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Do Active Speakers Belong In A High End System?

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In a pair of active speakers, you have removed the high end amplifier from from the equation. The amps on an active speaker will probably be class D plate amps.

All of the flowery adjectives to describe high end amps and high end speaker cables in a system go right out the window when using active speakers.

Is a serious active full-range tower speaker a high-end audiophile possibility? I rarely read about active speakers on this forum in a two channel system.
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128x128mitch4t
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,275 posts
 
An active system should out perform an equivalent passive system. The elimination of the passive crossover is the key. Also since the designer knows the characteristics of the drivers the amps do not have to be over built. Active loudspeaker systems are very popular in the pro audio area. Typically the amps are readily accessible and easily, as in field, replaceable.
timlub
2,042 posts
 
In theory, the answer is a resounding YES. Even better might be to have digital signal processing right on the board and have a pure digital USB/SPDIF/TOSLINK ETC, Come directly to the speaker.
In reality, its tough to get right
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t OP
1,611 posts
 
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With the rise in popularity of Class D amps, it would seem to be a no-brainer for active speakers to begin to flourish in the marketplace. Their small size and light weight certainly make it feasible to attach them to full sized full-range towers.

I think it would take one of the big boys in the passive speaker camp to start offering an active speaker option to get things going on a large scale.

I would hazard to guess that 99.9% of the speaker systems here on the 'Gon are passive. Not counting subwoofers of course.
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zd542
5,339 posts
 
"In a pair of active speakers, you have removed the high end amplifier from from the equation."

That's a problem. A high end system usually calls for a high end amp.

"Is a serious active full-range tower speaker a high-end audiophile possibility?"

Only if it sounds good.
plato
1,543 posts
 
The technology is there... it could be easily done and done well. The question is which companies will be the first to start the trend?
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