Powered speakers show audiophiles are confused

@phusis ,

How would you listen for transparency? What does it sound like? Have you heard it before? Do you know what relative distortion sounds like in a speaker over any given frequency range? at a particular sound intensity? What would you use to listen for it? Do you know the pedigree of that recording and the signal / processing chain to know the level of transparency from the time the sound was created till it comes off the recording medium?

this whole esoterically-laden secret-sauce amp-driver match baloney

When you understand the intricacies of driving a traditional dynamic driver or AMT in the most linear possible fashion, at all signal levels, with complex waveforms, perhaps your attitude will be warranted.

Isn't the bulk of amp/driver "match" really about coordinating [the same] dynamic range of each section of a complete system?    I mean an active system cannot be considered high end if it clips its HF amp on the tweeter before the LF amp clips on its LF driver.  This is the most basic of requirements, yes?  The same rules apply to a full multi way active PA system, yes? 

There has been little talk of dynamics with active, but that is where one of the larger benefits occurs.  The level of LF demand on an amplifier is often underestimated, yielding a negative result for a HF device on a single way [passive full range] system. 

Brad 

@lonemountain,

@phusis , and probably most people's concept of amplifier/driver is a simple linear voltage based amplifier perhaps with some frequency response modification. Without writing a book, that is a traditional view that is not the future of active speakers. Even active subwoofer drivers with velocity/position feedback already break that mold.

There is no set "ratio" between the LF and HF peak in any given set of music, though practically, the peaks are significantly more at the lowest frequencies. However, you can soft clip bass while preserving mids and highs unclipped and achieve a speaker that is considered more flexible, i.e. able to play louder while being perceived as still sounding good. However, that is a "club" driven too loud situation, not a professional setup where you ensure the system is not clipping with the music you are using.

Isn't the bulk of amp/driver "match" really about coordinating [the same] dynamic range of each section of a complete system?    I mean an active system cannot be considered high end if it clips its HF amp on the tweeter before the LF amp clips on its LF driver.  This is the most basic of requirements, yes?  The same rules apply to a full multi way active PA system, yes?

If we assume that the HF component is riding on top of the LF swells then the HF always clips before the LF in a passive system.

Most tweeter in a box behind a crossover are more sensitive than the woofers and need to be padded down ~10dB, which further points to the HF needing very little power.

It would take some skill to design an active system which clips the HF before the LF. Maybe using a 1W SET on some inefficient tweeters, and a kilowatt amp on the woofers could get one close… But I sort of doubt it. It would take a lot of work.

@thespeakerdude

You need to back up the stuff you claim with something:

How would you listen for transparency? What does it sound like? Have you heard it before?

I can tell you EXACTLY how to listen for transparency, with your ears.

You have an invisible system, a mythical job, making fictional speakers. If I’m wrong post your creds. Otherwise start a new thread and title it, "Once upon a time.." so we all know its a fairytale going in OK?

I encourage my fellow members to stop feeding the troll unless he posts his creds.