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Passive vs Active...Again!

My wife and I have made the rounds and have listened to numerous speakers now, not as many as we'd like, but as many as we could within a 3-hour drive. We liked some both active and passive, but it seems most of the active speakers we saw are not that pleasing to the eye (eg: Genelecs).

Not having a dedicated listening room, our room itself is a big problem. We have lots of hard surfaces to deal with.

If we go with passive speakers and the associated gear to go with it, we will need to spend a whole bunch of money on acoustic treatments.

We have a ton of artwork as well and with already limited wall space, we would rather look at the art than a bunch of sound-absorbing panels.

So here's my question: Will active speakers, that may come in cheaper, with room correction software (DSP) be able to tame the sound to a pleasing level in my lively room, or do I go with passives and break out the Rockwool!

Just a side note, I had some Martin Logan Spires in a very similar style room, that was much larger with little acoustic treatments and they sounded pretty good. But in this house I don't have the room to pull the speakers 3 feet of the back wall.

I know there is no perfect answer here, but appreciate any feedback, thanks.

 

high-amp

Showing 3 responses by elliottbnewcombjr

elliottbnewcombjr
5,214 posts
 

My Vintage Speakers have L-Pads, one for mid horn, one for horn tweet. Many in those days included them, for the purpose of adjusting to the room they ended up in: less attenuation for dull rooms and more attenuation for live rooms. And, your personal taste (or the wifey’s).

Are you finding current makers that provide for adjustments while listening in the space?

You are thinking modern software correction, and of course you can get a high quality multi-band parametric equalizer.

 

elliottbnewcombjr
5,214 posts
 

I am with you, I want to listen in a lovely room, yours sounds to be so. 

1. Toe-In will definitely make a difference, especially in your case, very similar to mine.

2. Tilting the speakers back will help in two ways,

a, most important, it alters the angles of reflections primary and subsequent relative to the floor, ceiling, side walls.

b. aim the tweeters so they project their narrower sound waves at seated ear height, primary listening position.

3. fabric, draperies, in the corners behind the speakers can help, any side windows that will cause early reflections

4. any large table(s), soft fabric tablecloth

5. Avoid glass on artwork on the side walls

we use tacky stuff on the bottom back corners to keep wall mounted art both level and vibration free.

6. tons of small cork/rubber/felt feet for small stuff hither and thither

You probably don't have a dining room table setup like mine, but have a peek at my setup.

 

My table, close your eyes, it's not there. as long as L & R get to your ears properly, your brain will make the phantom imaging which happily is excellent here. 

 

 

elliottbnewcombjr
5,214 posts
 

Final Thought, My Latest Kick

Buy an inexpensive SPL Meter, and a Test CD

meter doesn’t need to be perfectly calibrated, it gives answers, at ___ location this 1/3 octave is more or less than the prior and subsequent one, up and down the line. Move the speakers, adjust the toe-in, tilt them back, move furniture,

PATIENCE.

 

this test cd has selectable 1/3 octave bands, so easy

they come with holes for tripod, put in listening position/height, see what you get and see effect of changes.

not looking for perfect, just the best you can

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