Intriguing inquiry, are floor-stand speakers always better than active speakers?

@phusis

Good discussion. There are many approaches to high end audio. Typically they reflect a persons personality. Often idealistic vs pragmatic. One of the reasons I take a fairly conservative approach here is there are a lot of folks that are fairly new to the pursuit. Many do not know what a complex and multifaceted pursuit it is. Contradictory recommendations are the norm.  It is somewhat like investing. Until you have a lot of experience under your belt and know what you are doing you should not take on more complex, higher risk avenues. This is why I am a strong supporter of more main stream solutions. I completely support going digital only if you are just starting. Not trying to discourage exploring, but want as many as possible to be as successful as possible in this pursuit.

@phusis 

Yes, as in all things there are advantages and disadvantages in different system designs. It is great to discuss different approaches to system design. Most audiophiles are very cautious when trying a new paradigm. I have never had the money I needed to buy the equipment I wanted, and haven’t had the money to cover a step in the wrong direction.

Professionally I spent decades choosing new technology for global corporations… decisions each of millions of dollars, and sometimes upon which the very continued existence of the corporation would depend. I am very good at it, ideas that sound good and follow a new path are easy to find, unfortunately many are dead ends. I am not saying active is a dead end… but at this point in high end audio it is not the low risk proposition. Great possibility for one and done,  cutting end types, well healed. But, for me, I would kick the tires a lot before heading down this path, as rosy as it is conceptually. 

There is an economic aspect of active speakers that has a big impact on the market. In general, creating the best system possible at say $25K, $50K, or $200K… typically speakers would be the most expensive investment. You start adding more functions to speakers like amplification, then they get even more expensive. Most audiophiles are not rich enough to just plunk down 50% of there final investment or more in speakers. But they work over time to get there. There is an economic advantage in being able to get the best speakers at any given time and upgrade the amp and other aspects as money becomes available.

So, for the time being this is a real headwind for companies creating active speakers. Less competition, higher cost… smaller niche… I can’t see anything changing this soon.

Ok, “in general”.

Technology continues to evolve. That said high quality floor standing speakers out perform active ones at this time. Choosing high quality speakers that fit your room (what ever the size) plus careful placement, room treatments, and carefully chosen components can result in great sound. Over the last 50 years of pursuing great sound I went incrementally from a $500 system in a small room to a $150K system in a large and acoustically fantastic room…

‘’Whatch you got? Including room size… what do you want?