Any thoughts on passive v. active speakers?

I'm thinking about ditching my amps and cables and just buying an active speaker with a balanced input. I have a Krell 2250 and a pair of 140 watt Atma-sphere MA-1MKII. I desperately need speakers and cables, but not sure if I want to go through the bother (and expense) of finding the perfect matching set.

Should I go with a speaker & amp that are already matched or keep building my system like a bespoke smorgasbord?

Pragmatically it comes down to the implementation of either way more than the inherent virtues of one "principle" alone. On paper the advantages of active (+ DAC/DSP) speakers are rather obvious and appeals to me a lot, and I would indeed love to go that route should the right (speaker-)combination come along (this is a tempting solution, but too expensive for my wallet I'm afraid: http://hometheaterreview.com/meyer-sound-x-10-powered-loudspeakers/), but for now the right speaker-part of the active combo evades me.

All things being equal, and at the present DSP-technological state, I'd rather avoid passive cross-overs altogether; going radical about it one could pursue an alternative DIY-solution with the passive speakers fitting ones sonical bill and wreck them apart, more or less - at least as a means to by-pass the passive cross-over, connect each driver to their dedicated amp-channel, and let a DSP handle the cross-over duties. I've heard this conversion (from passive to active DSP) go extremely well in setup of a friend of mine, to the point really where there's no comparison, but it takes skill and patience to get there. Perhaps the active solution is much more of an obvious, preferred choice with cheaper solutions where incredible value can be had in such all-in-one systems (see JBL LSR 305/308, among many others).

Have stood at the crossroad of active or passive myself, the former from an outset with my existing speakers, but have chosen to go the latter route based on new, upcoming and highly sensitive speakers (~106-107dB's). I believe both paths would've been exhilarating to try out though - if only one could've. Merging other product categories seems more prudent here, like DAC and preamp for example, and focusing solely on one source (digital, in this case) to max out the fullest potential with the financial means available.

Finally then: in your case I'd seek out some potential active and/or otherwise combined solutions, listen to them closely where possible and preferable, and see whether the totality of sonic impressions go beyond that which passive, "discrete" solution can muster. You may find youself surprised, one way or the other.

" if a speaker builder went that route and allowed the home consumer to choose a line sub, a line mid and a line tweet - instead of putting it all in one box, it would provide for upgradeability in the future and unlimited configurations. "

Upgrade-ability and unlimited configurations can only promise changes, and not better sound quality.

I will probably get wonked on the head for saying this, but I'm going to make this argument anyway:

A Line Array of speakers is more efficient and makes better use of the amplifier than non-arrayed speaker. Sonic qualities aside the main job of an amp is to move drivers which push air.

Most class A amps convert their power into heat. The bigger the line array, the more the amp can breath and do its job which isn't heating your room.

At every power level you will hear more and appreciate your amp and music more as your line array get bigger.

zd542, I agree that change for the sake of change alone is not good, but wouldn't you rather have a system that you could grow into as your needs, taste, and budget change? I'm just proposing an alternate path to building a system.

Wouldn't it be nice to upgrade one part of the speaker without having to trash the whole speaker system and start over?

Chew on this: Those of you with colossal amplifiers running two speaker systems are the sonic equivalent of a Lamborghini on a mini golf course. You still look great at 3 MPH, but you have no idea hood good things get once you get on the autobahn.

Line Array = Autobahn.