Pros and Cons of built-in amps?
03-25-08: Bob_reynolds That statement summarizes everything that one needs to know about you Bob. You might make that quote your tag line. You bring nothing of value to this discussion. |
Are we sure that studio use active speaker for sound quality reasons? Maybe it's for convenience or something else. Try proaudioreview.com (?) and they commonly rave about the sound quality of passive speakers running Chord or Pass amps. I prefer active speakers, but don't really think "sound quality" as audiofiles define it is what studios have in mind. More like: 1) Mixes that will sound good on a variety of stereos. 2) Elevated presence region to better hear faults in the recordings. 3) Ability to play super loud. Like 110-120dB all day. 4) Reliability: play at 110++dB ALL day without a breakdown. Things like: 1)"truth of timbre". 2) grain-free sound 3) not bright highs 4) dynamic range 5) attack and decay 6) "air and space" 7) "fleshed out" sound are important for home listening but less so in the studio. |
Cdc mentions that a pro audio review site really likes Chord and Pass Labs amplifiers. That's encouraging as they are both excellent examples of how good solid state amps can sound. But it also points to a limitation with active speakers like those from ATC and Meridian. As good as both of those are, they are limited by the quality of their built-in amplifiers. In Meridian's case, which I would argue has the better amplification of the two, they are not at the same level as the Chord amplifiers. I know this because I used to be a Meridian dealer and have recently spent a fair amount of time with Chord electronics. Chord makes some of the best solid state gear I have ever heard. (I am not a Chord dealer) |
Thanks Dave, here are the links: Pass Labs XA30.5 Studio Amplifier Chord SPA 1424 Mono Power Amplifier |
Chord makes some of the best solid state gear I have ever heard. (I am not a Chord dealer) Your point about Chord is a good one - I have recommended these amps in other threads. I am glad to see you finally came up with what I would say is a fair statement - it took you a long time though! Are we sure that studio use active speaker for sound quality reasons? Maybe it's for convenience or something else. Well you can read on line what people say about active speakers - Telarc Here is an excerpt: "We feel like we're finally hearing the detail of our work for the first time," says Telarc president Bob Woods of the installed ATC monitor system. "As a professional studio product we've never encountered anything quite like it. You want something that's accurate, but to have a system that can handle all types of musical programming equally well is downright remarkable. We do as much popular music these days as we do classical and jazz, especially through our new label partner, Heads Up. The ATC system handles it all without flinching." You are correct in assuming that studios have a different goal in mind with active speakers - obviously they don't buy the "sound" - they actually by "no sound" - basically the goal is to have a system that does not impose any coloration on the recording at all. So many of the things you mention are important. They must not "compress" the sound at extremely high volumes, they must be precisely linear at all volume levels (no limited sweetspot in volume level where the drivers integrate their best), and they must be extremely reliable. However, your idea that studios want a colored sound with greater prescience or other gimmicks added to the playback chain could not be further from the mark. |
