Stop it!

[lindsayt]

If actives are better let's put it to the test.

Will someone nominate one of the 5 best active speakers ever made. I'll see if I can come up with a passive speaker that I think might sound at least as good. Then we'll get them together in the same room playing the same pieces of music at the same volumes one after the other. Either sighted or blind. I don't mind which.

 

[Alec]

the active option is not being made difficult its in many cases not practical in the real world,

Whatwhat?

And what are these active speakers of which you speak?

 

[Thompsonuxb]

the active option is not being made difficult its in many cases not practical in the real world,

Whatwhat?

And what are these active speakers of which you speak?

The ones that need a plug socke for each box....... :O

 

[Alec]

the active option is not being made difficult its in many cases not practical in the real world,

Whatwhat?

And what are these active speakers of which you speak?

The ones that need a plug socke for each box....... :O

Ah. Just as I thought. And is that why you're saying they're not practical in the real world?

 

[abacus]

If you want to hear a large selection of active speakers (Studio monitors) then go to a professional music store where you will find a boatload to try out. (You will also be able to listen to pro equipment connected to them, however be warned that they are designed to be ruthlessly analytical so the studio engineers can hear every last detail and balance accordingly)

Hope this helps

Bill

 

[busb]

If you want to hear a large selection of active speakers (Studio monitors) then go to a professional music store where you will find a boatload to try out. (You will also be able to listen to pro equipment connected to them, however be warned that they are designed to be ruthlessly analytical so the studio engineers can hear every last detail and balance accordingly)

Hope this helps

Bill

It's a damn pity many studios don't listen as closely to their output as their professional equipment would allow :wall:

 

[cheeseboy]

It's a damn pity many studios don't listen as closely to their output as their professional equipment would allow :wall:

:rofl: I think you'd find a lot of people who work in studios would be quite willing to take you to task over that. Try saying that on a forum where people actually make the music and you'll be laughed out the door, and unfortunately it shows great ignorance as to what goes on in a studio, and then more importantly what goes on afterwards, especially with regards to the record companies and their ridiculous demands.

 

[Al ears]

Are you aware that the vast majority of the hi-fi / audio buying public are not 'technical' by education or occupation? Are you also aware that they have no contact with technically literate opinion formers? (And would, quite sensibly, run a mile to avoid contact with one in the process of purchase.)

A small number will pick up a magazine to assist their decision. An even smaller number will encounter a hi-fi salesman in a specialist shop, but most will have no idea of this debate and will, at best, decide on the basis of price, looks and a shelf demo in a large store or (far more likely) make an online purchase.

You can 'educate' all you like. No-one, in any numbers that will make a difference, will hear you.

Price, looks, market forces, national advertising, a friend's system, lifestyle pressures and compatibilty with existing kit like computers, phones and tablets will determine what gets bought. The customer doesn't give a #### whether it's active, 'powered' , passive or dancing on the table singing 'Paddy McGinty's Goat'.

Great post - so true!

Quite agree. Myself I never did like putting all of my eggs in one basket.

If a problem developes with one of my speakers I do have a spare set I could use if main pair need to be sent off for repair. Ergo I still have a viable sound system.

Try doing that if you have actives.

 

[Dave_]

If a problem developes with one of my speakers I do have a spare set I could use if main pair need to be sent off for repair. Ergo I still have a viable sound system.

Try doing that if you have actives.

Do you have spare amps too?

How 'viable' is that system should the amp go belly up?

 

[chebby]

If a problem developes with one of my speakers I do have a spare set I could use if main pair need to be sent off for repair. Ergo I still have a viable sound system.

Try doing that if you have actives.

Do you have spare amps too?

How 'viable' is that system should the amp go belly up?

Depends if it's a Rega or not.

 

[Um]

I don't think it is a matter of better or worse. Active vs passive.

its just a matter of what sort of sound you enjoy listening to music on.

Personally I like both .

I do think vocals on active speakers are clearer

 

[John Duncan]

Do you have spare amps too?

Three.

 

[Alec]

Do you have spare amps too?

Three.

That's just weird. But when did you move in with Al ears?

 

[John Duncan]

It would be more hassle to sell them on eBay than the money I would get for them. Arcam Alpha 2 (20 quid), Denon mini system receiver (nothing), Yamaha DSP-AX620 (50 quid). I might press the Yamaha into service one day for surround (though it doesn't sound as good as a proper stereo amp*) if I can ever find the remote...

*YMMV

 

[Al ears]

Do you have spare amps too?

Three.

That's just weird. But when did you move in with Al ears?

If he did then he kept it very quiet.

Answer = Yes. There is an old Roksan in the loft somewhere.

 

[Dave_]

So by more versatile you mean you have spare systems. :roll:

 

[steve_1979]

So by more versatile you mean you have spare systems. :roll:

 

[DocG]

I'm just speaking for myself, but before deciding on my new system, I want to hear it all: actives (in different varieties), panels, horns, single-driver vs two- vs three-ways, ribbon tweeters, transmission lines, CBTs, silk vs beryllium, you name it. And then valves (SET or push-pull), mosfet, class A or D, hybrids and what have you.

