Goldenear….recent experience and lesson learned

Too bad to hear about manufacturer support issues. I had a pair of Paradigm Titan monitors where the HF driver fuzzed out. They sent out a replacement (under warranty) within a week of reporting it. 

I think I am a stereo traditionalist as I avoid powered speakers for a main system. Maybe I'm naive, but how does a little plate amp compare to a dedicated amplifier running full range passive speakers? 

Not all powered speakers have issues.

Hell no!

I gave to my son my Audio M-40 powered speakers i bought almost 15 years ago ... cost: under 100 bucks ....Recommended by Guttenberg.... I enjoyed them for my secondary computer videos (not music in my case)...My son like them because he need small powered speakers in his apartment for music and gaming ...I gave him a dac to drive them and he is happy (He is not an audiophile). 

Conclusion: there exist products for all needs, budget, audiophile or not ...

I am an audiophile with a low cost well optimized budget and happy as Hell zero frustration about any product i could not afford thanks to acoustics education + basic optimization ... ....

I almost pity Bill Gates audiophile.... Almost!

I dream to say the truth  to compare Raal headphone or Senn orpheus to my 100 bucks well optimized AKG K340 hybrid .. Cost : 100 bucks... 

OP, I agree, it's especially regrettable when you went against your instincts, and far too short a time to not have replacement parts in stock.

I own a few unique cameras that are no longer made, that were never updated, i.e. Olympus Stylus 1, and when the makers stop having parts available (usually a few years after they are discontinued), they no longer work on them. So, many of us bought spares.

Disappointedly, Mack Camera will not use functioning used parts to make repairs: if they cannot obtain new parts from Oly, they refuse to work on it.

My Mr. Fixit skills are very limited regarding cameras. 

My Paradigm sub died after about a decade.  They were willing to "fix" the problem but wanted to charge me about 70% of the original price of the sub!  ($2,500 sub, they wanted to charge me $1,700+ to fix it).  That’s why I’ve been warning folks here on Audiogon about powered speakers.  I have passive speakers that still work fine 40+ years later.  Why would I spend thousands on speakers that might die in a decade or sooner?  Most powered speakers today have Class-D amplification, and from what I understand, it is very hard-- and costly-- to fix Class D amps.  Buyer beware.  Make sure to check the warranty.

That’s why I replaced my $2,500 sub with a $700 sub.  (REL HT 1205 MK2 on sale).  I also own 2 JL Audio subs (E-110's) for my main listening, they have worked flawlessly so far-- owned them about 7-8 years now.  But I know now not to expect them to last past 10-15 years (they don’t get as much playing time as my HT setup with the REL sub).

@nubiann 

Great to hear.  I’ll still never buy a powered speaker. 🙂