Active Speakers Better? No, per Michael Borresen

Phusis is right, you can build your own active.  This would make sense if you want to DIY.   If you have the ability to adjust crossover point, slope, output level and driver phase, you have it all.  JBLs M2 was an attempt to build a system that could be "tuned" on site for best performance.  Its a good idea, except fiddling by different users renders many of these expensive systems far from target without some regular checking.  There are many examples of good M2 demos and spectacular M2 "that's awful" misses.   Its also a very difficult system to calibrate and set up, and is beyond the ability of many dealers to put together on site.  When Peter (from JBL) sets it up or someone like Nate Kunkel, and the system is left alone, it can be spectacular.

Brad   

Bryston uses the same type of approach, active speakers with the crossover and amps external giving you some flexibility:

I think ATC has the right idea in reducing complexity while they increase performance.  At least it works for someone who wants high end performance but doesn't have the time or desire to DIY.  That being said, I would not expect that type of buyer to be plentiful on Audiogon forums.

Brad 

kota1, I missed your comment about my post asking if I was a designer or engineer?  Forgive my oversight.  I am neither, I am the ATC importer to the USA for the last 20+ years.  Before that I worked at JBL as in charge of theater and installed sound.  In both roles, there was/is a lot of interaction with the engineering department about "why" they do things a certain way.

Brad   

ATC speakers do not even provide frequency response measurements on their website. You'd think they would give you plenty of measurements to look at given that they brag about how accurate their speakers are. The are just overpriced overrated speakers that have achieved success based on rave reviews by so called industry professionals that know nothing about speaker design. 

ATC are a driver manufacturer that have no expertise in speaker design. You would think a high end speaker would be far more advanced than just a wooden box with drivers in 'em but thats exactly what ATC are.