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Intriguing inquiry, are floor-stand speakers always better than active speakers?

Hi guys,

Just a general wondering though, nowadays I've seen a lot of new active speakers, and truth to be told, I find them quite professional indeed, when I go into an audio shop and ask some advice, some might even encourage to purchase the bookshelf speakers, as they're more cost-effective and space-saving hahah.

All that asides, regarding the sound quality matter, it ain't bad at all, but I'm not sure if it's my living room just not that big or some technical matters, the sound experience is actually vivid, but yeah I also think when you put the extra circuit inside the speaker for amplifying use, it'd certainly affect the original performance more or less. Especially under this digital streaming era, every part seems to be specifically separated, so it can perform to its fullest, and lessen the interference between each device.

Anyways, let me know what you think, I'd be grateful, or maybe share you existing setup with us!

Best,

preston8452
spenav
416 posts
 

Good discussion folks. I like a thread that makes me smarter by providing me with more information than I started with. Thanks. 

grislybutter
2,298 posts
 

one day, they built the best floor standing speaker you have ever heard. 

The next day, someone built an active speaker that was better then the best floor standing speaker

The following day....

preston8452 OP
17 posts
 

@holmz 

I suppose I can, but like each device can perform to its best separately I guess, hahah, PS Audio is real mellow, and Silent Angel Munich M1T is a new Roon Ready streamer, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to give it a try, turned out it was't bad at ball 😂

ghdprentice
6,408 posts
 

There is an economic aspect of active speakers that has a big impact on the market. In general, creating the best system possible at say $25K, $50K, or $200K… typically speakers would be the most expensive investment. You start adding more functions to speakers like amplification, then they get even more expensive. Most audiophiles are not rich enough to just plunk down 50% of there final investment or more in speakers. But they work over time to get there. There is an economic advantage in being able to get the best speakers at any given time and upgrade the amp and other aspects as money becomes available.

So, for the time being this is a real headwind for companies creating active speakers. Less competition, higher cost… smaller niche… I can’t see anything changing this soon.

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

I suppose I can, but like each device can perform to its best separately I guess, hahah,

If ^that^ was true, then I would have suspected that you would have passive speaker and power amp?

 

PS Audio is real mellow, and Silent Angel Munich M1T is a new Roon Ready streamer, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to give it a try, turned out it was't bad at ball 😂

What did you try? Without it all or with it?

 

If the KEF accepted the streaming, then you would remove the need for a DAC and then the ADC inside the KEF.
Whether it sounds better, the same or worse remains to be seen.

Usually less stuff in the path can be better.

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