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

Hi guys,

Just a general wondering though, nowadays I've seen a lot of new active speakers, and truth to be told, I find them quite professional indeed, when I go into an audio shop and ask some advice, some might even encourage to purchase the bookshelf speakers, as they're more cost-effective and space-saving hahah.

All that asides, regarding the sound quality matter, it ain't bad at all, but I'm not sure if it's my living room just not that big or some technical matters, the sound experience is actually vivid, but yeah I also think when you put the extra circuit inside the speaker for amplifying use, it'd certainly affect the original performance more or less. Especially under this digital streaming era, every part seems to be specifically separated, so it can perform to its fullest, and lessen the interference between each device.

Anyways, let me know what you think, I'd be grateful, or maybe share you existing setup with us!

Best,

preston8452
spenav
416 posts
 

@ghdprentice 

Keep in mind, the amps in these good and some of them (KII3) great active speakers are NOT low cost class D amps. These amps are actually quite good. They are designed an optimized for one specific driver and no cable between the amp and the speakers. I used AGD class D amps in my system and I can assure you they are very capable. 
 

@holmz 

I consider the KII3 to be great. Not sure why the post with the FR was deleted. 

phantom_av's avatar
phantom_av
320 posts
 

Quested Active Speakers used by Abbey Road Studio and countless others in Asia and EU.

 

Honestly speaking these are the only Active Studio speakers i would put into my Music Rooms. Fatique Free smooth delivery Transparent as any other Audiophile speakers 10 times its price, one of the most underrated speakers in the Pro and audiophile industry.

jimofmaine's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jimofmaine
40 posts
 

As was pointed out, it's a moot sonic argument. Both can have stellar measurements and superior sound. The Op I think however was getting at cost/benefit analysis. Interestingly, in the 100 year history of stereo, in 2022 we may be witnessing the time when the cost verses sonic quality paradigm is rapidly shifting. It might not be there yet, but the graph surely is converging and the writing is on the wall. 

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

@spenav it appears like you follow Erin’s work.

The point I was trying to make was that the Kii is indeed a top contender as is the Genelec. Those two are active.

And also on Erin’s site was a passive example.

So all three are in a multi-way tie for first place.
Which sort of means that one can achieve something nice, any way they choose to go, in that cost range of ~4-8 k$.

 

I do not see active getting a whole lot cheaper on the higher end.
There will undoubtedly be cheaper offerings, using cheaper drivers, and other corners cut… That will make the economy side have a better SQ, but they will be lacking SQ wise compared to the Kii and Genelec offerings.

pedroeb
493 posts
 

I do miss millercarbon's input.

Personally I prefer separates and I don't like to idea of being stuck with a speaker manufacturer's choice of amplifier.

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