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Self-powered speakers: any good?

Have you heard any musical sounding high quality self-powered speakers that would fill a medium sized room with MUSIC?

I've got a fireplace on one wall where I'd like to put my stereo. And, I hate running wires by the fireplace.

Had the idea to put a self-powered speaker in each corner and one of my Squeezebox Touches next to each speaker. Slave one Touch to the other, and done?

Room is medium size: 22 x 14 with 8 foot ceilings, but it does open into other rooms.

Self powered speakers I've heard have been all intended for near field or table top. And the more expensive ones sound lean (sigh).
artmaltman
ahendler
416 posts
 
ATC powered speakers are very good and quite expensive
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
there are some great powered speakers, such as ATC that cost a fortune.

If you can find some of the Paradigm Active 20's, or 40's which are rare, they sound very good at a more realistic price.

The current Quad powered speakers are not that bad.
weiserb's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
weiserb
475 posts
 
audioengine 5 's are excellent, just add a subwoofer and you can rock!
inna
7,141 posts
 
ATC, right.
ckoffend
684 posts
 
I'll jump on the ATC bandwagon. But also wonder if the dual squeezebox/Duet/Touch approach will be error proof. I have a Duet (one) and love it. But the idea that you will hook up a separate Touch to each speaker, via the built-in DAC and outputting only one channel and insuring the timing is going to be exact. . . I am not so sure how well that will work? Not saying it won't, but it would concern me that the tiniest timing difference would create huge problems.

Added to that, if you would be considering the ATC speakers, I really don't think you would want to be using the built-in DAC on the squeezebox.

Call in an electrician and my guess he can run a cable (speaker, interconnect or other) down through the floor and over to the other side of the fireplace to hide the cables. If you are going to do that, have him run all the cables you may have want to use so you are covered for the future.
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