Are studio monitors a better buy than passive hifi speakers?

[Haskil]

Surreal discussion...

The only difference between a good active speaker designed for the hi-fi market and another good speaker designed for the professional market is that the latter doesn’t have fabric to protect the drivers from UV and dust.

And often, it’s cheaper at the same quality...

 

[Ultrasonic]

I had used these in past ~ 7 years in the same smaller room for nearfield listening on stands. Distance around ~ 1-1.5m away using them with PC.

- Edifier S350DB 2.1 active system just plug and play 205€ (for that price it's not that bad) warm sounding with a lot of bass no hiss at all from 1m away.
- JBL 305P MKII (my first ever studio monitors) was a decent studio monitor pair only serius issue was the hiss noise from the tweeters, airy tweeter decent amount of detalization + decent amount of low end (mid woofer detalization is not perfect) 278€ for monitor pair + 23€ for trs cables + 139€ for audio interface + 15€ for isolation pads = 445€ in total.
- JBL 306P MKII in terms of pure detalization it was a downgrade from a 305P MKII. 438€ for monitor pair + 23€ for trs cables + 139€ for audio interface + 15€ for isolation pads = 615€ in total.
- Mackie MR524 different sound faster than JBL but was defective out of the box (distortion in certain songs) 280€ for a monitor pair + 23€ for trs cables + 139€ for audio interface + 15€ for isolation pads = 475€ in total.
- Mackie MR624 overall slightly better than MR524 but has even worse (distortion in certain songs from one of the speakers) 356€ for a monitor pair + 23€ for trs cables + 139€ for audio interface + 15€ for isolation pads = 533€ in total.
- Focal Alpha EVO 65 good quality no distrotion at all but terrible hiss may be even worse than JBL (not a fan of sound character tweeters are quite fatiguing on ears for longer listening but at the same time detalization from tweteers is good better than JBL/Mackie in terms of pure resolution. 678€ for a monitor pair + 23€ for trs cables + 139€ for audio interface + 15€ for isolation pads = 855€ in total.
- Kali Audio IN-5 great midrange, tweeter not so much in terms of pure detalization the same goes for low end there is not a lot of it and at the same time bass detalization is not that great for the price they are asking for. Cabinet quality is poor it sounds boxy in not a good way if you crank it hard enough mechanical resonances may be noticeable (it's cheaply built even JBL 305P MKII to me looked better for build quality) 650€ for a monitor pair + 23€ for trs cables + 139€ for audio interface + 15€ for isolation pads = 827€ in total.
- Kali Audio LP6 V2 straight away no resolution/detalization it sounds like a towel is droped on speakers/tweeters yes it's flat very flat! But also very boring no excitement whatsoever. To me it has weak detalization overall it's quite dull and low end is weak even at max aviable settings not much is going on. LP6 V2 is a significant downgrade from a IN-5 i definitely like 305P MKII more than LP6 V2. 418€ for a monitor pair + 23€ for trs cables + 139€ for audio interface + 15€ for isolation pads = 595€ in total.
- Airpulse SM200 it sounds different than A100 not as full overall, but seems to have better instrument seperation, less low end than A100. Tweeter on SM200 is more fatiguing than on A100 not as polite. SM200 have more hiss than A100 good amount of air. Overall i like A100 more than SM200 it sounds more alive not as limited. 682€ for a monitor pair + 23€ for trs cables + 139€ for audio interface + 15€ for isolation pads = 859€ in total.
- Airpulse A100 very full sounding speaker at the same time not fatiguing for a longer listenings, very good detalization/resolution from tweeter good amount of air and depth low end has great detalization (fast saunding speaker complete opposite to JBL slow sounding speaker) A100 have a good build quality similar to SM200 or Focal Alpha EVO 65. No hiss at 1m distance. Now A100 is aviable on Amazon.de for only 398€ (i bought it for 508€) just plug and play.

From this list my favorite is A100 and it's not a studio monitor but a speaker which was built for home usage and at very low price.

In my opinion A100 compleatly destroys JBL 306P MKII and LP6 V2 it's not even close in terms of pure detalization/resolution and sound fullness and doing it at lower price. JBL 305P MKII is better than 306/LP6 but still it's way to expensive for what it really is as A100 sounds significantly better when we are listening to a good quality files. EVO 65, IN-5 and SM200 will be closer to A100 but still i choose A100 over them for way, way less money.

For context I've owned Hedd Type 07 v2, Kali LP-6 v2, Kali IN-8 v2 and Edifier S3000 Pro speakers but not needed to buy whatever your "audio interface" is to use any of them. This was clearly an issue for your setup but know it's not a universal one and therefore not a generally notable issue with studio active speakers.

Edit: I returned both the Hedds and the Kali IN-8s during a free return period. I still use the LP-6 v2s as rear surround speakers and my GF uses the Edifiers.

