The Powered speaker place

[muljao]

It's not as easy to get info on active/powered hifi speakers as the passive ones, often a debate between the plus points and minus points adds up to a slagging match between those who like these and prefer passives. It be nice if this didn't happen on this thread

I'd like to get info on active/powered speakers so as to know whats out there. Often I see something recommended and it ends up being kind of impractical for home use, being either industrial in design or complicated to setup. I like the look of the Dali 5 AX, but think it's input are limited

Anyone have any input on experiences with powered speakers, the price they paid? availability, inputs etc/ This thread could act as a place for those interested to get some info on said products

PS- I know active and powered are not exactly the same - thread applies to speakers that do not need outside amplification

 

[DocG]

Hi muljao,

Start here.

 

[muljao]

Hi muljao,

Start here.

Had not seen that. Cheers

 

[shadders]

Hi,

My approach would be to have no line level or digital inputs to the speakers whatsoever, and the amplification and inputs is external to the speaker. This means that the speaker is not compromised by the added electronics on the rear of the speaker that may impact the cabinet.

This also means that you can implement your own hifi in the cases of digital inputs, bluetooth, Wifi etc., and not rely upon the speaker being an all in one. Should something fail in the chain, then if it is not the speaker, you still have an operating hifi.

PMC seem to offer this approach. There do seem to be more active speaker offerings from domestic vendors.

Regards,

Shadders.

 

[muljao]

Hi,

My approach would be to have no line level or digital inputs to the speakers whatsoever, and the amplification and inputs is external to the speaker. This means that the speaker is not compromised by the added electronics on the rear of the speaker that may impact the cabinet.

This also means that you can implement your own hifi in the cases of digital inputs, bluetooth, Wifi etc., and not rely upon the speaker being an all in one. Should something fail in the chain, then if it is not the speaker, you still have an operating hifi.

PMC seem to offer this approach. There do seem to be more active speaker offerings from domestic vendors.

Regards,

Shadders.

Is that not just passive speakers?

 

[davedotco]

Hi muljao,

Start here.

Had not seen that. Cheers

Read through the thread, then feel free to ask any questions. I'll do my best to help.

 

[shadders]

Hi,

My approach would be to have no line level or digital inputs to the speakers whatsoever, and the amplification and inputs is external to the speaker. This means that the speaker is not compromised by the added electronics on the rear of the speaker that may impact the cabinet.

This also means that you can implement your own hifi in the cases of digital inputs, bluetooth, Wifi etc., and not rely upon the speaker being an all in one. Should something fail in the chain, then if it is not the speaker, you still have an operating hifi.

PMC seem to offer this approach. There do seem to be more active speaker offerings from domestic vendors.

Regards,

Shadders.

Is that not just passive speakers?

Hi,

No, with passive speakers you have a passive crossover which are capacitors, inductors and resistors.

With active speakers the crossover is active (DSP or op-amps usually), which has the relevant number of outputs, and these connect to the amplifiers which then drive each individual speaker driver.

Active speakers don't have to be all in one.

Regards,

Shadders.

 

[muljao]

Hi muljao,

Start here.

Had not seen that. Cheers

Read through the thread, then feel free to ask any questions. I'll do my best to help.

Thanks

 

[muljao]

Hi,

My approach would be to have no line level or digital inputs to the speakers whatsoever, and the amplification and inputs is external to the speaker. This means that the speaker is not compromised by the added electronics on the rear of the speaker that may impact the cabinet.

This also means that you can implement your own hifi in the cases of digital inputs, bluetooth, Wifi etc., and not rely upon the speaker being an all in one. Should something fail in the chain, then if it is not the speaker, you still have an operating hifi.

PMC seem to offer this approach. There do seem to be more active speaker offerings from domestic vendors.

Regards,

Shadders.

Is that not just passive speakers?

Hi,

No, with passive speakers you have a passive crossover which are capacitors, inductors and resistors.

With active speakers the crossover is active (DSP or op-amps usually), which has the relevant number of outputs, and these connect to the amplifiers which then drive each individual speaker driver.

Active speakers don't have to be all in one.

Regards,

Shadders.

Thanks, clearer now

 

[DocG]

Hi,

My approach would be to have no line level or digital inputs to the speakers whatsoever, and the amplification and inputs is external to the speaker. This means that the speaker is not compromised by the added electronics on the rear of the speaker that may impact the cabinet.

This also means that you can implement your own hifi in the cases of digital inputs, bluetooth, Wifi etc., and not rely upon the speaker being an all in one. Should something fail in the chain, then if it is not the speaker, you still have an operating hifi.

