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I have an uber awesome amp, why buy a speaker with a built in woofer sub-woofer amp

I'm wondering why there is a market for awesome speakers that have built in sub woofer amps - e.g. Triton 1,2,3 ; ZuAudio Definition and so many others.

As far as I know built in amps are almost never put under the reviewers microscope. So while the amp and speakers I purchase may well have been, the amp inside the speaker isn't.

So, if I have a really good amp and I'm looking for a good pair of speakers, why would I (anyone) want a set of speakers with a built-in amp, especially one of unknown quality?
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lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
The built-in sub amp only has to power the low-end frequencies, and is voiced for that specific speaker. It doesn't have to perform across the entire frequency spectrum as your power amp does.
 As a result, your amp now has less of a load to drive. Your amp won’t have to deal with low impedance demands.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,883 posts
 
I concur- not into this kind of speaker either. Additionally, I do not like the sound of speakers that feature side-fire woofers?
gsm18439
895 posts
 
Like JOND said, "it allows you to use a lower powered amp to run the mid and high frequencies, typically a tube amp often SET." 

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,874 posts
 
I believe the upper-level Vandersteen's have built-in powered subwoofers.
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,968 posts
 
I've never been a fan of built in powered subs either,  I prefer running my mains full range and using a separate powered sub for below 50 or 60 Hz depending on the speaker.  Every powered sub speaker I've ever heard sounded muddy and colored to me.  
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