time for someone to do this technology right.
When you think about it, it is a good idea. Rather than having any amp that is not designed to work with any particular speaker/crossover, the amp, crossover(such as it is), and speakers are all designed to function as a unit. The three of them are integrated and contained in one cabinet (generally).
Subtractive networks do more than trim the frequency going to a specific driver. There are many other detrimental results to the sound. If subtractive crossovers can be eliminated and replaced with an amp built to meet the specific need of each driver, it sounds like a win win proposition.
The question is; Am I missing something in my understanding or is the whole 'network' thing encroaching on our audiophile rugged individualism?