Who has gone fully active? What speakers and preamp did you end up with?

I love active speakers. 

Direct amplification and external, line-level analog crossover fits right in with existing systems (and concepts and beliefs). 

Digital crossover and DSP is incredible but... complicated.

@erik_squires You need at least a 10-1 ratio between the amp and preamp in normal situations but I’m unsure about active amps in speakers. I wouldn’t think it would be any different. I would think 10k Ohms wouldn’t be a problem for most preamps. My Tube preamp is 300 ohms on the output. Also, my amplifier’s balanced input is 10K Ohms and it works great. I'm very interested in Active speakers and have been eying the ATC SCM50A for a long time. 

I added a set of Bryston T-10 active this January.  What makes them "active" is the BAX-1 crossover and 6 channels of amplification.

To be honest my mid and high are via an ARC amp and I used Bryston 7BSST monos (700 watts) for the bass drivers- not the 1000 watt ARC amps they suggest.

My experience has been delightful although I think it's more abut the line array architecture of the speaker and the sophisticated crossover than the "active" idea. To me an active speaker should have the amp inside of it- like my subwoofer does. 

I replaced my Model T speakers with these and I'm satisfied with my purchase. I don't want to use all the well-worn Audiophile superlatives to describe what I hear, but I have been pleased- smilingly each time I play them. I will say this: I also have a set of Maggie 3.7x for softer classical music that I use in another room. The Brystons slam like a thunder clap when you crank them- which the Maggies can't do. 

Bottom line: The Model T-10 is a lot better. Is it $24,000 worth of speaker?  Yes- under protest. I think all modern high-end gear is overpriced by 30%. I'd be giddy happy if they were 18K. 

@erik_squires Wrote:

Who has gone fully active? What speakers

I love active speakers. That said, going fully active does not always mean all electronics in the speaker enclosure.

Mike

@erik_squires You need at least a 10-1 ratio between the amp and preamp in normal situations

@willywonka - I am familiar with the rule of thumb. I just don’t know how many preamps have an output impedance higher than 1k Ohm. And it is actually just a rule of thumb.