Opinions and recommendations on active loudspeakers

ATC all the way. I own the passive ATC SCM12 Pro's (simply couldn't fit any of their active designs on this desktop) and am enormously impressed. Easily the best 2-ways I ever heard.

I read a lot of info from music pros & studio types, where various powered ATC models (SCM20ASL Pro mk2, a sealed 2-way; and SCM50ASL, a ported 3-way) are extremely popular. These are quite large devices, even the 2 ways, but man, what a sound...a rather thrilling combination of great accuracy, particularly in the mids, with a lack of brightness or sonic pushiness (qualities not often found together). 

se7en

I just read about the Dutch and Dutch and the review was the same as your response. 

I have tried using several active speakers in my home rig but they were all musically unsatisfying to me and I found, when I downsized that I much prefer pricey mini monitors used with top tier subs and just live with having to provide space for amps and additional cables that would not be required with actives.

-1 as to PSI A-17M. They are much loved by some for pro audio, but I did not like them at all for music playback and they were absolutely boring to me at low to moderate volumes. Also, I think they are very ugly. I sold them to a recording studio in Canada and they love them.

Obviously, many of the more positively reviewed powered speakers to be chosen from in the marketplace were designed for the purpose of using them for monitoring and mixing recordings in the studio by professionals. Some of them may also just happen to sound great for home audio as well, I do not know. Maybe the best ATC models are great, but definitely not the KEF for you primary system.

The lower cost actives can be okay for desktop fun but beyond that only you can decide if they are right for you for home audio. 

Of course, make sure any active speakers you buy have a right of return for refund because you may wind up not liking them for home audio purposes.

@knever 

what didnt you like about the psi? 

I have tried using several active speakers in my home rig but they were all musically unsatisfying to me

why do you think that is?