Opinions and recommendations on active loudspeakers

Both lonemountain & theophile: Hear! Hear! Precisely.

I've been told that a passive crossover allows for more precise control compared with active.  My understanding is that ATC builds such good drivers that they don't need a particularly complex crossover to make up for driver anomalies. 

Theophile!  Wow, you should write a paper!  Very well put.  

The only thing that convinces some people that the idea of engineers endlessly fussing over mixes cannot be true is some pop mixes sound absolutely awful.  I have heard mix engineers complain bitterly from time to time about their work turned bad or even given to another engineer to "redo it".  Sometimes the producer or the people in charge change things for reasons of their own.  Most pop tunes are destined for FM airplay so sometimes the mix is set up for FM and only FM (loudness wars).  Many of Katy Perry's top selling songs are examples of that.  But some pop mixes turn out pretty good- there's some that are quite listenable.   Halsey's Badlands was mastered by Pete Lyman who does a lot of Indie work.  Interesting that on her wikipedia page for Badlands Halsey says it lacks a "proper radio hit".

Brad   

Thanks for the tip on Halsey. Actually I think many "audiophile" speakers can't handle new pop or r 'n b  etc. mixes because they are too coloured (together with the room). Especially in the bass/low mid region.

jon_5912:
Whoever told you passive crossover (a static device with lots of lots of loss through wire) offers more precise control than active crossovers (where the crossover is before the amplifiers; an electronic circuit with very precise control) has something to sell in passive crossovers!