 

[RexrothPigeon]

Sorry but i was never so dumb to use a studio monitors without acoustics pads. It's a complete nonsense if there is no feet (by default) than use pads it's exactly as simple as that. Hard surfaces + hard surfaces under vibration will be no good it's simple physics. Why it's so hard for you to chew it ?

mousepads are practically free, homie. or blu-tack. or daiso rubber tabs. or gummi bears. "it's exactly as simple as that"

 

[rolfrander]

ATC and Canton both have active floorstanding speaker options.

Also: Saranna from @sigbergaudio, and the "Silverback" series from danish System Audio.

 

[Krit]

mousepads are practically free, homie.

Yes i'm also tried it and it works just fine.

 

[Krit]

For context I've owned Hedd Type 07 v2, Kali LP-6 v2, Kali IN-8 v2 and Edifier S3000 Pro speakers but not needed to buy whatever your "audio interface" is to use any of them. This was clearly an issue for your setup but know it's not a universal one and therefore not a generally notable issue with studio active speakers.

Edit: I returned both the Hedds and the Kali IN-8s during a free return period. I still use the LP-6 v2s as rear surround speakers and my GF uses the Edifiers.

I had three audio interfaces in total EVO4, ID4 MKII, Volt 1 i was not buying audio interface for every single studio monitor pair separately. (I liked universal audio more works more stable on Windows) That audio interface cost is added to show the real end difference between home hi-fi and studio monitor bundle. As using studio monitors connected directly to the PC through unbalanced jack is not a good idea (Realtek integrated audio) once i tried it with EVO 65 idle noise was awful much worse than hiss noise. Edifier has Optical, RCA, AUX, and USB conections. Using USB no issues at all built in sound card is excellent for that price.

 

[ivayvr]

Last four pairs of actives I have/had, Adam A5X, Focal Shape 40, Genelec 8020, Adam D3V work just fine without designated audio interface.
D3V is connected to a mini PC (or any PC or phone) and the rest were connected to Bluesound Node as a pre amp / streamer.

 

[DSJR]

If the enclosure is optimized for that it will be fine. Cheaper low quality stuff may have some issues. I'm tired of hearing this bias.

It's not bias when some of us have been experimenting, researching and concluding the results for decades, usually with consistency.....

In my case, the second-rig speakers are sat on a computer desk. I initially used some old Studiospares isolation platforms (a foam rectangular block with a rubber-topped steel plate (now 'Fame' brand). They stopped too much mid-bass getting into the desk and down into the kitchen below, so for what is noiw £27 or so, I'd say a good not expensive deal.

Herself didn't like the look of them and, as I don't use this rig much now post retirement, I replaced these platforms with a couple of dense rubbery 'Audio Serenity feet' under the front of the speakers to tilt them to roughly the ears when listening, the speaker rear edge directly on the desk. Not the same isolation as before, but I only play the system rarely now and at low volumes, so not an issue. No point in investing in isopods or whatever as the system isn't high-end in the slightest...

 

[olds1959special]

And often, it’s cheaper at the same quality...

I think that's the crux of it, more bang for the buck, and studio monitors are not passive, so no need for amps and speaker wires.

 

[Ultrasonic]

I had three audio interfaces in total EVO4, ID4 MKII, Volt 1 i was not buying audio interface for every single studio monitor pair separately. (I liked universal audio more works more stable on Windows) That audio interface cost is added to show the real end difference between home hi-fi and studio monitor bundle. As using studio monitors connected directly to the PC through unbalanced jack is not a good idea (Realtek integrated audio) once i tried it with EVO 65 idle noise was awful much worse than hiss noise. Edifier has Optical, RCA, AUX, and USB conections. Using USB no issues at all built in sound card is excellent for that price.

I had assumed you weren't using a new audio interface each time .

Yes PCs can be electrically noisy, which is one reason they're often avoided in dedicated music systems. I can see why you may have had an issue although it's not obvious to me why the same connection type would inherently perform differently if it was to a pro-audio or consumer HiFi active speaker.

 

[Sal1950]

mousepads are practically free, homie. or blu-tack.

Blu tack is probably the best idea. It will keep them well stuck down and not be easily toppled if bumped.
I always used it between my stand mounts and the stands to save them from an actual "disaster" instead of any imagined ones.

 

[dtaylo1066]

Blu tack is good stuff. You can also buy from among of plethora rubber feet. My Edifier M60 come with 4 nice rubber feet attached, and a canted stand, and my and KEF LSX II LT
have a metal plate with 4 rubber pads on it on their bottom. The metal plate also has a threaded bolt hole in it for use with KEF stands, or a less expensive stand if you want to secure a bolt to it.

