Why are hi-end active monitors not more popular?


I was just curious why more home systems don't utilize active monitors from hi-end manufacturers. Dynaudio, Focal, PMC and Genelec to name a few seem to have very high value offerings that, on the surface, appear taylor made for a simple system. Just add a cd player with volume and balanced outs or a hi-end dac connected to a music server. Pros and cons are appreciated. A home consumer version seems to have already made it to market in the NHT XDs system. I haven't heard the NHT system and would appreciate your comments.
ghasley
Active speakers are a one size fits all option but this hobby doesnt work like that. Also some sound like Pro speakers and many dont like that.
An active speakers is really just a speaker with an amp built in, when my VMPS speakers are hooked up to amps they are active too.

What about vibration between amp and speaker? It's a little hard to keep the vibration out of the amp when it's in the speaker cabinet. Then you have to run power cables to the speakers. maybe not as much an issues if you are already using mono blocks next to your speakers.

I think there intended use in inexpensive home studio's in the near-field where you will not be listening to them an any level that will severely interfere with the amp.

Powered sub woofers have gained some acceptance so we will see what powered speakers does in the future.

I have no interest in them, if that's of any use to you.
Good question.

Pros:
better driver integration with active phase control
more efficient (no power loss in a crossover)
lower IMD distortion

Cons:
less tweakable
less gear to covet
less resale market
Maybe there are some problems with electronics interfering with the speakers in the active path?

Or maybe manufactures who are good to make amplifiers aren't so good to make speakers and the contrary?
Hooking up an amp to a speaker doesn't make the speaker active. That's a fairly absurd statement.

Vibration is also not that big an issue. If it were, powered subwoofers wouldn't work. Also, the amp doesn't have to be housed in the speaker, it could be housed separately.

If you can build an excellent speaker, then you can build an excellent power amplifier. For any real audio company designing and building a high quality power amp is a trivial task. There are any number of first rate audio designers who could be hired for the design and there are literally hundreds of electronic manufacturers who can build the product.

As a group audiophiles just don't see a need for active speakers. Based upon some of the above responses I don't believe this bias is based upon any rational reason.