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How to judge an amplifier's performance with a "powered-woofer" speaker?

Hello, I can't seem to find a definitive answer.  Nowadays,many speakers are made with a built-in woofer amplifier. Vandersteens, Martin-Logans , Von Schweikert,etc.
How will your amplifier affect the tonality or dynamics of this type of speaker?
What type of influence will your amp have on the bottom end? Will your million-watt amp be zeroed out by the speaker amp? 

Interestingly, I was reading a review of the Parasound JC1+ Mono's paired with Von Schweikert Audio VR-55 Aktives, and the reviewer raved about the powerful ,deep bass of the JC's. But wait! The speakers have a 525 watt amp driving the woofer!!! Does the 450 watt JC trump the 525 watt speaker amp??
If you are going to review an amplifier wouldn't you get a "truer" report by using traditional speakers?

====How does your amplifier and a powered speaker interact? Who does the heavy lifting?====

Thanks for your time.

michaelpaul


128x128mikepaul
koslekt1's avatar
koslekt1
73 posts
 
I've had a few speakers with powered bass and a few without, and weirdly it was easy to tell amp changes on the powered guys. Even though they don't have a load on the low end of the spectrum, the amp still typically contributes down to 80hz, maybe lower, depending on the crossover. 

Anyways, the powered bass gives you a lot of flexibility to try different amps so I really like them. Trust me, you'll hear amp differences just as fast as you would with a passive full ranger. 
ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,750 posts
 
MIKEPAUL that tells you all you need to know about all audio magazine reviewer not about audio but money
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
ALL speakers (with/without bass amplification) holistically respond to amp changes, and they are typically immediately discernible. See for yourself. Powered bass readily responds to speaker cable changes and power cord changes. Ditto for subwoofers. 

The Legacy Audio Valor Speaker System I reviewed for Dagogo.com, with its internal bass and subwoofer amplification, responded just as any passive speaker would to amp changes on the mid/treble. 
Even if  the change is to the midrange on up, the entire speaker will sound distinctly different due to the change in interaction between the drivers. The relative strength of the bass, it's tonality, dynamic power, etc. relative to the mid and treble has changed. 

This thread is fine evidence of the hubris of readers who default to distrust of reviewers, thinking they know better. Well, in the majority of cases, you don't.  :)



mapman's avatar
mapman
21,886 posts
 
Judging an amp with any speaker that includes a powered sub Is like judging a tag team not the individual wrassler. 
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
I have no interest in the particular review or reviewer,  but in general  another aspect to be discussed with powered bass is the signal cable and power cords. Many never maximize their speaker due to being too arrogant,  lazy, or chintzy ( or all 3) regarding those cables.

Once or twice I tried to get powered model and passive model for side by side comparison,  but manufacturer was unwilling.
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