PMC seem to offer this approach. There do seem to be more active speaker offerings from domestic vendors.

Regards,

Shadders.

That's what my system is like now: a DEQX HDP3 acts as a preamp, cross-over and DSP (for room and speaker correction). Then 4 channels of Hypex Ncore amplification (DIY). And then a pair of Magnepan MMGs (reframed in solid wood, with a Neutrik Speakon connector for the speaker cable). Made the interconnects (RCA to XLR) and the speaker cables (biwire spades to Speakon) myself too. Great fun and very rewarding. Still waiting for the subwoofer to arrive, but it sounds (and looks) great already!

 

[Andrewjvt]

Hi,

My approach would be to have no line level or digital inputs to the speakers whatsoever,  and the amplification and inputs is external to the speaker. This means that the speaker is not compromised by the added electronics on the rear of the speaker that may impact the cabinet.

This also means that you can implement your own hifi in the cases of digital inputs, bluetooth, Wifi etc., and not rely upon the speaker being an all in one. Should something fail in the chain, then if it is not the speaker, you still have an operating hifi.

PMC seem to offer this approach. There do seem to be more active speaker offerings from domestic vendors.

Regards,

Shadders.

That's what my system is like now: a DEQX HDP3 acts as a preamp, cross-over and DSP (for room and speaker correction). Then 4 channels of Hypex Ncore amplification (DIY). And then a pair of Magnepan MMGs (reframed in solid wood, with a Neutrik Speakon connector for the speaker cable). Made the interconnects (RCA to XLR) and the speaker cables (biwire spades to Speakon) myself too. Great fun and very rewarding. Still waiting for the subwoofer to arrive, but it sounds (and looks) great already!

Hi

Can you post some pictures of your set up?

Sounds interesting

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Still waiting for the subwoofer to arrive,

Hi DocG

Now you're talking

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[seemorebtts]

The only powered speakers IV heard are the meridian 5200 and they sounded great.i think they have an amp for every driver which makes perfect sense and they've been made how they what them to sound. Meridian have nearly all ways made powered speakers and for good reason

 

[DocG]

Hi

Can you post some pictures of your set up?

Sounds interesting

I'll do a full report when all is finished (should be somewhere next month). But I can give you a preview...

EDIT: well, I could if I'd understand how to add photos to a post...

 

[Andrewjvt]

Hi

Can you post some pictures of your set up?

Sounds interesting

I'll do a full report when all is finished (should be somewhere next month). But I can give you a preview...

EDIT: well, I could if I'd understand how to add photos to a post...

Hi

Try this one http://imgur.com/

Once you have uploaded your photo onto that site just copy and paste from imgur to what hifi as normal and it will upload the photo.

hope this helps

 

[DocG]

Hi

Can you post some pictures of your set up?

Sounds interesting

I'll do a full report when all is finished (should be somewhere next month). But I can give you a preview...

EDIT: well, I could if I'd understand how to add photos to a post...

Hi

Try this one http://imgur.com/

Once you have uploaded your photo onto that site just copy and paste from imgur to what hifi as normal and it will upload the photo.

hope this helps

OK. Let's see...

Clicky

 

[Andrewjvt]

Hi

Can you post some pictures of your set up?

Sounds interesting

I'll do a full report when all is finished (should be somewhere next month). But I can give you a preview...

EDIT: well, I could if I'd understand how to add photos to a post...

Hi

Try this one  http://imgur.com/

Once you have uploaded your photo onto that site just copy and paste from imgur to what hifi as normal and it will upload the photo.

hope this helps

OK. Let's see...

Clicky

Wow those speakers !
Thanks for posting all very neat. Looks nice and open plan. Are you rural? If so even better.

 

[Andrewjvt]

So what subs are you.going for?

 

[gasolin]

Hi

Can you post some pictures of your set up?

Sounds interesting

I'll do a full report when all is finished (should be somewhere next month). But I can give you a preview...

EDIT: well, I could if I'd understand how to add photos to a post...

Hi

Try this one http://imgur.com/

Once you have uploaded your photo onto that site just copy and paste from imgur to what hifi as normal and it will upload the photo.

hope this helps

OK. Let's see...

