Active or passive?

@georgehifi  so regardless of the synergistic elements of an active highlighted by ctsooner, the inferior mids & highs, for me then, doesn't warrant ownership. 
Ok, I don't think I've heard an active in over 15 years but from what's being mentioned it appears they are still not worth buying...

I would have thought the complete control over the amp by a speaker manufacturer would offer amazing results...to the point of choosing active over passive in many cases.

I would have thought the complete control over the amp by a speaker manufacturer would offer amazing results...to the point of choosing active over passive in many cases.

Simple, I’ve always found the more "active components" that are in the signal path the more sterile and two dimensional the sound becomes.
 I would love for a source to be able to drive the speakers direct

Cheers George

I am driving Emerald Physics KCIIs (passive XOs) direct from Ric Schultz’s EVS 1200 (600wpc class D) which is connected direct from my Oppo 105 with upgraded Linear Power Supply and rhodium Furutech IEC with pure silver wire to the power supply board. Volume is controlled with the 105 V V C


Of course this eliminates the opportunity to add powered subs, but after many months I am expecting a pair of EP 2.8s hopefully this week. Each speaker has dual 15" carbon fiber woofers and a 12" concentric carbon fiber mid-range

I am in high anticipation

FYI EP is moving their factory and has/had a few pair of 2.8s at $4999 delivered.

It's a cultural thing.  American consumers of high end audio simply do not choose active systems.  75% of all Mercedes-Benz autos sold in the world are diesel.  0% are sold in America.  The American consumer for whatever reasons chooses otherwise.  Not right, not wrong, just is.

My ATC 40A floor standers on loan to a high end store in Portland, OR for two months never failed to impress and even shock those who listened.  Nobody ordered a pair and therefore the store does not stock ATC or any other active speaker.  The owner was quite perplexed, but appreciated the no cost loan and use to test the market.

The manufacture of many of the most respected active transducers in the world seems heavily weighted toward the English.  I've no numbers to support, but must conjecture that not only do studios consume these, but also consumers outside America.

I will never go back to passive.  For my tastes, passive now is deficit of immediacy, timbre, slam and overall involvement.  It does not make me right, only very satisfied with what works for me.

I've fallen hard for several good passive designs that sounded castrated at home in my listening room. I have no idea why, but dsp active speakers sound right in my room where all the world beater passives fall flat. 
If I was shopping for a specific model that's offered in active or passive I'm betting the active model is more likely to sound like it was designed to once I get it home. Unless you have unlimited funds to build a system tailored to your taste Active is the way to go.