 

[CD2]

ATC and Canton both have active floorstanding speaker options.

As do Buchardt and Kii, unless there is a distinction that eludes me.

 

[goat76]

I think that's the crux of it, more bang for the buck, and studio monitors are not passive, so no need for amps and speaker wires.

That argument may hold if you buy only one pair of loudspeakers and never intend to make an upgrade. But when reading the last couple of pages of this thread, people who are on their third or fourth pair of active speakers have obviously paid for their internal amplification every time they decided to upgrade their active speakers, while someone upgrading their passive speakers may use their existing amplifier for all of them. And besides that, internal amplification also seems to have a shorter lifespan, on average, than most external amplifiers.

This isn't me arguing for or against passive or active loudspeakers, as I don't really have a preference. I just want to point out what some people seem to miss when saying that money will be saved when not needing external amps and speaker wires, as those are hardly things you have to upgrade every time you decide to upgrade your passive loudspeakers.

 

[Krit]

That argument may hold if you buy only one pair of loudspeakers and never intend to make an upgrade. But when reading the last couple of pages of this thread, people who are on their third or fourth pair of active speakers have obviously paid for their internal amplification every time they decided to upgrade their active speakers, while someone upgrading their passive speakers may use their existing amplifier for all of them. And besides that, internal amplification also seems to have a shorter lifespan, on average, than most external amplifiers.

This isn't me arguing for or against passive or active loudspeakers, as I don't really have a preference. I just want to point out what some people seem to miss when saying that money will be saved when not needing external amps and speaker wires, as those are hardly things you have to upgrade every time you decide to upgrade your passive loudspeakers.

Bad thing about audio is that usually it's not holding it's value very well (even when relatively fresh) only time i didn't lose my money was on S350DB and second best was JBL 305P MKII where i sold it for decent price only slight lose (that's when not counting audio interface, cables and pads) with them together loss would be much more significant as those things are not holding it's value. Audio choice is really complex thing if you have no opportunity to listen to it before you bought it or even better do some A/B testing side by side.

 

[Mart68]

That argument may hold if you buy only one pair of loudspeakers and never intend to make an upgrade. But when reading the last couple of pages of this thread, people who are on their third or fourth pair of active speakers have obviously paid for their internal amplification every time they decided to upgrade their active speakers, while someone upgrading their passive speakers may use their existing amplifier for all of them. And besides that, internal amplification also seems to have a shorter lifespan, on average, than most external amplifiers.

This isn't me arguing for or against passive or active loudspeakers, as I don't really have a preference. I just want to point out what some people seem to miss when saying that money will be saved when not needing external amps and speaker wires, as those are hardly things you have to upgrade every time you decide to upgrade your passive loudspeakers.

And if the amp fails with passive speakers just swap in another and carry on. With active the whole speaker system is down until repaired.

Speaker cable is hardly a cost, mine were £35. Someone sent me a box full of speaker cables recently. For nothing, not even postage charge.

Nothing against active but claims of inherent sonic superiority are exaggerated. Also the requirement to run both line level connections and power cables to them is awkward in my room. These were the reasons I stuck with passive.

 

[Haskil]

And if the amp fails with passive speakers just swap in another and carry on. With active the whole speaker system is down until repaired.

And as long as the amp is neither replaced nor repaired, the passive speakers remain silent...

Nothing changes compared to an active speaker that breaks down : there would at least still be one left to listen in mono...

 

[Ultrasonic]

As do Buchardt and Kii, unless there is a distinction that eludes me.

Potentially price re. the Kii depending what the original commenter meant by "in that space" but nothing for the Buchardt option.

 

[Mart68]

And as long as the amp is neither replaced nor repaired, the passive speakers remain silent...

Nothing changes compared to an active speaker that breaks down : there would at least still be one left to listen in mono...

The difference being if a spare amp is available to hand the problem is solved immediately.

Or go to a shop and buy another amp or order one on line and have it within 24 to 72 hours. Or borrow a spare amp from a friend. I loaned a friend an amp back in 1992 for precisely that situation. He still has it.

Highly unlikely someone is going to have an identical spare active speaker they can loan you but they may well have an amplifier.

The active speaker must be shipped out for repair and what's the lead time on that? At least weeks if not months.

I think the only solution to this is to buy three active speakers and keep one as a spare. Which I did consider but with something like a Kii3 that's a big additional cost.

 

[Ultrasonic]

The difference being if a spare amp is available to hand the problem is solved immediately.

The same is true if someone has a spare pair of active speakers.

If my main amp (for passive speakers) failed at this point I'd use a pair of active speakers I have as the temporary replacement whilst I decided what to do longer term.

I've also had more experience with passive speakers failing than amplifiers.

I take your point but I don't think the failure/spares argument is a strong one in favour of either active or passive configurations personally.