Powered speakers show audiophiles are confused

Surprised no mention of ATC.

Some of the best sound I have ever had was with ATC Anniversary 50s.

6 Class A amps designed for each driver and active crossovers.

ATC also designs all its drivers and has been building among the best in studios,

performance venues (the Disney, the Sidney Opera House, etc.) and homes around the world for many decades.

They have optimized the advantages of powered speakers.

 unless that amplifier is designed to understand the particular speakers impedance loads 

Can you share with us how an amplifier can be designed to a drivers particular impedance load? Especially one as simple as a woofer which we all know has a predictable curve that rises with frequency quite smoothly.

So, this thread is really about active, bundled speakers. While all active speakers are powered, the reverse scenario is not always the case; a 'powered' speaker strictly just refers to a passively configured ditto but with the amp (plus of course the passive filter) built into the speaker. 

@johnk wrote:

Great for pro audio use and in studios or for those who want simplicity in a system but most audiophiles want outboard amplification. Also many don’t want to bin a speaker setup because one amp failed inside. My experience with powered speakers failing is fairly vast and while with a few I could repair or replace amps most are junk after just 1 amp fails in a stereo pair. I have built actives but I outboard amplification because of this.

Indeed; active can be with outboard amplification, and obviously also DSP/electronic cross-over and DAC.

Most by default assume and refer to active as a bundled solution, which it needn't be. As mentioned previously one could, with a worthwhile distinction, refer to it as an active speaker or an active system, with the former being the bundled solution and the latter an "active with separate, outboard components." So long as the cross-over is placed prior to amplification it is - by definition - active. 

@kota1 wrote:

If you like to tinker, great. Tinker with the front end. But why tinker matching amps, drivers, and speaker cables when the engineer who DESIGNED the speaker can do it for you at a much lower cost?

You're restricted having only preassembled, bundled active speakers to choose from. You could do anything really with all sizes and types of speakers choosing an outboard, active solution. Of course this way it's up to each to handle all aspects, but with dedication it's hardly an insurmountable challenge to any existing complexity.

Moreover complete pro segment speaker systems are available sans passive XO's, or you could simply rid passive "hifi" speakers of their XO's and start from scratch with active config. and DSP filter settings. Many an audiophile love to tinker with a range of aspects with their setup, so why not take it a step further and master your own filter settings? 

And I second the praise for Meyer Sound speakers. 

So long as the cross-over is placed prior to amplification it is - by definition - active. 

This is incorrect, there are passive line level crossovers as well as active.

Well, I guess a good engineer could put drivers and an amp inside a concrete block that weighs about 300 pounds. Doubt it would sell very well. And Vibration dampening systems ARE important under turntables at the very least, regardless of what you are playing said turntable through.