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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
dawgbyte's avatar
dawgbyte
325 posts
 
Johnmcelfresh - Thank you for the link, it was a very interesting read.
merge038346
73 posts
 
The best implementation is the Meridians, which use a proprietary interface. If the digitial interface to the speakers were standardized, seperate amps would eventually go the way of the dinosaur. Because then all the choices the audiophile craves would be available by merely replacing the speakers. Marketing and sales are to blame not technology.

I do not own Meridian speakers. Some days I wish I had bought the DSP8000's and not my huge mono block amps/speakers. John's post above summarizes things pretty well, but he dismisses the digital transport layer, which I feel is critical.

The digital transfer of data, allows the crossovers to be implemented in DSP's, and it allows a seperate DAC for each driver type. The direct coupling of the amps to each driver has everything over convential amps (single amp, bi amp, tri amp whatever). When an amp is tailored to a specific driver, and a specific wire interface, many assumptions can be made and held, that greatly improve the control of the cone.

If you have any doubts, I repeat what John asks, read Mr. Stewarts technical articles. But first, seek out a Meridian dealer, and sit infront of a 861/800/DSP8000 system, and get blown away. Go ahead, add up the cost (you only need an 861 just to listen to CD's). Yeah, eah piece is expensive, but no amps, no cables. The total system price is less than a comparable stand system.

It is rumoured that several other consumer scale mfg's are working on speaker system very similiar in concept to the DSP8000. It is hoped that HDMI or whatever digital interface that gets standardized will open the way for this.
johnmcelfresh
97 posts
 
Merge,

One correction - the Meridian's interface to their speakers is not proprietary - although with Merifdian equipment takes advantage of MHR communication, the speakers will also accept standard PCM input from any transport, processor, etc.
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