Clicky

Bass seem a little thin ;-)

 

[gasolin]

I have had a few active speakers, mostly studiomonitors

They all have som kind of hiss,white noise when you don't play music

Not all have a flat frequency response,most of them can play loud, small adam's lacked bass and a bit midrange,krk rokit powered 5 are punchy but are midbass heavy. often studiomonitors are bi amped, for preamp you can use something like a presonus,focusrite as a preamp or the bigger cambrigde dac that has a volume knob

Or for a small preamp like the Pro-Ject Pre Box S if you dont use a turntabel,very small if you like to have it next to your monitor (if used with a pc) or external harddrive it won't take up much space

 

[davedotco]

I have had a few active speakers, mostly studiomonitors

They all have som kind of hiss,white noise when you don't play music

Not all have a flat frequency response,most of them can play loud, small adam's lacked bass and a bit midrange,krk rokit powered 5 are punchy but are midbass heavy. often studiomonitors are bi amped, for preamp you can use something like a presonus,focusrite as a preamp or the bigger cambrigde dac that has a volume knob

Or for a small preamp like the Pro-Ject Pre Box S if you dont use a turntabel,very small if you like to have it next to your monitor (if used with a pc) or external harddrive it won't take up much space

Whilst a few monitors are noisy, they are easily avoided, the primary issue is driving them correctly from unbalanced outputs. The differential amps on the input are designed for balanced inputs but vary in the best method of driving them with an unbalanced source, some experience helps bet trial and error usually sorts it out.

Many of the better products designed for the home market have proper onbalanced inputs on phono (occasionally jack) sockets. Adam models do this and the A5x, A7x and my current Artist 6 are all absolutely silent. The Equator 5, another favourite of mine has a tiny amount of hiss, though inaudible at even nearfield listening distances of a netre or two.

For computer or hand held streaming based systems a preamp is not needed, a simple dac or Bluetooth/airplay reveiver is all you need. If you need more control and flexibility, Raumfeld and Yamaha offer inexpensive streamer/dac/preamp solutions at modest cost.

The Yamaha WXC50 and a pair of Adam A7x costs a little over £1k, superb value in my view.

 

[DocG]

Hi

Can you post some pictures of your set up?

Sounds interesting

I'll do a full report when all is finished (should be somewhere next month). But I can give you a preview...

EDIT: well, I could if I'd understand how to add photos to a post...

Hi

Try this one http://imgur.com/

Once you have uploaded your photo onto that site just copy and paste from imgur to what hifi as normal and it will upload the photo.

hope this helps

OK. Let's see...

Clicky

Wow those speakers ! Thanks for posting all very neat. Looks nice and open plan. Are you rural? If so even better.

Thanks, Andrew! Yes, open plan downstairs. And yes, detached house: no neighbours to worry about (just the wife...).*smile*

 

[DocG]

So what subs are you.going for?

Sub. Single. It's a Rythmik downfiring, sealed 15", with a 100 L cabinet. And it's invisible! *preved*

(and I haven't heard it yet...)

 

[DocG]

Hi

Can you post some pictures of your set up?

Sounds interesting

I'll do a full report when all is finished (should be somewhere next month). But I can give you a preview...

EDIT: well, I could if I'd understand how to add photos to a post...

Hi

Try this one http://imgur.com/

Once you have uploaded your photo onto that site just copy and paste from imgur to what hifi as normal and it will upload the photo.

hope this helps

OK. Let's see...

Clicky

Bass seem a little thin ;-)

Haha! Yeah, hence the sub...

 

[gasolin]

I have had a few active speakers, mostly studiomonitors

They all have som kind of hiss,white noise when you don't play music

Not all have a flat frequency response,most of them can play loud, small adam's lacked bass and a bit midrange,krk rokit powered 5 are punchy but are midbass heavy. often studiomonitors are bi amped, for preamp you can use something like a presonus,focusrite as a preamp or the bigger cambrigde dac that has a volume knob

Or for a small preamp like the Pro-Ject Pre Box S if you dont use a turntabel,very small if you like to have it next to your monitor (if used with a pc) or external harddrive it won't take up much space

Whilst a few monitors are noisy, they are easily avoided, the primary issue is driving them correctly from unbalanced outputs. The differential amps on the input are designed for balanced inputs but vary in the best method of driving them with an unbalanced source, some experience helps bet trial and error usually sorts it out.

Many of the better products designed for the home market have proper onbalanced inputs on phono (occasionally jack) sockets. Adam models do this and the A5x, A7x and my current Artist 6 are all absolutely silent. The Equator 5, another favourite of mine has a tiny amount of hiss, though inaudible at even nearfield listening distances of a netre or two.

For computer or hand held streaming based systems a preamp is not needed, a simple dac or Bluetooth/airplay reveiver is all you need. If you need more control and flexibility, Raumfeld and Yamaha offer inexpensive streamer/dac/preamp solutions at modest cost.

The Yamaha WXC50 and a pair of Adam A7x costs a little over £1k, superb value in my view.

Have used my studio monitors balanced