[Chris J]

Huh?
Then where's the engine?
 
This is an outrage!
Someone should do something about this!
Why do they call it Audioengine if there is no engine!
Call the proper authorities immediately!
Doesn't anyone look under the hood before they buy this stuff?

 
I am so mad right now!

 

[kwal]

Quote:

Just a point of clarification for the thread.  The Audioengine range of speakers are not active.

 
I believe you mean the Audioengine range of speakers are not this TYPE of active speaker. Since in the simplest form an active speaker is any speaker with the amplifier built in.
 
What you are talking about is an active crossover Bi-amp/Tri-amp system without a passive crossover in the speaker. The only real reason why you mostly see this type of system used in active monitors is it becomes too complex for the average user to use. The benefits you have brought up are the same if it is one unit or multiple units.
 
In live sound systems you do see active crossover Bi-amp/Tri-amp systems a lot because the engineers generally know what they are doing and because of the benefits you have stated.

 

[pyramid6]

Quote:

 
I believe you mean the Audioengine range of speakers are not this TYPE of active speaker. Since in the simplest form an active speaker is any speaker with the amplifier built in.
 
...

 
I thought they were called powered.  Like most words though, the meaning gets changed over time.
 
I don't think it matters all that much as long as people understand what they are actually buying.

 

[Mauricio]

Quote:

 
 
 
I don't think it matters all that much as long as people understand what they are actually buying.

 
Are they?
 
I started this thread to dispel the ignorance the prevails over speaker/monitor system designs.  Ninety posts into this thread, and people still confuse powered with active.  No, I don't think very many "people understand what they are actually buying".

 

[Chris J]

Are they?

I started this thread to dispel the ignorance the prevails over speaker/monitor system designs.  Ninety posts into this thread, and people still confuse powered with active.  No, I don't think very many "people understand what they are actually buying".

Despite all my jokes and stuff, personally I am very sympathetic to the layman and newbie.
Understanding this active/ powered/ passive speaker stuff ain't easy.

 

[Mauricio]

Quote:

Understanding this active/ powered/ passive speaker stuff ain't easy.

 
It's all there on this thread for s/he who wishes to read and learn.  And, of course, none of this is rocket science or brain surgery.

 

[firev1]

Hmmm just to ask, can the layman enjoy a good pair of Actives under $1k or even under $500? I liked my experience with a good pair of ADAMs while I was in China(their service is great too!) but   they are way too much for a working student like myself. That being said, going surround, I rather use passives then actives not because of technicals or cost, because actives are a pain in the butt to wire surround. 

 

[burgunder]

Noone ever expects the active inquistition

 
So noone knows of a wallmount for the Audioengine A5+ active powered og whatever.
 

 

[Matt head 777]

I built active speakers and the amps and the sound is great. Really helps the tweeter to power on strong without distortion. Agreed it's a pain to have surround with active speakers because you need a signal volume control for 5.1. Most people would use passive amp systems for surround. Are there many active surround systems available commercially?
 

 

[firev1]

Quote:

I built active speakers and the amps and the sound is great. Really helps the tweeter to power on strong without distortion. Agreed it's a pain to have surround with active speakers because you need a signal volume control for 5.1. Most people would use passive amp systems for surround. Are there many active surround systems available commercially?
 

I remember a 5.1 based on the 6010a/5040a from Genelec and their subwoofers should have volume control. The main problem is that mains wiring for my apartment is not ideal at all and hacking the room is not an option.
 
If a 5.1 system should be used for actives, the room has to be built surround from the start or drive multiple extension plugs all over. In other words, its extremely messy compared to multi-channel passive unless you have a 3 channel active system. 

 

[pyramid6]

Quote:

I remember a 5.1 based on the 6010a/5040a from Genelec and their subwoofers should have volume control. The main problem is that mains wiring for my apartment is not ideal at all and hacking the room is not an option.
 
If a 5.1 system should be used for actives, the room has to be built surround from the start or drive multiple extension plugs all over. In other words, its extremely messy compared to multi-channel passive unless you have a 3 channel active system. 

http://us.marantz.com/us/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=AVSeparates&SubCatId=0&ProductId=AV7005 can be used with actives.  You just need a receiver that can be hooked up to some amps, like amps in the speakers.

 

[kixxit]

Quote:

 
 
This.  

 
Audiophiles (non-professional), generally, despite all the arguments about fidelity, are also in it for the fun. It's a hobby of sorts. Picking and matching, and shopping, is fun. Buying one box (okay, maybe three then- 2x actives+digital source) is a bit of a downer. Then you have to tell yourself "okay, I'm done. huh. I guess that's it, then. The engineers thought of everything."
 
Going with passives, you get to choose and match also separate amps, pre-amps, cabling, and such. That's fun. Then you can chase the "best sound." You can then say "How can I make it better? I want to do it myself."
 
Actives can be objectively better, if you take out your oscilloscopes, but subjectively, passive setups are more "yours." YOU did the work. You are more invested in it. Psychologically (there's plenty of peer-reviewed studies about this), you will feel it's better. And that's, in the end, how much YOU enjoy it, is what matters. 

 
In all seriousness, wouldn't it be more fun and possible less expensive buying/trading/comparing active speakers?  Or is there the fear that the differences in sound/coloration or what have you would no longer be worth the trouble?  I'm glad I found this thread.  After purchasing a DAC/Amp combo for my cans, it finally dawned on me that with active speakers, I can concern myself with spend all that money I would've wasted on more gear on cd's instead.  I have one more pair of passive speakers I want to buy, but only because I've already got the rest of the setup.  Afterwards, I'm thinking about nothing but active. 
 
Thanks for the thread!

 

[Mauricio]

You're welcome.

 

[kixxit]

Do most active monitors have good off-axis dispersion?  I was always under the impression that they were fairly focused due to use in near field applications. 
 
I did watch the posted vid on the SE Electronics Egg 150 monitors, but their setup isn't much different than passive monitors - although I'm sure their amp is built specifically for the Eggs. I am wondering how scalable their setup is - 5.1, etc. 

 

[Mauricio]

Quote:

Do most active monitors have good off-axis dispersion?  I was always under the impression that they were fairly focused due to use in near field applications. 
 
I did watch the posted vid on the SE Electronics Egg 150 monitors, but their setup isn't much different than passive monitors - although I'm sure their amp is built specifically for the Eggs. I am wondering how scalable their setup is - 5.1, etc. 

 
Do you want a speaker to spread sound in all unwanted and unintended directions thereby creating spurious reflections and destroying the stereo soundfield?