It'll take time, but it should be worth it. As for now, my No.1 is the AG Zero1: active, DSP-controlled, full range, horns, class A (and Hypex for the bass).

:dance:

 

[CnoEvil]

Stop it. Restart it. Lock it. Simples. :help:

 

[Al ears]

So by more versatile you mean you have spare systems. :roll:

No. I mean a spare part. :roll:

 

[Thompsonuxb]

It would be more hassle to sell them on eBay than the money I would get for them. Arcam Alpha 2 (20 quid), Denon mini system receiver (nothing), Yamaha DSP-AX620 (50 quid). I might press the Yamaha into service one day for surround (though it doesn't sound as good as a proper stereo amp*) if I can ever find the remote...

*YMMV

John Duncan you still own your AX-620?

Not sure if you've ever read me but I have long 'bigged up' this very amp, being a proud owner of one, paired with a pair of Mission 782se's. Now in my opinion its the best stereo amp I have ever heard, albeit my experience is limited reference the amount of amps I have heard..... doing a bit of 'reasearch' I picked up a few threads from the 00's in various forums that you were involved in ref this amp.

Could you do me a favour, if you have the time, could you string it up and let me know how it sounds compared with your current amp. I'm sure our speaker and source choices differ, but I'm curious. Having met other owners of this amp during my work and its sibbling the RX-620 they all say the same thing i.e its the best amp they've owned.

Any chance you could indulge me - use the digital coax if you use a cdplayer as the internal dac I believe is a good one, if you can't I understand, but if you would I would really appreciate your feed back - your "though it doesn't sound as good as a proper stereo amp"..... intrigues me, as in my home through my speakers it punches way above it prce grade.

If you could.

 

[Thompsonuxb]

the active option is not being made difficult its in many cases not practical in the real world,

Whatwhat?

And what are these active speakers of which you speak?

The ones that need a plug socke for each box....... :O

Ah. Just as I thought. And is that why you're saying they're not practical in the real world?

Er ...no.

but positioning is an issue with them,

How many of you active users are using full size speakers as opposed to mini monitors or desk top designs. And what type of actives are you using, master/slave types or speakers with their own built in amps and whats the proximity of these speakers from the source, are they less than a metre apart from each other.

considering the footprint of the designs with their own amps the more powerful designs having the amp hanging off the back makes them quite hard to accomadate in modest domestic settings.

how do you have yours set up?

my passive speakers are at the opposite end of the room from my source (listening position) just under 2m apart, with 4 runs of cable appx 15m

....yours?

 

[skippy]

Just got these this week.

Currently 1ft from the wall. 2 x 15ft RCA - XLR cables fed from the Sonos. 8ft apart and about 10 ft from the listening seat, still playing about, but so far so good.

http://www.genelec.com/faq/acoustical/52-i-am-not-getting-enough-bass/

Just a link to the positioning possibilities, I'm definitely getting enough bass.

The main thing is, whether passive or active, just enjoy what you've got. Time for a beer :cheers:

 

[steve_1979]

Just got these this week.

Currently 1ft from the wall. 2 x 15ft RCA - XLR cables fed from the Sonos. 8ft apart and about 10 ft from the listening seat, still playing about, but so far so good.

http://www.genelec.com/faq/acoustical/52-i-am-not-getting-enough-bass/

Just a link to the positioning possibilities, I'm definitely getting enough bass.

The main thing is, whether passive or active, just enjoy what you've got. Time for a beer :cheers:

Nice setup. 8)

Genelec have some really informative technical information about room acoustics and setup on their website. They're worth reading if anyone's interested in that sort of thing.

 

[Alec]

the active option is not being made difficult its in many cases not practical in the real world,

Whatwhat?

And what are these active speakers of which you speak?

The ones that need a plug socke for each box....... :O

Ah. Just as I thought. And is that why you're saying they're not practical in the real world?

Er ...no.

but positioning is an issue with them,

How many of you active users are using full size speakers as opposed to mini monitors or desk top designs. And what type of actives are you using, master/slave types or speakers with their own built in amps and whats the proximity of these speakers from the source, are they less than a metre apart from each other.

considering the footprint of the designs with their own amps the more powerful designs having the amp hanging off the back makes them quite hard to accomadate in modest domestic settings.

how do you have yours set up?

my passive speakers are at the opposite end of the room from my source (listening position) just under 2m apart, with 4 runs of cable appx 15m

....yours?

I don't really recognise the division of active speakers into the types you mentioned. That's kind of why Iasked you what they are, as I suspect your answer would be different to mine, and I still don't get why you consider them impractical...

Mine are around 10 foot apart, on stands. Otherwise, well, they are in my sig...

I think your question may not have been specific to me, but there you have it anyway.

EDIT Tired, just reread your post. Further to the above, the right speaker is close to the source, but the left, which has to connect direct to the source is around 9 feet away. The left has to connect to the right, and the left needs plugging into the mains.