Why aren't component active XOs more popular?

If you use an electronic XO, you are assuming the role of a speaker design engineer, having to equalize drivers to match level and phase. You then have to fine tune the sound, a process known as "voicing".
All that is obviously doable, but not that simple for the home hobbyist IMO.
Another argument against active XO is by the purist camp (not in derogatory sense!) which preaches the least processing to the audio signal as the golden path to "audio nirvana".

I have the Behringer active crossover. It made a world of difference with my maggie 3.5's. However, it was a very time consuming process to dial everything in just right. In the end it was weel worth it.

It is very difficult to get an electronic crossover system to integrate with your speaker system unless the speaker designer designs and manufactures the electronic crossover too! This would be the best match. This could be offered as an upgrade for your speakers to take them to the next level. Any designers listening? I think there is a demand here!

Thinkat and Serus summed it up. It is both more difficult and more rewarding if one puts forth the effort required.

As far as the "purists" go, i don't know of anyone that has heard a well designed actively crossed system that would choose a passively crossed system as being sonically superior. My brother was running custom built speakers with very simple crossovers using high grade parts and passively multi-amping. After i kept badgering him to try actively crossing them, he could not believe the difference.

Bare in mind that the huge increase in sonic performance that he noticed was achieved via an antique "pro sound" crossover that i had purchased years ago for less than $50 shipped. If one were to use a more advanced and better sounding crossover that allowed both time constants and contouring to be included in the processing, the benefits would be even greater.

As mentioned above though, the time and effort involved is a LOT more than what most audiophiles want to do. This approach is best suited for those that want to get their hands dirty and learn i.e. DIY rather than keep buying the flavour of the month and never understanding why things don't work like they should. Quite honestly, i've never seen a commercially designed product that wasn't built to a price point, regardless of the retail price. Sean
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