Your thoughts on active loudspeakers

lonemountain - Got a chuckle out of your "active is so poorly understood" comment. Active speakers are generally great, but with the cheap class D amps available, one needs to actually listen. I've been bi-amp and tri-amping for 40+ years, but use my own amplifier choices along with crossover points and slopes. There IS a reason why pros use actives.

So many here on AG have no clue about active crossovers and the benefits. Actives can improve the entire spectrum, midrange is so much clearer and detailed. It sure does remove distortion like IM, the most irritating, just plain gone. I've mostly given up trying to help because many THINK they know best. Time is a wasting!

I started off making my own 12db/octave actives in 1976 with a TL074 op-amp, poly caps and metal film resistors, no pots. I did use manufactured crossovers to select the slope that I liked best, but after that removed it. The new LM6172IN opamps are killer and do sound better. Still using all fixed components, switches to select xover frequencies. I’ve settled on the slope and crossover frequencies that work the best for me, so no switches or pots. Yes, all analog. Three class A amplifiers.

Added note: The original TL074 op-amp slew rate was 13v/µs, new LM6172’s are 3000v/µs. Noise and distortion is also lower. Make your own crossovers and enjoy.