Active speakers with 4 .4mm balanced input

[rayB]

I'm looking for some active speakers that have a 4.4mm balanced input. I have an ifi Stream/Zen DAC Signature/Zen CAN HFM combo and would like to add some active speakers.
Are there any acttive speakers with a balanced input? Budget up to £600.

 

[Gray]

Are there any acttive speakers with a balanced input?

Yes, but with 3-pole TRS and XLR connectors Ray, not with the Pentacon connectors as used on your ifi.

Just a case of adaption - I think ifi sell a Pentacon to dual XLR cable - and others will.

If you're ok with a bit of soldering, a cheaper option would be for you to make your own cable, as all plugs and cable are readily available.

 

[My2Cents]

You are seriously limiting your choice of speakers by looking for a pair with a 4.4mm balance input.
Just buy a 4.4mm balanced to 2 x RCA adapter.
These are currently available at Amazon one is in the USA for $18, the other is Amazon UK for £28.

 

[Gray]

You are seriously limiting your choice of speakers by looking for a pair with a 4.4mm balance input.

I'd say he'd be limiting his choice to zero 👍

The two leads in the pictures above have RCA plugs - he needs Pentacon to XLR (or TRS) to make use of the balanced inputs on the speakers.
(We can't blame him for wanting balanced inputs on the speakers - when the ifi gives him balanced output).

 

[My2Cents]

I'd say he'd be limiting his choice to zero 👍

The two leads in the pictures above have RCA plugs - he needs Pentacon to XLR (or TRS) to make use of the balanced inputs on the speakers he's getting.

True, but he doesn't need to use a balanced connection unless he's running 100 feet of cable in an EMF rich environment. Converting the balanced to unbalanced will do just fine.
As you know, most prosumer powered speakers (studio monitors) have a slew of both unbalanced (TS/RCA) ins and balanced XLR ins... in which case he could keep it balanced.
But many consumer grade powered speakers don't have the balanced in option.

 

[Gray]

True, but he doesn't need to use a balanced connection unless he's running 100 feet of cable in an EMF rich environment. Converting the balanced to unbalanced will do just fine.
As you know, most prosumer powered speakers (studio monitors) have a slew of both unbalanced (TS/RCA) ins and balanced XLR ins... in which case he could keep it balanced.
But many consumer grade powered speakers don't have the balanced in option.

True - of course he doesn't need to buy speakers with balanced inputs - but he said that's what he was doing - I was just pointing out the leads that would make the connection.

If you or me had a balanced output and speakers with a balanced inputs....for the sake of a cable, we'd do the same 👍

But you're right, of course he shouldn't limit his choice of powered speaker based on the connection.
And, true again, £600 isn't going to give too much choice of balanced inputs 🤔

.....maybe someone can suggest a model - as that was the question he asked 🤨

 

[My2Cents]

My interpretation is that he's looking to buy speakers with a balanced input because he thinks he needs that feature.
Now he knows he doesn't, so he can look at other options.
A pair of 'Edifier' speakers from Amazon would do just fine with the correct adapter.
However for £600 he could do much better.

 

[Gray]

My interpretation is that he's looking to buy speakers with a balanced input because he thinks he needs that feature.

I'm sure you're right 👍

And that's the bottom line Ray.
Choose the best speakers you can afford with an aux line input.
If they happen to have a balanced input, get the appropriate cable and use it.

If they don't, don't worry about it 👍

 

[abacus]

Look to the Pro market, as you will find plenty available that will suit, just remember that Pro models are brutally honest and accurate, which not everybody likes. (If you think that's you then you will be stuck with the limited in number of Hi-Fi actives)

Bill

 

[rayB]

You are seriously limiting your choice of speakers by looking for a pair with a 4.4mm balance input.
Just buy a 4.4mm balanced to 2 x RCA adapter.
These are currently available at Amazon one is in the USA for $18, the other is Amazon UK for £28.

You are seriously limiting your choice of speakers by looking for a pair with a 4.4mm balance input.
Just buy a 4.4mm balanced to 2 x RCA adapter.
These are currently available at Amazon one is in the USA for $18, the other is Amazon UK for £28.

Hi,
I think I'll try your option. I just need to work out what the best speakers wwill be.

 

[Vincent Kars]

I'm looking for some active speakers that have a 4.4mm balanced input.

I'm afraid you are one of the many confused by the meaning of balanced in the pro-world and balanced in the headphone world.

