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New game with active speakers

Been at this audiophile game for some decades and felt I had a handle on most parameters, until active speakers.  I’ve been a tube guy for years since leaving my Sugden Class A integrated:  Manley stuff and the latest, a deHavilland Mercury 3 preamp.  Now I find that active speakers do not necessarily like tubes.  At least mine don’t.

Decided to send my deHavilland in for upgrades and went to using the preamp section of my Sugden A21SE.  Wow!  Better in every way.   How is that?   More dynamic, better attack.  Now I have an ATC CA2 preamp to drive the ATC 40As and the synergism is terrific!  

A dealer of ATC speakers echoed the observation.  He stated he too was for years a tube guy, until active speakers.  Now I’m back to solid state after years of sneering at those clots still mired in SS.  Those neophytes, Philistines.  Oh, how humbling.


celtic66
theophile's avatar
theophile
304 posts
 
Call me convinced also.

Audio fan since 78. Bought KRK Expose E8B monitors 6 years ago.  They are frankly amazing amps and speakers in combination.

I too will be looking at pro active monitors exclusively from this time on. One's Source component had better be excellent if the system uses pro active monitors.
drugolf
29 posts
 
I think we are at the beginning of a sea change.  Active speakers make way too much sense and apparently a few manufacturers agree.

Meadowlark Audio is back up and running and they are going active for the most part.
cd318
2,636 posts
 
@julie_priest,

At those prices the Edifier S3000s must be strong contenders for anyone wanting a second system.

Currently I’ve got some AirPulse A300 active bookshelves sitting in my Amazon basket just in case a need for a 3rd system arises.

Those Genelec’s you mentioned would be 1st system contenders. One this wu-flu is finally banished there’s going to be one hell of a queue of shows lining up.

That’s assuming that the morons currently running the UK haven’t totally destroyed our economy by then.
csmgolf
912 posts
 
Meadowlark Audio is back up and running and they are going active for the most part.
They are again making speakers and all of them are active. They do not build passive speakers any more. They look awesome, BTW. With a designer as talented as Pat, I am sure they sound awesome too.
celtic66 OP
1,815 posts
 
Carefully viewed the Meadowlark website.  I found it odd, exhibiting a near complete lack of design details and bereft of any pricing schedule.

Mind you, I listened to their previous stable of product and liked them.  I wish them well, but find this marketing direction untenable.  Hope they sound great.  No mention could I find of auditioning, return policy or access other than special order and purchase.

Thanks for responses regarding active speakers.
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