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Audiophile Active Speakers?

Bracing for a flame war on this one - but are there any really seriously good sounding active floor standers? The new Dynaudio XEO 6's intrigued me.

Here's why I'm interested. I recently acquired some great Verity Audio speakers that I realized my entire cabling, amps, preamps etc were too warm for. Problem is I'm getting past the point where I see this as a hobby and am just looking for good music reproduction without tons of system matching experimentation etc.

One interesting option would be selling all my electronics, cables, etc on A-gon and just purchasing a good DAC and good sounding Active floor standers. I could therefore afford decent speakers (up to $7K or so), pocket some cash, simply the system (and save lots of time and grief shopping for matching components).

Am I expecting something that would sound as good as the Verity's with appropriately good electronics? No - not even close.

But a quality audiophile sound I could live with and possible tweak with the right sounding DAC that could make me more or less satisfied is the goal. The don't have to be magical like the Verity's. Any thoughts?
larrybou

Showing 7 responses by macrojack

macrojack
1,303 posts
 
I just ordered a pair of KRK Rokit 8 powered monitors for the bedroom TV and my computer desk in the same room. Reputation is very good but I chose a discontinued model thinking that these would be half the price of the VXT 8 and probably almost as good. They'll be here next week and I can let you know after that.
At $442.80 and free shipping for the pair, I figured the gamble was well worth it. I've never heard anything from this company but the customer reviews on line have been encouraging.
I agree with above comments about stand mount. Why is it important to buy floor standers? They usually cost much more and have about the same footprint as stands.
macrojack
1,303 posts
 
Today I received my KRK Rokit8 monitors I bought through Amazon. They are internally bi-amped, have some Kevlar like material in the woofer cones ,and tone controls and adjustable gain on the back. I paid $221.40 each including shipping. I hooked them up to my fully balanced JRDG Capri preamp and lit them up. Of course, they are brand new and will need to loosen up some, I imagine, but the sound is really good.
In a 12 x 13 bedroom, they were a little bass heavy so I turned that down one click. Otherwise, they are really delightful.
Like Rockadanny above, I'm starting to wonder if I might want a more high end active monitor for my main system. Very timely thread for me.
macrojack
1,303 posts
 
Does anyone here have personal experience with the PMC ALM 1 speakers?
Also - can someone tell me which ATC speaker would be the direct competitor?

I'm beginning to see the wisdom in this approach.
macrojack
1,303 posts
 
Thanks Bob.
As I mentioned above, I just received a pair of KRK Rokit8 active monitors, a 2 way with dome tweeter and 8 inch woofer. I'm quite surprised at how they are turning out but I can certainly see your point about going to a 3-way. Do you have any experience or knowledge about their 10 inch 3 way?

I have big horns hybrid to a 15 inch woofer in a 5 cu. ft. cabinet. They are unbelievably resolving and fast and dynamic and effortless. Hard to beat. In fact, I doubt I can surpass them, but I might be able to put together something with rival qualities, compact size and a change suitable for the old age that awaits me some day soon.

I have my doubts about the Rokit 10-3 performing even close to that level. I guess I could check out the local music stores but I doubt they deal in such exotic fare.
macrojack
1,303 posts
 
I am frankly surprised there isn't much more interest in this topic. After all, it would appear that a high percentage of us ask questions reflecting an inability to overcome many of the difficulties one can encounter trying to match speakers, cables and amplifiers. All of that is bypassed by selecting a good quality self-powered studio monitor. Yes, they appear to be expensive at first blush but, in reality, you can buy a $5000 pair of compact studio monitors that will outperform any combination of amp, speakers and cables that you could find for that much money. Think about it!

Spending $3000 for and amp, $500 for speaker cables and $3500 for speakers does not move you into the stratosphere with conventional home audio. But with studio monitors you can move into the lower levels of the world class studio monitor range. The biggest problem is finding the models I'm mentioning properly demoed anywhere. Let me know if you find a good place for that..
macrojack
1,303 posts
 
Bob - What are you using as a preamp with your Neumann 310A? I've been considering the Grace Design M920 which has 2 analog inputs, and a host of digital inputs to the new Sabre DAC which has garnered enormous praise everywhere. It's a professional audio product so I'm sure it would play nice with the Neumanns. Check it out and let me know if it looks like a perfect match to you. Added bonus is a state of the art headphone amp and a very good remote.
macrojack
1,303 posts
 
Maybe the mags have taken little notice of pro gear because these products come from companies who deal in fact rather than fantasy and because the pro outfits aren't interested in playing the monopoly game set up by the audio press.
Likewise, I've been told that the margins on pro gear are much smaller than what home hi-fi provides. In short, I suspect the pro manufacturers aren't interested in the petty collusion perpetrated by our audiophile press. After all, the majority of their customers know what they are buying and many buy in large quantities. Why dick around with our neurotic superstitions? Try your cable arguments in a recording studio with actual sound engineers.
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