Why are hi-end active monitors not more popular?

a great speaker will sound better than a mediocre one. whether the amps are built in or not, first select the speaker, then worry about the amplification.

panels rule, don't be an acoustic suspension audio fool.

you can stack up all the cones in the world, a pair of quad esls will blow them awy.

there is a simple answer to this question. a dedicated amp limits freedom of choice. most active speakers use ss amps. i prefer tube amps.

just because a spaeker is designed with an amp does not mean the amp is the "best" match for the speaker.
it may be a "good" match, but not suited to a buyer's taste.

i think active panel speakers might be interesting. there was an acoustat design years ago which was active, and perhaps a beveridge as well.

accuracy is an ideal which cannot be attained. one can speak of reducing inaccuracy, but then how do you measure inaccuracy. it is more than frequency response.

i mention this because so called "accurate" active monitors, may be more inaccurate than one believes.

it would be useful to arrive at al algorithm for measuring inaccuracy and then claims about active monitors would be more objective.

if one wants to stay in the realm of subjectivity, what about the concept of virtual accuracy, that is, an inability to observe coloration.

let some active monitor speaker be compared to another speaker with one's favorite amp.

at this point, the idea of active monitors being superior in any way is hypothetical.

hi bob:

where is the evidence of the sonic superiority of active monitor speakers. if the speakers were electrostatic or planar magnetic, that would be a different case.

the issue seems to be panels vs cones rather than active vs non active speakers.

isn't our hobby about sound? technology for its own sake without sonic improvement is less attractive than old technology with sonic improvement.

and yes, there will be disagreements as to what sounds better or worse. thus, the value of technology may be viewed as subjectively as what constitutes better sound.

by the way does anyone know of active (non hybrid) panel speakers ?

if not what might be the reason none exist ?

there is some basic psychology that is being overlooked.

people do not liked to be told what to do or have their options restricted. thus, someone may like a speaker but not the amp that comes with it. perhaps the designer supplies a ss amp and the buyer wants tubes.

i think manufacturers do not offer powered speakers because they may be speaker designers and realize that audiophiles already have amplifiers or do not want to restrict the performance of a speaker to what would be achieved by one amp.

the powered speakers are the exception for good reason.
it is rare to find a powered panel speaker.