Why are the Infinity IRS, Reference 1b, Beta ect speakers passive on the mids and highs?

Having seen a few fixes online, I have to say @timlub is most probably right.

These crossovers were done very "empirically" and I doubt any designer with modern measurement and simulation tools today would arrive at the same crossover designs. Most designers today would absolutely scratch their heads about the choices being made, as well as some of the impedance problems that resulted.

Active crossovers properly designed would be head and shoulders better than the originals, if only from being better measured and better tuned. :)

However, with good passive crossover design and good parts I think they could be brought up several levels today for use with your favorite amps.


Best,


E

Partly aesthetics/market driven.

Having this idea allowed buyers to use boutique tube amps for the mid/highs, letting them feel part of the process of creating the sound.

Certainly when these speakers came out, no one wanted an all-active speaker in the high end market. That is pretty much still the case (sadly). There are almost no fully active speakers in the "high end" while they thrive in the pro world.

Don't shoot me, I know active speakers are out there, I'm just saying they have not yet caught on, and may never.

Best,

E