protegemaniac said:

   
It's his budget really that will be a problem, but it will not need to be an A/V receiver since he won't need the amplifier there. A pro-studio subwoofer has analog line inputs and outputs - fullrange signal from preamp goes in, high-pass filtered signal goes out to the monitors.
 

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Yes this is an option, but in the grand scheme of bass management, it's very limited.  EQ like Audyssey can measure the room and smooth the frequency response, as well as offer multiple crossover points to blend with the speakers.  A fixed high-pass filter limits you.  Not to mention that is an overpriced and under-performing sub for a living room.  A 10" 225 watt sub for $400 is not a good deal.  
 
You can get a B-stock RBH I-12 for $404 shipped, or a new one for $499.  There is also the PB-1000 for $499, these are capable of digging down to 20Hz and providing enough output to fill a good sized room.
 
If he was looking to sit at his desk and have a 2.1 system, yes powered monitors are a good option.  For a 2.1 system in a living room, there is a price premium to have the same connectivity and features with powered speakers.

fishyee said:

We all have personal experience comparing speakers. I question your personal experience trumping the PHDs and sound engineers at ATC who design for some of the best studios in the world that work with some of the best artists in the world.  

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Sigh. We aren't talking about theoretical arguments, but rather practical ones about what is available on the market for a given price. If you are not familiar with the speakers that both Transmaniacon and I have listed, then you lack the experience to contradict what we are saying. There are both studio monitors and passive speakers that are a good value for the OP.

fishyee said:

Back on topic, if the OP has a Guitar Center or a pro-audio shop near by, a comparison of DAC & active speakers vs receiver & passive speaker combo would serve him well.

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No. It would be a useless experience. The best passive speakers available in the OPs budget range are not available at Guitar Center. So thanks for proving my point that you are unfamiliar with options for the OPs budget and simply proving your own point that he shouldn't listen to a headphone hack like yourself. There are plenty of speaker junkies over at AVS if the OP wants recommendations from people who have a lot of experience with a range of speakers.

Sure, sure.  No one can state any science or theory to contradict you.  Science - bad, CEL4145's experience - good, everyone else's experience - irrelevant.
 
A pro-audio shop will happily let you bring your passive speakers and receiver in to compare to their monitors ... even the best mail order passive speaker with a $5 passive crossover that causes phase issues and chokes the music.
 
Why don't you and your friend recommend a specific $500 passive set for the OP to purchase?

fishyee said:

  Sure, sure.  No one can state any science or theory to contradict you.  Science - bad, CEL4145's experience - good, everyone else's experience - irrelevant.
 
A pro-audio shop will happily let you bring your passive speakers and receiver in to compare to their monitors ... even the best mail order passive speaker with a $5 passive crossover that causes phase issues and chokes the music.
 
Why don't you and your friend recommend a specific $500 passive set for the OP to purchase?

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I think it would be more beneficial to test the speakers in your own room, as the acoustics of the space will play a significant role in the sound quality.  Do you really believe "mail order speakers" use $5 crossovers and "choke" the music?
 
I have already made recommendations earlier in the thread.  But here is another, Dennis Murphy is a very well known speaker designer and sells his Affordable Accuracy Monitor for $195.  He takes a popular Dayton speaker kit and modifies the crossover to provide some fantastic sound quality for the money.  Yes there are some great active speakers, but there are also plenty of great passive speakers.  
 
http://philharmonicaudio.com/aa.html

transmaniacon said:

 
 


I think it would be more beneficial to test the speakers in your own room, as the acoustics of the space will play a significant role in the sound quality.  Do you really believe "mail order speakers" use $5 crossovers and "choke" the music?


 


I have already made recommendations earlier in the thread.  But here is another, Dennis Murphy is a very well known speaker designer and sells his Affordable Accuracy Monitor for $195.  He takes a popular Dayton speaker kit and modifies the crossover to provide some fantastic sound quality for the money.  Yes there are some great active speakers, but there are also plenty of great passive speakers.  


 


http://philharmonicaudio.com/aa.html

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Thank you, Transmaniacon.  Yes, your room is the best place to test an audio system.  A pro-audio shop will let you take monitors home to do a comparison as well.  I believe passive crossovers harm the signal more than active crossovers.


 


Could you recommend a specific receiver or whatever you desire to drive the Affordable Accuracy Monitors?  Let's put together a $500 passive kit for the OP.

fishyee said:

Sure, sure.  No one can state any science or theory to contradict you.  Science - bad, CEL4145's experience - good, everyone else's experience - irrelevant.

