Today I heard...

[Overdose]

True active speakers involve the use of an active crossover, with the individual amplifier sections controlling the speaker drivers directly.

Powered speakers, simply incorporate an amplifier/s into the same enclosure and use passive crossovers as in normal passive speakers.

 

[matthewpiano]

Where dod you do the demoing Matthew?

Had to go to our competitors Dawsons Music Shop. Whereas we are a traditional music shop focusing on mostly acoustic instruments etc., they do a lot of the studio type stuff.

 

[El Hefe]

Thanks overdose....so primary difference is the crossovers...active vs passive...

 

[matthewpiano]

I certainly didn't think the KRK Rokit 5s were up to much, but I did quite like the 8s.

I can't remember which model of KRK's I listened too but I do remember thinking 'Meh' to myself after just a few seconds and moved on to the next set of speakers.

I've never heard the Yamaha's but after reading about your impressions I'd like too. I second RS's suggestion for auditioning Genelec and Acoustic Energy's speakers - they're both exellent IMO.

Essentially I need a pair of actives for some recording/production work and songwriting but I feel it would be a good opportunity to also try some for my general music listening given the enthusiasm for them.

Out of interest how would you say the active Yamaha HS50 sounds compared to your Dali Zensor 1 speakers?

Difficult one because of the different settings etc. I'd say the Yamahas were more overtly detailed and open than the Zensor 1s and I think they give a clearer view of the recording. Interestingly I'd say the Zensors and the Yamahas are closer in sound than the Yamahas and the KRKs. This is, of course, only a general feeling - I haven't listened to the actives enough yet to make that sort of judgement accurately.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

Thanks overdose....so primary difference is the crossovers...active vs passive...

that and that the amps are placed after active crossovers (as opposed to before passive crossovers) and therefore driving the drivers directly (not via the crossovers) - combination of these two features allows for several advantages of this design. even more so if not limited by poor drivers (drivers being the weakest link in the whole playback chain) . today it is relatively easy to transmit, convert, playback and amplify the signal perfectly (as even modest electronics are now capable of almost perfect performance) but still relatively difficult to transduce it into sound waves with the same precision.

 

[alchemist 1]

What's the odds when this thread is locked ?

 

[John Duncan]

What's the odds when this thread is locked ?

Depends on whether anybody wants to use it as a platform to get up on their high horse...

 

[the record spot]

* rides by on his Shetland Pony *

 

[idc]

Hurrah for a thread that highlights actives can vary in the sound quality they can produce. So you are not guaranteed improvement moving from passive to active.

 

[alchemist 1]

* rides by on his Shetland Pony *

I raise you 2 ponys plus a donkey.

 

[steve_1979]

whats the definition of active speakers? are computer speakers with a power supply considered as active speakers ie Bose Companion for example?

Differences between passive, powered and active speakers

In a passive speaker system the low-level audio signal is first amplified by an external power amplifier before being sent to the speakers where the signal is split by a passive crossover into the appropriate frequency ranges before being sent to the individual drivers.

A powered speaker works in exactly the same way as a passive speaker. The only difference is that rather than using an external amplifier, there is a power amplifier built into the speaker cabinet.

In an active speaker system each driver has it's own specific power amplifier. The low-level audio signal is first sent through an active crossover to split the audio signal into the appropriate frequency ranges before being sent to the power amplifiers and then on to the drivers.

Most active speakers have the crossover and amplifiers built into the cabinet although some can have external crossovers and amplifiers. The actual location of the crossovers and amplifiers is irrelevant, so long as you still have the crossover to amplifiers to drivers hierarchy then it is still an active speaker system.

 

[BenLaw]

Although on the thread you recently posted a link to re your wiki entry, wasn't there (near) consensus that your last diagram isn't strictly an active speaker?

Of course, if I had ATC speakers usingtheirs off board P4 or P6 amplification with external active crossover, I wouldn't care what it was defined as.

 

[steve_1979]

Although on the thread you recently posted a link to re your wiki entry, wasn't there (near) consensus that your last diagram isn't strictly an active speaker?

Technically the last diagram is an 'active system' because of the crossover configuration, but the loudspeakers are still passive, holding no electronics beyond voice coils.

 

[John Duncan]

Call it what you like, I say...

 

[matthewpiano]

I certainly didn't think the KRK Rokit 5s were up to much, but I did quite like the 8s.

I can't remember which model of KRK's I listened too but I do remember thinking 'Meh' to myself after just a few seconds and moved on to the next set of speakers.

I've never heard the Yamaha's but after reading about your impressions I'd like too. I second RS's suggestion for auditioning Genelec and Acoustic Energy's speakers - they're both exellent IMO.

Essentially I need a pair of actives for some recording/production work and songwriting but I feel it would be a good opportunity to also try some for my general music listening given the enthusiasm for them.

Out of interest how would you say the active Yamaha HS50 sounds compared to your Dali Zensor 1 speakers?

Difficult one because of the different settings etc. I'd say the Yamahas were more overtly detailed and open than the Zensor 1s and I think they give a clearer view of the recording. Interestingly I'd say the Zensors and the Yamahas are closer in sound than the Yamahas and the KRKs. This is, of course, only a general feeling - I haven't listened to the actives enough yet to make that sort of judgement accurately.

Further thought Steve.... I'd say the Yamahas were closest to my Epos M5i, which I've pulled out for a few days. I would be very interested to do a back to back demonstration comparing the Epos with the active Yamahas...