idc
Well-known member
Is there a strong corrleation between the obvious of being able to reproduce bass with a big woofer, or a correlation between anything and sound quality?
steve_1979 said:...It's also worth mentioning that everything I've said about active crossovers isn't my own subjective opinion. I'm just repeating facts which have been established for several decades in the professional audio industry and are scientifically proven to be the best way to reproduce music with the least amount of distortion.
Don't take my word for it - try reading a book on the subject if you're interested. It'll teach you much more about our hifi hobby than any magazine or forum will.
John Duncan said:oldric_naubhoff said:John Duncan said:So what do those graphs add to our knowledge of passive and active speakers? I'm too lazy to work it out and I know how you like this stuff.
maybe; a good speaker is one that measures well. and not if it's active or passive.
Do those graphs bear that out? Can you tell me where and how if they do?
idc said:I would be interested in an answer as well. Is there any correlation between how a speaker measures and subjective reports of sound quality?
idc said:Is there a strong corrleation between the obvious of being able to reproduce bass with a big woofer, or a correlation between anything and sound quality?
steve_1979 said:The differences aren't huge but they are there and they are noticable. Try visiting a pro audio shop and have a listen to a range of different speakers yourself. I'm sure that you'll be able to hear the extra clarity and bass control that many active speakers have.
bigblue235 said:steve_1979 said:The differences aren't huge but they are there and they are noticable. Try visiting a pro audio shop and have a listen to a range of different speakers yourself. I'm sure that you'll be able to hear the extra clarity and bass control that many active speakers have.
Based on the info in this thread, I'm not so sure
plastic penguin said:There's another possibility: I'm hating these active Vs passive type threads. At the end of the day actives are just another format added to this wonderful hobby/obsession.
I won't comment on the virtues of actives, purely because I have absolutely zero knowledge of actives. However, trying to bring some equilibrium to the subject, this is my theory: I know from personal experience that system matching is something I've always loved. Like fox hunters it's the chase or testing of different makes that gives the full buzz. Nevertheless, it is a complete minefield, and can go belly-up before you know it. Sometimes you will make an impulse buy and then find the synergy isn't quite upto scratch.
With active speaker that pitfall is totally eliminated. In terms of AVI and Dynaudio actives (I think) they have a dac as well as an amp, and I'm pretty sure the farther you go up the chain the more bells and whistles you'll find. Just by pure definition the active has cracking synergy: no speaker to match... CDP or amp. All there inside a single enclosure.
This won't account or be appropriate to everyone, but I'm sure it explains some people's findings with actives.
As I said earlier, this is just my personal theory.
FrankHarveyHiFi said:So does this mean that all this squabbling between passive and active that started since "the invasion", it turns out its a non issue?! Wow, all that effort on both sides for nothing
oldric_naubhoff said:idc said:I would be interested in an answer as well. Is there any correlation between how a speaker measures and subjective reports of sound quality?
I once read (don't know where now) that there was some ABX test of speakers which suggested a positive correlation between linear freq response and perceived quality of sound it reproduced.
AFAIK THD in amps was extensively researched in the 50s and they came to conclusion that anything above 2% (maybe lower) is audible - no good.
oldric_naubhoff said:idc said:Is there a strong corrleation between the obvious of being able to reproduce bass with a big woofer, or a correlation between anything and sound quality?
take look at harmonic distortion graphs again and note how (in most cases) distortion rises below 100Hz mark. this indicates a smallish woofer was used in that particular speaker. small woofers (like typical 6,5") can play low. but the drawback is that they introduce massive amounts of harmonic distortion higher up the spectrum with it. so you get "richer" than it should sound in the mid bass. add to that exploitation of bass reflex ports and you get speaker which plays commendably low but the bass gets "muddied" and indistinct.
(I should know. I used to have 2-way ported monitors with a 5,5" midwoofer and now it's some 360sq inch bass panel. mid bass resolution is really improved.)