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You haven't provided any science or theory. Only "talk to the manufacturers."

But here. I understand it and can explain it.

Active speakers (not all studio monitors are active) use active crossovers which may provide a smoother crossover point than passive speakers (some passive speaker designs have very smooth crossover points). Active speakers, due to bi-amping, can have lower distortion depending on the quality of the amplification used with passive speakers. And due to the active crossover, typically you can get better dynamics from a design *if* you use the same drivers. But both of those may be moot as (a) at a certain threshold, even lower distortion may not matter provide significant audible difference and (b) better dynamics may not matter depending on ones listening volume.

Meanwhile, the quality of the tweeter and driver, the quality of the enclosure, the design of the crossover to match with the speakers, and the overall design of the drivers in conjunction with the cabinet and it's size all are significant factors in speaker design which highly influence SQ. Saying that active speakers are always better because of active crossovers is like saying a 4 barrel carbureator car is always faster than a 2 barrel. Or an 8 cylinder always faster than a 6 cylinder. It's the overall design and all of the components that are important.

fishyee said:

Why don't you and your friend recommend a specific $500 passive set for the OP to purchase?

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We have already recommended passive speakers to consider, and in fact, I also recommended an active monitor to consider. Is this your way of not responding to whether or not you have experience with the speakers that have been suggested? Or do you just need to review the thread? It's not that many posts. Might be better to review the entire conversation.

fishyee said:

 
 

transmaniacon said:

   
  I think it would be more beneficial to test the speakers in your own room, as the acoustics of the space will play a significant role in the sound quality.  Do you really believe "mail order speakers" use $5 crossovers and "choke" the music?
   
  I have already made recommendations earlier in the thread.  But here is another, Dennis Murphy is a very well known speaker designer and sells his Affordable Accuracy Monitor for $195.  He takes a popular Dayton speaker kit and modifies the crossover to provide some fantastic sound quality for the money.  Yes there are some great active speakers, but there are also plenty of great passive speakers.  
   
  http://philharmonicaudio.com/aa.html

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  Thank you, Transmaniacon.  Yes, your room is the best place to test an audio system.  A pro-audio shop will let you take monitors home to do a comparison as well.  I believe passive crossovers harm the signal more than active crossovers.
   
  Could you recommend a specific receiver or whatever you desire to drive the Affordable Accuracy Monitors?  Let's put together a $500 passive kit for the OP.

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I would go with this receiver, spend your last bit of cash on a pair of Sanus speaker stands, 24" should work, and then some cables from Monoprice.
 
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrxv477bl/yamaha-rx-v477-5.1-ch-x-80-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html#!specifications

transmaniacon said:

   
I would go with this receiver, spend your last bit of cash on a pair of Sanus speaker stands, 24" should work, and then some cables from Monoprice.
 
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrxv477bl/yamaha-rx-v477-5.1-ch-x-80-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html#!specifications

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Good choice.  If CEL4145 agrees, let's do a true service for this forum.  
 
CEL4145 buys his $500 passive kit.  I buy my $500 active kit.  Anyone who want to do a comparison in their room only needs to contact us and we will send them each kit to audition and compare.  Interested parties have to pay for shipping to make things fair and manageable in the long run.  
 
Practical, real world experience and testing.  

fishyee said:

Good choice.  If CEL4145 agrees, let's do a true service for this forum.  

CEL4145 buys his $500 passive kit.  I buy my $500 active kit.  Anyone who want to do a comparison in their room only needs to contact us and we will send them each kit to audition and compare.  Interested parties have to pay for shipping to make things fair and manageable in the long run.  

Practical, real world experience and testing.  

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I'll take that as a white flag of surrender since you seem unable to discuss the science of speaker design in this thread

cel4145 said:

I'll take that as a white flag of surrender since you seem unable to discuss the science of speaker design in this thread

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Not at all (my 1st post has a link to an explanation of the science).  I believe you are not capable of seeing another person's perspective.  Words to you cannot persuade you.  
 
Put your money up and let's help the forum.  

Linking is not the same as understanding and being able to discuss a topic.

You explained active crossovers without one mention of impedance, phase, frequency, or damping factor. Yeah ... a real intellect.

Put your money up.

fishyee said:

You explained active crossovers without one mention of impedance, phase, frequency, or damping factor. Yeah ... a real intellect.

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I bet you had to go read that linked text you provided just to be able to say that much. Still haven't contributed anything to the discussion other than "listen manufacturers say".

I'm done. As the saying goes, "Don’t argue with hacks because they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."

Passive aggressive with the insults followed by the smilies. Haha.

Later Hack.