I Was Considering Active, Then I Watched This ...

djones51: An active speaker can be an all analog design or a digital input/DSP design and Class D amplifiers, but inputs and amps do NOT make it "active".  The critical issue is simply where the processing takes place, at speaker level [passive] or line level [active]. 

A "powered" speaker is not active and this term does not infer active; active speakers are not "powered".   "Powered" is a passive speaker with an amp [usually] inside, placed before the passive crossover just like any other passive speaker.  A "powered speaker", with processing at speaker level, can be Class D or Class A/B amps or digital inputs or analog inputs.  This powered description is used most often improperly, often by users or dealers (or manufacturers) who don't understand the term either or are attempting to deliberately fool a buyer into thinking that powered and active are the same.   They are a completely different designs and concepts.    

If one focuses on "where the processing is", before [active] or after [passive]  the amplifiers, the "active" label become much easier to discern.     

Brad   

Why are you telling me what I already know? I never mentioned "powered speakers" I was talking about active speakers with digital active crossovers. Active speakers can have digital and analog inputs and not necessarily be class d but class AB, G or H. With a properly designed active the front end components are not really much of a concern. If you want to see a properly designed modern active look at the Genelec Ones , ATC is still in the dark ages.

DJones51, its difficult to judge your posts when you say "front end components are not really much of a concern on a properly designed active".  Increase resolution at the speaker (via active technology) and resolution of the front end won't matter?  
Brad

I was referring to this. An active speaker with DSP I'm not sure what you mean? 
I've had different active speakers using very different sources I never noticed much difference , I noticed a difference between speakers not what fed them. 

With a properly designed active the differences in the front end are far more dramatic than ever before, yielding just as much fun in experimenting with cartridges, tonearms, DACs, etc. So from my experience, active enables even greater insight into the minute details of recordings and all the associated gear

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That is not true in my experience. 

I don't think whether its DSP or Analog would affect the outcome either, unless its a low quality (DAC or analog) design masking information.  I guess its certainly possible to hear no difference. 

My preference is not to have a DAC in my speaker, as these designs change constantly. No matter the DAC loaded speaker, the entire package will be obsolete in a year as a new DAC arrives to market that replaces the previous one.  Id prefer to use my own DAC and change that as I see fit.  So analog inputs work for me in light of a sea of constant DAC upgrades.   

Many pro customers have commented to me over the years that not all "active" speakers are very revealing of details.  One can see significant engineering investment into the designers concept of what the "problem to solve" is.  This is of course is fair enough, room acoustics are indeed a huge issue.  High end DSP electronics mated to lower cost OEM drivers may be great at room correction and low on resolution.  While the speaker sounds good in the room it may be poor at revealing the subtle information that many seek.  To my customers way of thinking, this is not good enough.  They want an all out effort in both electronics AND drivers. They will deal with the room as a separate acoustical problem but please please PLEASE make the most revealing speaker possible.

Brad  .