The active speakers club

[WinterRacer]

The specs (A7) are ambiguous. "Class D amplifier" (singular) and then the amplifier output (singular again) for each set of drivers.

"Digital signal processing". That could imply passive or active configurations.

Which bit of the B&W site mentions they are 'true' active with an amp dedicated to each set of drivers (and sub)?

[EDIT] Not a challenge by the way. Just interested.

From the B&W specifications page:
Amplifier power output2x 25W (tweeter)
2x 25W (midrange)
1x 50W (subwoofer)
I think this implies active operation.

 

[chebby]

The specs (A7) are ambiguous. "Class D amplifier" (singular) and then the amplifier output (singular again) for each set of drivers.

"Digital signal processing". That could imply passive or active configurations.

Which bit of the B&W site mentions they are 'true' active with an amp dedicated to each set of drivers (and sub)?

[EDIT] Not a challenge by the way. Just interested.

From the B&W specifications page:
Amplifier power output2x 25W (tweeter)
2x 25W (midrange)
1x 50W (subwoofer)
I think this implies active operation.

Not 100 percent sure. My M-CR603's class D amp can be configured to bi-amp (assuming I had bi-wirable speakers) but that doesn't make it an active set-up. Just splits the amplifier's output and splits the crossover. Still passive though. (And seperate power output figures for each set of drivers - or 8 ohm resistors - could be quoted,)

 

[chebby]

Ok I think I found the clincher...

"Combined with five dedicated audiophile Class D amplifiers".

That means it is almost certainly a proper active system.

(The specs could have implied one amp with a normal crossover splitting output to tweeters/mids/bass but 5 "dedicated" amps leaves little doubt.)

 

[chebby]

Given my almost total (well about 80 percent) use of AirPlay and iThing (and iMac) as source, I might get me a listen of the A7 if I can.

(It also has an optical input for the TV/Blu-ray/Humax stuff.)

Hmmm.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

Agree the site is ambiguous about the crossover.

 

[oldric_naubhoff]

Ok I think I found the clincher...

"Combined with five dedicated audiophile Class D amplifiers".

That means it is almost certainly a proper active system.

(The specs could have implied one amp with a normal crossover splitting output to tweeters/mids/bass but 5 "dedicated" amps leaves little doubt.)

there's also one more indication. if they were all passive they'd struggle to fit in so many passive components for a 3-way x-over in such a small enclosure. active x-over is way smaller than a passive one.

 

[chebby]

Agree the site is ambiguous about the crossover.

Well, i'm over that now. Starting to get excited about - maybe - being able to thow away a pair of speakers and lose another set of cables and get yet another couple of square meters of living room back!

I'll ring my dealer tomorrow. (He does B&W)

 

[steve_1979]

Did anyone see those active floor standing speakers in HiFi+ magazine last month? They were by a German company called B+M (not Bowers and Wilkins) but I haven't been able to find them on on the internet. The speakers were rather nice looking 3-ways with ribbon tweeters and pair of rear mounted 10" subwoofers in each one. A touch pricey at £25,000 though.

 

[Electro]

These were announced recently by PMC

http://www.pmc-speakers.com/products/professional/active/twotwo5

http://www.pmc-speakers.com/products/professional/active/twotwo6

http://www.prosoundnewseurope.com/studionews-content/full/pmc-launches-twotwo-monitors-at-ibc2012

They look very interesting

 

[steve_1979]

These were announced recently by PMC

http://www.pmc-speakers.com/products/professional/active/twotwo5

http://www.pmc-speakers.com/products/professional/active/twotwo6

http://www.prosoundnewseurope.com/studionews-content/full/pmc-launches-twotwo-monitors-at-ibc2012

They look very interesting

They look like proper active versions of the DB1 and TB2 speakers and with a built in DAC too. They certainly do look very interesting indeed and there's an 8" version on the way soon too. I can't wait to hear them they should sound exellent. Hope they aren't overpriced.

