I would be totally on board with a speaker with active adjustable woofers that had a user removable / serviceable amplifier.
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?"
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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. |
Powered speakers with passive crossovers and equalization to control the woofer damping have a long history see here... 😎 Mike |
eriksquires, Take a look at Dutch & Dutch, they have the 8C and the newly announced 6C. I've heard the 8C many times at shows, and recently helped a friend add the 8Cs to his Wisconsin vacation lake house. They include in the speakers: streamer, DAC, preamp, amps, 2 way speakers, subwoofer; all in one beautiful package that is really really good. They are not cheap at $15,000 per pair, but think of how many components and cables are being replaced; then it seems like a bargain. |
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