Suggestions for powered monitors - besides Audioengine

Sonico · « **on:** 16 Apr 2016, 06:19 pm »

A friend of mine asked me about alternatives to the Audioengine A5 active speakers. He wants a pair of good sounding powered monitors with the classic/traditional looks (his wife must match the speakers with the room decoration...). Besides the Audioengine I'm only familiar with the new Dali Zensor 1 AX, but I know there are plenty of good boxes from a variety of brands (KEF, Focal, Klipsch, ...).
Any suggestions?

srb · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Apr 2016, 06:33 pm »

Quote from: Sonico on 16 Apr 2016, 06:19 pm

He wants a pair of good sounding powered monitors with the classic/traditional looks (his wife must match the speakers with the room decoration...)

What's the budget and what's the preferred color/finish?

Steve

asliarun · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Apr 2016, 09:35 pm »

I have not heard them but Kef X300A look like a very good choice on paper. They also have the same driver as LS50.

dburna · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Apr 2016, 09:42 pm »

The Neumann KH120A is fantastic, but $1400/pair. Budget plays a big factor here. If this fits your friend's budget, I wouldn't consider anything else.....unless it's something more expensive. Some folks don't love the looks, but I think they have clean lines and are attractive in a utilitarian kind-of way. I've been delighted with the sound since getting a pair for our downstairs A/V system about a year ago. Have been so pleased with them that I wouldn't hesitate to put them into the big rig in the event that something happened to my main speakers (God forbid).

-dB

P.S. Here's a pointer to same: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KH120.

JLM · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Apr 2016, 12:58 am »

+1 for the Neuman KH120, but yes we need to know the budget, application (room size, musical/audio tastes), and finishes.

Note the difference between powered and active speakers: Powered speakers are schematically are the same as passive speakers in that the input signal goes through one channel of amplification per speaker then through a high voltage crossover before splitting the signal between drivers. Active speakers send the input signal directly to the low voltage crossover before splitting the signal to separate amplifiers (one per driver). The advantages of active design are not subtle (greatly enhanced dynamics, flatter frequency response, and unbelievably deep/full bass).

Most low cost consumer speakers with built-in amplification (AudioEngine for instance) are powered while nearly all professional studio monitors (like the Neuman KH120) are active design. The KEF X300A uses a similar (not the same) driver as the LS50. It has a built-in DAC but no subwoofer output. Keep in mind that studio monitors are designed for near-field work to reveal warts and so can produce a dry/fatiguing sound versus audiophile speakers that are designed for in-room enjoyment (emotional connection).

Some other recommended studio monitors for home use: Adam A3X ($650/pair); Equator D5 ($400/pair); Focal CMS40 ($900/pair); Gibson Les Paul 6 ($1600/pair); JBL LSR305 ($300/pair); Quad 9AS ($1000/pair); Salk PowerPlay ($2200/pair). The Quad has digital (built-in DAC) and analog inputs, subwoofer output, grill cover, and remote control. The Salk can be finished in many very high quality variations and also has digital and analog inputs, subwoofer output, and remote control.

Folsom · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Apr 2016, 01:22 am »

Salk is great if they'll work.

srb · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Apr 2016, 01:31 am »

Dynaudio Excite X14A

Sonico · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Apr 2016, 01:59 am »

I think the color is not an important issue (although I know they prefer the wood finishing). The style/looks are more of concern here, they want something more "home style" like and not so "studio style". Speakers like Genelec, for example, wouldn't fit. I don't know about Neumann... Anyway, I'm just collecting information and then let them decide. My friend's intention is to narrow the choices to a handful of models and then go for an audition.
Budget would be below $1000/pair and their living room is a 6x5 (meters). I know also that he's going to connect the speakers to a Mac mini and their favorite music styles are on the soft side - some jazz and soul, acoustic, Brazilian... Never hard rock and never at very high spl.

dB Cooper · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Apr 2016, 04:11 am »

Vanatoo is worth a look

jtwrace · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Apr 2016, 04:25 am »

JBL LSR305 or LSR308. Crazy good.

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Apr 2016, 04:25 am »

Dunno if they fit within the budget, but the two-way standmount Meridian's from the UK are just wildly good transducers. Well . . based on the three driver 2-way standmount models that I own from awhile back.

JLM · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 Apr 2016, 09:32 am »

Quote from: dB Cooper on 17 Apr 2016, 04:11 am

Vanatoo is worth a look

+1 for aesthetics, budget, and overall sonic character match.

Heard the Transparent One briefly at Axpona 2015, well featured, but note it is powered - not active.

coke · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Apr 2016, 12:47 pm »

Swans has a lot of options. http://www.swanspeaker.com/products/products.aspx?cid=5

I've been using m200mkii for several years and have been happy, but they also have a newer mkiii version.

Sonico · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Apr 2016, 01:58 pm »

JLM - a special thanks for the information regarding active vs powered speakers. I didn't know the difference.
And thanks everybody for all the suggestions so far. There are indeed many interesting models to choose from. I'll pass the information to my friend and I guess I'll be auditioning some of these speakers with him within a few weeks.

Speedskater · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Apr 2016, 02:44 pm »

I have heard good things about the JBL speakers and believe it or not the Behringer active speakers.

skifasterslc · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Apr 2016, 02:46 pm »

I've been using quad 12L studio monitor for a number of years and have been very happy. These are what I want next:

PreSonus Sceptre S6
180W 6.5" Active Monitor Speaker with Coaxial Speaker Alignment and 32-bit/96kHz Dual-core DSP Processor

rockadanny · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Apr 2016, 03:59 pm »

i love my adam f7 speakers. check them out under my Systems/Home Office. they are terrific sounding. that AMT tweeter is sweet.

persisting1 · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Apr 2016, 07:19 pm »

Quote

Swans has a lot of options. http://www.swanspeaker.com/products/products.aspx?cid=5

I've been using m200mkii for several years and have been happy, but they also have a newer mkiii version.

I had a pair of Swan powered speakers. The amp died within a few years. I was told the speaker had been discontinued and that nothing could be done on their end. I would not buy another powered Swan product again.

sandbagger · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 Apr 2016, 07:31 pm »

sounds like the perfect job for the KEF X300A

If I ever needed a small powered speaker I would own these

I have listened in detail a few times and almost bought a pair just to have

JLM · « **Reply #19 on:** 26 Apr 2016, 10:43 am »

Just hosted a meeting of my local audio club Saturday that included casually comparing 4 pair of small 2-way stand-mounts via my DSPeaker (DAC/preamp/DSP) and 100 watt Channel Island Audio D-100 class D mono-blocks: $300/pair Ascend Acoustics CBM-170; $200/pair Philharmonic Affordable Monitor; $1500/pair KEF LS50; and $300/pair JBL LSR305.

My summary:

I didn't like the KEFs (but hosting didn't give me much time with them). Thought they were very bright to the point of being strident and quite harsh at times.

The Ascends and Philharmonics were the closest to each other. Either would be satisfying and easy to live with. The Phils were slighter larger with nicer finish.

The JBLs really hit it out of the park. Being active you might say they had the advantage, but they were only $300/pair and of course use cheap XLR cables. Accurate as you'd expect a studio monitor to be, very deep bass for cabinet size that filled my 8' x 13' x 21' room, and good imaging. I had them for a week prior to the meeting and really enjoyed them. Another member (who owned the Phils and the KEFs) took them home for a good listen.