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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
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
15,042 posts
 

This is  true  but for this specific  reason: optimization of the 4 working dimensions (electrical,mechanical,acoustical and DSP ) and our learning curve associated with any component and any system/room matter the most...

Ownership alone means not so much  and is not enough. Why?  Because there is many different reviews of the same gear piece, very different  because of   the 4 dimensions associated  with the many different working conditions and parameters...

And i dont even mention the different specific needs and habits of every one of us which introduce  new biases...smiley

Buy and plug means nothing. Reviewers buy and plug, consumers imitate them. We must learn at least basic acoustics and the other working aspects...

 The  well done optimizing process  trumps actual long term passive ownership  with any component.

 

Nothing trumps actual long term experience with any component.

dirkbusche
24 posts
 

Yes, active monitors are worth, not only now...

avanti1960
1,744 posts
 

I would be totally on board with a speaker with active adjustable woofers that had a user removable / serviceable amplifier.  

displayname's avatar
displayname
200 posts
 

I think the implementation is everything. I heard John Devore speak recently, and I really liked his take on speakers and amps. He said you have never really heard a specific speaker or amp, without the other. It requires a speaker and amp to complete the circuit and actually make sound. 

So when you say you liked a speaker, or liked an amp, what you really liked what the circuit of those two pieces. Bringing this back to powered speakers, you're simply judging if you like that specific circuit with that speaker/amp combination. 

So when it comes to the combination of "worth it" I think that simply compares down to comparing it to other circuits?  Do you like it better or at least the same in sound to an equally priced circuit of passive speaker and amp? Well then it's "worth" it. Simple as that. 

I haven't listened to nearly enough powered speakers to have a strong opinion, but that's the core metric I would use when considering one. 

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
2,386 posts
 

Powered speakers with passive crossovers and equalization to control the woofer damping have a long history see here...  😎

Mike

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