2. speakers
  3. 1081344084

Abandonning Powered Speakers - Why?

I have noticed over the years that a number of respected speaker manufacturers have developed powered versions of certain of their speaker models, made public announcements about such projects that are presumably intended to prepare the market for the speaker's arrival, but then ultimately abandon the projects.

Examples include a powered Dunlavy SC-IV (a mid-90's project), and then very recently, the Dynaudio C7 (its arrival was posted on the company's website for many months). I believe Meadowlark did a powered version of their big Nightingale, too, and may even have sold a few, and then discontinued the speaker (this is perhaps a bad example, as Meadowlark discontinued the Nighingale speaker all together).

ATC, Genesis, Meridian and Vanderstein, among others, certainly make very good powered speakers, not to mention all of the powered subs out there.

Might there be any inherent design problem that ultimately dissuades manufacturers like Dynaudio or Dunlavy from bringing a powered speaker to market, or is the decision to bale (sp?) out on such projects case-by-case, and nothing is to be read into the fact that several highly respected manufacturers toyed with, but ultimately abandonned, their powered speaker projects?

Just curious.

Thanks.
raquel
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Digital power amps, that generate little heat, may make speakers with built in amps more practical. The speakers could be fed ones and zeros via a fiber optic, (and 115vac). This could be carried to an extreme, where each driver has a couple of transistors to drive it mounted on its frame. (Don't laugh, I saw this done, but not in a production item).
trelja
3,223 posts
 
On the other side, I am not interested in powered speakers.

Personally, I desire the freedom to make my system sound the way I want. And, that can change over time or with the music I want to hear or with whom I am listening with or depending on what kind of tangent I go off on. I love having the flexibility of two pairs of speakers, each mating well with my solid state or tube amps.

I think the analogous option that many tube amplifier manufacturers give in terms of being able to go triode or ultralinear means that some of us out here want to be able to tailor our systems to our music, moods, or kicks.

I believe it would drive me crazy to not be able to adjust the sound of my system to the point where I would eventually sell this type of component.
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,685 posts
 
I guess Trelja proves my point. ;-)
s23chang
620 posts
 
A good powered speaker often cost a lot more. i.e. a ATC SCM20ATSL retailed cost $7500 yet the passive version is only $4000. If you need portability and worry free then you should get the active. That's why most of ProAudio gears are active. The passive is more for experience audiophiles who likes to mix and match with different amps and preamps ( Especially for home use.) or they already have very good amps.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,229 posts
 
There are big sonic advantages to be gain by the elimination of passive crossover components and employing active line level crossovers to dedicated amplifiers in either a biamp or triamp configuration. If your design must have a crossover, then active is the best way to go. Trelja's above comments are quite telling if he represents the typical audiophile. It strikes me as unwise to ignore superior design elements in order to pursue sonic finger painting. If you really want to change the sound of you system it's far better to get an equalizer and/or a compressor.

As always, what really is important in a product is the actual implementation not the inherent superiority of any design.
More to discover