Active Speakers: The usual suspects ....


I'm interested in purchasing 'active' loudspeakers for a planned surround system. Although the "usual suspects" such as Quad, JBL, Dynaudio, KRK, Genelec, ATC, and PMC are ALL good/great speakers, I am wondering if there are other active speakers to consider that I haven't listed?

I did listen to DigiDesign RM2 active speakers designed by PMC. I felt, like many of the reviewers have stated, that they were overpriced at $3500 pr (and out of my price range).

Again, I'm seeking a suggestion or two concerning active monitors that might not be as well known as those I've listed.

Any and all comments appreciated.

Thank You
sedona

Showing 3 responses by squeegybug

I have owned/used the Focal Twin6 Be, PMC TB2+ (powered by Bel Canto, McIntosh, Carver, etc.), JBL LSR6328P, Klein + Hummel O300D, some others. All running in a Realtraps treated room.

I would pick the O300 easily as the top choice from that batch -- but -- their dynamics are restricted by builtin limiters, and they will start to trigger at around 86 dB. And activate full time and start to change the response above 92-93 dB or so. Just FYI in case you are running high levels. Some say adding the sub will help that situation, I did not try them that way.

Second place goes to the JBL. A nice pleasing sound, a bit full in the upper bass (sounds like JBLs), a slightly relaxed tweeter. Very rugged and extremely powerful, can really play loud. But keeps good balance at lower levels. The midrange is not as detailed as I wanted, kind of blended. But usable speakers for sure.

PMC... I owned 5 of the TB2+ for a few years, ok for the money at the time compared to the relatively awful Dynaudio BM15 I had been using. But overall the TB2 were very bright and sometimes thumpy, too much smiley-face flavoring to suit me over the long run.

Focal Twin6 -- did not work for me at all, especially in direct comparison to the other models I had available. Heavy upper bass/low midrange, distant treble. I do not like bright speakers and wanted to like these, but they sounded cloudy. The imaging was not to my tastes either, in two different rooms.

But I also extensively compared all these (both listening and recording studio mixing/mastering for several weeks) to the passive Digital Phase EP-SM1 and Zu Druids (with upgraded capacitor) running Bel Canto eVo amps and Zu Libtec cables.... no contest. Those passive setups were by far my top selection for clarity, dynamics, imaging, tonal balance, and especially three dimensional depth. You name it, they had it. The Digital Phase tweeter is phenomenal, as is the proprietary bass resonance design. Easy 35 Hz response from a 2-way bookshelf.

I have no experience with them, but Digital Phase does make their own amps and can fix you up with a mounted 'activated' version if you don't want to chase amps and cables.

Steve
Shadorne, I'd be interested to know what you compared the MM27 to. Some folks I know who bought them have only previously owned NS10 and such. I have not been inclined to listen to Barefoot, since I won't spend that budget and like my separate amplifier setups.

And I have talked with some mixing engineers who own them and were disappointed that they could not turn off/rebalance the integral subwoofers. I far prefer being able to mix/master with switchable subs to have mains only, subs only, mains + subs.

Steve
Yes, thanks, but I was asking if you did actual hands on (ears on) side by side listening of the MM27 in A/B with other speakers or monitors. In your place or...?

Steve