In the pro-world balanced means a 3 wire connection per channel. You have a hot, a cold(the inverse of the hot) and a ground. The box receiving this signal has a differential amp, it compares the hot and the cold and all differences are rejected (common noise rejection)

A 4.4 is a Pentaconn jack and this is a TRRRS. In other words, L+/L-,R+/R- and a ground. This is 2x 2 wires so single ended. Nothing balanced about this connector.

True active speakers by the number but most of them do have a balanced input indeed.
Powered speakers are simply a box with a stereo amp parked in the back. Saves you the expense of a aluminium enclosure for the amp but the speakers are passive (if the connection to the slave is a plain 2 wires speaker connection , you know for sure it is passive).

 

[Gray]

I just need to work out what the best speakers wwill be.

You've got loads of choice.
You could look at WHFs recommendations.

I'd start by looking at models from Adam Audio.

 

[Gray]

A 4.4 is a Pentaconn jack and this is a TRRRS. In other words, L+/L-,R+/R- and a ground. This is 2x 2 wires so single ended. Nothing balanced about this connector.

But there is everything balanced about the connector Vincent - the way ifi use it - for balanced line outputs - they use one of the 5 poles for common screen.
(Which is why they sell Pentacon to twin XLR plug cables).

 

[My2Cents]

Under $/£’s 600 I’d go for Q Acoustics M20’s. I was very impressed when I auditioned them. I met a lady in a hi fi store in Yorkshire who works at the BBC and she uses them in her home studio to check her mixes on…
I can’t believe that they’re only £329 in the UK!

 

[daveh75]

Under $/£’s 600 I’d go for Q Acoustics M20’s. I was very impressed when I auditioned them. I met a lady in a hi fi store in Yorkshire who works at the BBC and she uses them in her home studio to check her mixes on…
I can’t believe that they’re only £329 in the UK!

Not active and no balanced input though.

 

[abacus]

Under $/£’s 600 I’d go for Q Acoustics M20’s. I was very impressed when I auditioned them. I met a lady in a hi fi store in Yorkshire who works at the BBC and she uses them in her home studio to check her mixes on…
I can’t believe that they’re only £329 in the UK!

Nice but there is a lot of stuff in them that he doesn't need, so probably not the best value in the OPs case.

Bill

 

[abacus]

As mentioned above Adam speakers are great value for money, (Although check out others as well) with the T series being well withing budget.

Bill

 

[Vincent Kars]

they use one of the 5 poles for common screen.

I see. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[My2Cents]

Nice but there is a lot of stuff in them that he doesn't need, so probably not the best value in the OPs case.

Bill

He didn't actually specify what features he actually needs or wants other than thinking that he required a special 4.4mm balanced input.

@ £359 a pair they are practically giving them away.

 

[My2Cents]

Not active and no balanced input though.

They are active and he doesn't need a balanced input, just a 4.5mm to 2 x male RCA (or XLR) adapter.
Did you read the thread?

 

[My2Cents]

As mentioned above Adam speakers are great value for money, (Although check out others as well) with the T series being well withing budget.

Bill

Speakers designed as near field monitors are not good for hi-fi listening in a living room type environment (especially small cheap ones).
They are designed to be 'near-field' and as 'flat' as possible (although many budget ones are not that flat) and used at low volume levels while sitting close to them.
Also, they only sound their best when you are sitting in the sweet spot and so your listening position is totally compromised.

 

[jjbomber]

They are active and he doesn't need a balanced input, just a 4.5mm to 2 x male RCA (or XLR) adapter.
Did you read the thread?

They're powered rather than active. However, they'll do what the OP really needs, so a good shout.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TQLsNGGzkk&t=2s

 

[daveh75]

They are active and he doesn't need a balanced input, just a 4.5mm to 2 x male RCA (or XLR) adapter.
Did you read the thread?

They aren't active, but powered!

 

[Gray]

....Also, they only sound their best when you are sitting in the sweet spot and so your listening position is totally compromised.

Adam monitors specify a wide sweet spot as part of their design.
Also, as he's using them off his ifi stack there's a good chance that near-field will suit him fine....🤔.

And the monitor sound - don't know about you, but the flatter the better for me.

 

[My2Cents]

They aren't active, but powered!

I doubt that the OP knows the difference, many people use the words interchangeably.
I arrive at this speculation as he didn't understand the whole balanced deal, so I think you are just being obstreperous in pointing this out.