Speakers with built-in amp or without?

[obobskivich]

Oh really?  According to you, an active crossover "can be based on passive...speakers"?  Right, you know what you are talking about...

Sure, with an outboard crossover. Here's an example:
http://www.accuphase.com/model/df-55.html (if you want studio-craft devices, look at dbx, Behringer, and BBE. They're labeled "speaker management" or "crossover" (like this: http://www.bbesound.com/products/speaker-management/ds48.aspx)). If you're only trying to tie subs to speakers, there's bass management hardware as well - like the Velodyne SMS-1. Finally, there's fully automated solutions from DEQX and Trinnov (that can do either bass management integration, or full management).

Each driver (or set of drivers) get their own amp channel and the xover breaks it upstream. There's even DIY designs available for this; I know Pete Millett was experimenting with an all tubed design (schematics are available), and MiniDSP is a popular choice for hobbyists as well (fully customizable).


Multi-amplification is not the sole domain of powered speakers. Like I said, there's no need to fight about this back and forth...:rolleyes:

 

[eugenius]

So, in order of decreasing quality and price:

0. Active with DEQX or similar speaker correction/room correction crossover and monoblocks. (*****)
1. Active with DEQX or similar speaker correction/room correction crossover and multichannel power amplifier. (****3/4)
2. Active with separate crossover and monoblocks. (****)
3. Active with separate crossover and multichannel power amplifier (***3/4)
4. Active with internal crossover and internal high quality (usually icepower) amplifiers. (***3/4) - no flexibility but cheaper than 3.
5. Passive with good external amplifiers. ***
6. Active with internal crossover and cheap internal amplifiers (usually cheaper chip amplifiers - TDAxxxx). (varies between * and ***)
7. Passive with cheap amplifiers (varies between * and ***)
8. Powered with cheap amplifiers (varies between * and ***)

There is no powered with good internal amplifiers as far as I know. PMC passives with Bryston powerpac amplifiers fit into 5. Do not touch 0 and 1 if you are not a math geek.

 

[Mauricio]

So long as the crossover is active and the crossover comes before the amplifier, the speaker system is active.  It makes not an iota of difference where or how that crossover is situated physically so long as this fundamental system design remains.  Those two examples that you provided are of an active design, not of a powered one.  Think system design and system topology, rather than thinking in boxes.

 

[eugenius]

Everybody knows what active means, stop contradicting the wind.

 

[ramisyuanbo]

dudes, love you guys, thanks a lot!
 
will carefully read your feedback after work！