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Are active speakers worth it now?

I've been paying attention to recent reviews and product announcements for active speakers.  Mind you, I'm a convert, I think active speakers are the right answer for many, but I'm a conditional fanboy.  For me it's conditional on the overall value. 

In the residential high-end ATC has long been a darling of audiophiles, and of course many studio monitors are active.  Recent reviews for the Grimm, Focal and Dynaudio active in Stereophile make me hopeful this trend will continue, but at what cost? 

That question is literal.  Admittedly these speakers have amps built in so that is one less component and cables to buy, but ahem, those prices leave me unimpressed.  I'm just one minor voice though, so I ask you, A'goners, if you've been thinking of going fully active like me and what do you think of the price/performance of the marketplace, both in the pro arena and residential high-end?  Do these prices say "bargain" to you or "simplicity for a price?" 

erik_squires
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,709 posts
 

Might be a good idea until the internal amp gives up the ghost, as they are so want to do.

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
2,398 posts
 

I love active speakers. As long as all amplifiers and active crossovers are external of the speakers. 

In my opinion, amps inside speakers are not a good idea because the amps are subject to all the vibrations and air pressure and stray electromagnetic fields from the drivers inside the speaker cabinet. Plus the freedom to change the amps of my choosing. 😎

Mike

mapman's avatar
mapman
23,600 posts
 

Vanatoo.  Affordable and sound great. 

celtic66
1,935 posts
 

I’ve literally a stable of passive and active ATCs.  Frontline actives are 50 ASLT.  Every individual who has sat down in front of them has been gobsmacked by their attack, dynamics, sound stage and separation of vocals and instruments.

If there is one con, it would be that everything need be right or everything will be wrong.  To each his/her own.  Worth every penny to me.  Cheers

willywonka's avatar
willywonka
474 posts
 

There are several brands of active speakers I really like. I've never bought any of them because I want the freedom to choose the amp I want and not the hassle of taking the speaker apart and shipping it back for repair when one of the amps fail. Also many now come with their own DSP and you are forced to use it. I recognize many have amps that are very well matched to the speakers and sound very good. These combinations can sound very good especially in the case of ATC. I think its really personal preference and you can't go wrong either way. The first active speaker I heard was back in the late 70's and was the Active Large Advents. I thought they sounded excellent.

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