 

[chebby]

Interesting that PMC are also using Class D amplification.

It certainly seems the way to go in active applications.

 

[Overdose]

They look like proper active versions of the DB1 and TB2 speakers and with a built in DAC too. They certainly do look very interesting indeed and there's an 8" version on the way soon too. I can't wait to hear them they should sound exellent. Hope they aren't overpriced.

The TB2S-AIIs are £1300 each, so these might be around the £1K mark, for that money though, Im still leaning toward the Event Opals, with the Quested S8Rs looking good too.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

These were announced recently by PMC

http://www.pmc-speakers.com/products/professional/active/twotwo5

http://www.pmc-speakers.com/products/professional/active/twotwo6

http://www.prosoundnewseurope.com/studionews-content/full/pmc-launches-twotwo-monitors-at-ibc2012

They look very interesting

very nice! A bigger model soon, too!

 

[Chokobolt]

Is there a thing such as a electrostatic active speaker?

 

[steve_1979]

The TB2S-AIIs are £1300 each, so these might be around the £1K mark, for that money though, Im still leaning toward the Event Opals, with the Quested S8Rs looking good too.

The Quested S8R are very good - better than the activated PMC DB1i but not quite as good as the Event Opals IMO. The S8R is a bit smoother sounding than the Opals though so they may be better if that's what you prefer. The smaller S6R are also good but seemed a bit underpowered at high volume levels although I didn't get to hear them with the matching subwoofer.

If your budget could stretch to the big Quested V2108 monitors then these are quite possibly the best all round speakers that I've ever heard at any price! The V2108 are better than the S8R or Opals and easily on a par with the more expensive Quested V3110 or big ATC active floorstanders.

 

[steve_1979]

Did anyone see those active floor standing speakers in HiFi+ magazine last month? They were by a German company called B+M (not Bowers and Wilkins) but I haven't been able to find them on on the internet.

Found them.

http://www.backesmueller.de/bm/en/prime.htm

http://www.backesmueller.de/bm/en/line.htm

 

[AlmaataKZ]

A new remote control preamp/dac from Benchmark:

http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/sites/default/files/dac2-hgc-overview-photo.jpg?1349904578

Not a looker for my taste...

 

[oldric_naubhoff]

Is there a thing such as a electrostatic active speaker?

ESL speakers don't need to be active as they don't face limitations dynamic speakers have.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

how about Emotiva Airmotiv 6?

http://emotivapro.com/products/powered_monitors/airmotiv6.php

they too have n AVT tweeter like Adams but I'm sure Emotiva don't charge for a pair as dearly as Adam. here's a few words what Stereophile's J.V. Serinus has to say about Emotivas pro monitors if you're interested.

http://www.stereophile.com/content/emotivas-pro-line

 

[steve_1979]

how about Emotiva

These look interesting. Is that tweeter the same as the ones used in ADAM monitors or does it just look similar?

I've never seen Emotiva product in shops. Does anyone know where I could hear them in the UK?

 

[oldric_naubhoff]

how about Emotiva

These look interesting. Is that tweeter the same as the ones used in ADAM monitors or does it just look similar?

the same type. both are Heil AVT tweeters, a.k.a. folded ribbon tweeters. Adam just calls it X-Art. Maybe to differentiate from the mob?...

 

[daveh75]

Yuk!!

Yet another fugly active monitor...

 

[AL13N]

Here's an interesting new product range:

http://www.morgan-audio.co.uk/index.php/active-loudspeakers.html

Manufactured in the UK and sold via direct sale with a 30 day home trial, 5 year (transferable) warranty and free delivery.

There's even a 10% discount for students.

 

[fr0g]

Wife-friendly Opalum. Look very swish...

http://www.opalum.com/

 

[The_Lhc]

Wife-friendly Opalum. Look very swish...http://www.opalum.com/

Available in the UK?