I'd like to maintain a list of speakers with
digital input. Price is not relevant - just that the speaker has a digital input. They will thus be "active" in the sense that the DAC and amplification are built-in to the speaker. An actual active crossover is optional. It also means that
at least one of the following inputs is available:
* Coax digital (RCA, BNC, or XLR)
* Optical digital
* USB, Firewire, Thunderbolt etc that supports audio data
* Wireless streaming from a reasonably well-supported platform (i.e. not entirely/exclusively proprietary)
Furthermore, the speaker must support uncompressed audio at a minimum of 16-bit/44.1 kHz. iPod-dockable speakers do not count unless they support digital out from the iPod (or have at least one of the above).
If you have knowledge of such a speaker not yet in the list below, or additional information to provide, please post! Please at a minimum provide the name of the manufacturer and a link to the manufacturer's specification webpage. If possible, please also post the key specifications as in the list below.
NOTE: Speakers will not be listed if the digital input specifications are not stated on the manufacturer's webpage.Prices given are typical "street" price from online retailers, or RRP if not commonly discounted. For consistency, prices in this list are always for a
pair. Sample rate is typically maximum available, presumably lower rates are supported as well. Obviously, prices and specifications are subject to change, this list is intended only as a guide for those interested in this type of speaker.
Template:
Speaker name. RRP. Two way, 6.5" woofer, 1" tweeter. Digital input type and sample rate.
Adam ARTist 3. USD1000. Two way, 4.5" woofer, AMT tweeter. USB only, sample rate unknown.
Adam ARTist 5. USD1200. Two way, 5.5" woofer, AMT tweeter. USB only, sample rate unknown.
AktiMate Maxi. USD1099, AUD849. Two way, 6.5" woofer, 1" tweeter. Streaming over Ethernet RJ45 or Wi Fi 802.11b/g; Reciva internet radio, FM radio; USB memory stick.
Aktimate Micro. USD500, AUD335. Two-way, 4" woofer, dome tweeter. USB 16-bit 44.1/48 kHz digital input.
Alesis M1Active 320 USB. USD99, AUD159. Two-way, 3" woofer, 1" dome tweeter. USB 16-bit 44.1/48 kHz digital input.
Alesis M1Active 520 USB. USD199, AUD?. Two-way, 5" woofer, 1" dome tweeter. USB 16-bit 44.1/48 kHz digital input.
AVI ADM9T. GBP 1,000, AUD 1995. Two-way, 6.5" woofer, 1" dome tweeter. 2x 24-bit 96 kHz optical digital input. Subwoofer output, line output.
B&W MM-1. AUD 595. Two-way, 3" woofer, 1" dome tweeter. ?-bit ? kHz USB digital input.
Behringer MS20. AUD 179. Two-way, 3.5" woofer, 2.5" tweeter. 24-bit 96 kHz optical and coax digital input.
Behringer MS40. AUD 202. Two-way, 5" woofer, 2.5" tweeter. 24-bit 96 kHz optical and coax digital input.
Dynaudio Xeo. (Working on this one.... All I can say right now is they need a new web developer)
Geitan RL 906D. GBP 3259.20. Two-way co-axial, 5" woofer, 1" tweeter. ?-bit/? kHz AES-EBU digital input.
Grimm Audio LS 1. EUR10,000, USD15,495. Two-way, 8" woofer, 1" tweeter. ?-bit/192 kHz AES-EBU digital input.
JBL LSR4326P. USD1100, AUD1400. Two-way, 6.25" woofer, 1" silk dome in waveguide, 24-bit/96kHz Coax and AES/EBU. Inbuilt room mode correction w/mic.
JBL LSR4328P. USD1560, AUD1850. Two-way, 8" woofer, 1" silk dome in waveguide, 24-bit/96kHz Coax and AES/EBU. Inbuilt room mode correction w/mic.
KEF X300. GBP599, USD799, AUD1385. Two-way, 5" woofer, 1" aluminium dome tweeter coaxially mounted, 24-bit/96kHz USB.
KS Digital ADM20. GBP2959. Two way, 8" woofer, 1" tweeter. AES/EBU 44.1 - 96 kHz.
Meridian DSP5200. ~USD13,000, ~AUD17,000. 2.5-way, 2x160mm woofer, 25mm tweeter. 24-bit/96 kHz coax digital input, Meridian Speakerlink digital
Meridian DSP7200. USD35,000, AUD45,000. 3.5-way, 2x200mm woofer, 165mm midrange, 25mm tweeter. 24-bit/96 kHz coax digital input, Meridian Speakerlink digital
Meridian DSP8000. USD65,000, AUD76,000. 3.5-way, 6x200mm woofer, 165mm midrange, 25mm tweeter. 24-bit/96 kHz coax digital input, Meridian Speakerlink digital
Neumann KH 120 D. Pricing:
Not yet available. Two-way, 5' woofer, 1" tweeter (waveguide). 24-bit/192 kHz BNC/XLR digital input.
Neumann KH 310 D. Pricing:
Not yet available. 3-way, 210mm woofer, 75mm midrange, 25mm tweeter. 24-bit/192 kHz S/PDIF and AES/ABU digital inputs.
Samson StudioDock 3i. AUD224. Two-way, 3" woofer, 1" dome tweeter. USB ?-bit, ?-kHz digital input.
Samson Studio GT. AUD274. Two-way, 4" woofer, 1" dome tweeter. USB 16-bit, 44.1/48-kHz digital input.
Vanatoo Transparent One. USD499. Two-way, 5" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter. USB, coax and optical input, 24-bit/96kHz. Subwoofer out.