Active Loudspeakers

Harmon · « **on:** 20 May 2004, 05:32 pm »

What are the advantages or disadvantages(if any) of an active loudspeaker versus a passive loudspeaker? Also what are some well designed active loudspeakers?

Jon L · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 May 2004, 06:00 pm »

Quote from: Harmon

What are the advantages or disadvantages(if any) of an active loudspeaker versus a passive loudspeaker.

Active advantages

Properly "nails" the amp-speaker interface by design
Appropriate amp for each driver pre-selected
Gets rid of expensive speaker cables
Should have better driver control
X-over and certain settings can be EQ'd for deeper bass, etc

Disadvantages

All of the above "advantages" disappears instantly if the designer designs poorly

Longer lengths of interconnects

No "sex appeal" of monster amps sitting on floor and no ability to swap amps to fit your whim (the main reason audiophiles don't buy active speakers).

Paul L · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 May 2004, 06:21 pm »

What Jon said is absolutely true.

In addition, a properly designed active speaker offer higher value but the startup cost is also higher. It has less flexibility of upgrading. I owned a pair of Meridian M10 before and the performance rival those passive speakers that selling at similar price. However, when come to selling, it took a steep depreciation.

DVV · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 May 2004, 08:57 pm »

Quote from: Harmon

What are the advantages or disadvantages(if any) of an active loudspeaker versus a passive loudspeaker? Also what are some well designed active loudspeakers?

What you read in previous messages is all quite true, but there are a few "buts" - as ever.

Manufacturers do not shy away from el cheapo hybrid amps, and these are not shunned for no reason at all. In translation, this means you will have to dish out substantial amounts of money to get the real thing.

The best active speakers I have heard over the last few years are still made by England's ATC. Dynaudio also makes some, but you could find that for some obscure reason, they are not sold in the US (these things do happen, such as with my H/K 680 integrated, my Yamaha CDX-993, etc).

The payback can be stunning. Literally. It can have you standing or sitting in awe. You could hear dynamics such as you have never heard before, including well known electrostatic speakers. You could hear details you never knew were there, even if they come from your own favorite CD or LP. You could experience a life in music you never knew was there. And the passion - ah, the passion is what will finally marry you to the concept forever.

As it did me.

Cheers,
DVV

PSP · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 May 2004, 09:12 pm »

Of course, you can build your own acitve speakers (for example, see http://www.linkwitzlab.com/ )....

JLM · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 May 2004, 09:41 pm »

Many folks use active speakers, they're called powered subwoofers.

Search for Paradigm Studio 20 vs. Paradigm Active 20 or 40 vs. Active 40. Version 2 of the Studio 20 was nothing great, it easily got lost in the crowd of small $600 two-way standmounts. But the Active 20 was a completely different beast. For $1,600 the Active 20 absolutely woke up and danced. Bass from those little guys was amazing (rivaled the Studio 80 that was a good sized floorstander for the same price, but or course lacked amps). Quality of sound, top to bottom improved by a couple of orders of magnitude. Just add stands and a CD player with a "real" volume control and you'd be done.

IMO the biggest reason folks don't go for active is that it takes a degree of the hobbiest element out of audio.

An often forgotten active design is simply the use of speakers with a single full range driver. For $775/pair Ed Shilling sells The Horns that use a single 4 inch Fostex driver in a small floormounted rear loaded horn design that runs roughly 60 - 20,000 Hz at 92 dB/w/m. Omega Speakers uses single Fostex drivers in standmounts that cost $400 - 1,400/pair. Both Omega and Ed have forums here. Both have faired well with the $100 Griffen PowerWave power amp. Many other options also exist that use a single drivers. Most would benefit from adding an powered sub, which again basically brings you back to another active speaker.

nathanm · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 May 2004, 10:12 pm »

As usual I'll have to pimp the Mackie 824 active speakers. Not cheap at $1500 a pair but once you fire them up you'll think, "ahh active - good idea!" They smell good too. Tweakable EQ on the back - what more do ya need. Not particularly hifi looking of course, but far from ugly. Downside: two long cords tethered to the thing instead of just one.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 May 2004, 12:22 am »

The mackies do sound sweet. Possible to get them off of ebay for near $900, too.

moltosolo · « **Reply #8 on:** 21 May 2004, 01:11 am »

Most of the active speakers are for studios, they sound different from "normal audiophile" speakers.
I like active speakers. To me they are easy to use, sound great and great value. I would recommand products from ATC and Dynaudio. The Mackie is great too, you can find them in many pro-audio shop near you.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #9 on:** 21 May 2004, 03:34 pm »

Are the Mackies only XLR and 1/4" fed inputs?

Anybody heard the Behringer 'Truth' models (active, $300.00 with 8.75" woofs)?...pretty appealling prices on Behringer goods.

nathanm · « **Reply #10 on:** 21 May 2004, 04:23 pm »

The Mackies take XLR, RCA and 1/4" phone plugs. They also have a gain trim pot so you can tweak the sensitivity.

Not that I have heard those particular speakers, but Behringer's business model is basically ripping off anything Mackie does. (they've been sued in the past for outright theft of circuit designs) I own a fair amount of Behringer stuff, it's like a guilty pleasure. The stuff is so cheap and it's reasonably well made, but it's kinda like knockoff, me-too gear IMHO. Just my 2 cents.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #11 on:** 21 May 2004, 09:24 pm »

Review of the Mackies and Behringers are both here:

http://prorec.com/prorec/articles.nsf/files/0B7FAE7ED3205D3C86256AE100044F41

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #12 on:** 21 May 2004, 10:28 pm »

Quote from: ooheadsoo

The mackies do sound sweet. Possible to get them off of ebay for near $900, too.

The smaller 624's are on eBay--opening bid of $625, Buy It Now $800 (retail is $1000)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47093&item=3725452387&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #13 on:** 21 May 2004, 11:48 pm »

The 624's are a curious beast. I spent several hours auditioning it and I actually like the midrange and treble better than the 824. Warmer. However, the bass is a bit muffled.

Jan F · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 May 2004, 07:46 pm »

One advantage with active speakers is that they are easy to use in just about any number. Good for PA installations; need more power and coverage? Throw in a few more boxes. Just takes some line split/boosting.

witchdoctor · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 May 2004, 08:20 pm »

I am a huge fan of active speakers. You SAVE loads of $$$ on amps and speaker wire. If you like to bi-amp your speakers imagine having a monoblock that is matched to each driver by the speakers designer, who can then use an active crossover to maximize efficiency. Active speakers have a kind of effortless sound to them that you get from high powered amps without spending $$$ for amps.
I use 3 Paradigm active 40's in front, two active ADP 's as surrounds,
two active 20's as rear surrounds and two active 20's as side axis speakers for a full 9.1 system through my Sunfire TG3.
Each speaker has XLR inputs and equalization in the back in the form of tone controls for bass and treble along with a volume control.
I would not want to have to purchase multiple amplifiers to drive 9 channels. Active speakers make it simple.
I saw the guy from Paradigm in NYC at the HT show today. He advised me to never sell these speakers because you can't get them anymore unless you score them on A'Gon like I did.
Everyone who has heard my system compares it to much costlier systems and I can't say I heard much at the show that would make me believe differently.