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"Pro" Active Monitors

What does anyone think about using a pair of active "pro" studio monitors? As a point of reference, I have my eye on a pair of Tannoy Reveal Active monitors ($899 USD Retail).

They are essentially a pair of small two-way montiors, four internal monoblock amplifiers (two per speaker), and each speaker is outfitted with an internal active crossover.

They have XLR balanced inputs for connection to a preamplifier, as well as IEC power sockets for connection of one power cable to each speaker.

Am I missing something, or is this the best "budget" route to go for reference-quality sound? What do you think?
gthrush1

Showing 2 responses by sunnyup

sunnyup
5 posts
 
My favorite speakers are the ATC SCM50 SL actives. They are my 2nd pair of ATC. In a month's time, I will be able to tell everyone the latest upgrade new tweeters on the SCM50 (Seas Excel, like the SCM70), hope they are worth the cost and effort.

The strong reason to go with ATC is that the amps they integrated are of very high quality. For example, the small Active 10 comes with 200W each side. The Paradigm only has 80W. Also, ATC amps operate nearly in Class A (note how hot the sink gets) only till the very loud passage. The mid/high channels remain Class A all the time.

For other ATC owners, try putting Blue Tak in between the speakers and stands, and try a pair of Totem Beak. < $100 but major improvement in finesse and air.

www.extremephono.com
sunnyup
5 posts
 
Ok, try to help a bit more.

If you can get 2 pairs of Totem Beak, it will be best. Due to size of ATC 50 or 100, 2 pairs really should be necessary, consider that they are about 1% of the price of speakers, and they add 5-8% performance, well worth it! Imagine the top of ATC SCM50 having 4 quadrants, my favorite position is putting the beaks in the inner side front, and outer side back quadrants.

Here's a picture of the Totem Beak:

http://www.totemacoustic.com/NewFiles/beak.html

For those having no Blue Tak around, I find the QuakeHold available in Home Depot a nice alternative. The thing is on some other goos, they will discolor and damage the wood finish, or not pliable. Make sure you roll a big enough ball, I would say, 1 slab of Quake Hold cut into 3 or 4 pieces, and roll up, stick between the factory stands and the bottom of the ATC would be fine.

Quake Hold:
http://www.quakehold.com/quakehold/showdetails/images/88111front.jpg

I used 3 pieces, 1 below the woofer, and 2 behind, in a triangle. Quake Hold or Blue Tak instead of the factory adds a tonne of air, and midrange jumps out instead of hiding. I have been using the solution with SCM20 stand mounted, so when I got the SCM50, I was stunned by the defficiency of factory recommended setup.

ATC owners are welcome to send me e-mail. I have used ATC for so long, will be glad to help.
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