Are studio monitors a better buy than passive hifi speakers?

[DSJR]

I don’t see the point in ever using anything other than passive speakers in a home hifi environment.

You've never heard a comparison of an otherwise reasonable speaker in passive and then active configurations? If the basic design is sound enough, active is universally better.

One maker that intends to make their three way active model with external crossovers and amps is Harbeth with the NLE3. One option puts Hypex modules and a crossover in an external box(es) I believe and another option is for an active crossover only, the end user then choosing which amp confections they want to partner with the speakers (I think and hope I have it right).

No idea on the sonic difference or whether the speakers' character is rendered more neutral by the change, but PMC are making a plate active amp pack that replaces the passive crossovers in their domestic towers.

At days end, there are many well off people into 'audio' that will refuse the maker's choice of an active amp system, whether internal or external, instead, choosing the best traditional amps they can afford as it's then 'their choice' as 'their choice' will be best (for them). Importantly, dealers can make SO much more profit from selling external boxes

(My local audio salon has just started stocking Dynaudio Focus wireless actives, the 50's I liked a lot when I heard them. They still regard these as 'lifestyle' products despite the sound being so much better in being able to hear into a mix without effort than any passive option from this maker at anywhere near that price, usually driven by Naim - my view obviously, but they can make a lot more money their way and right now, that means a greater ability to survive in this environment we're in)

 

[sigbergaudio]

While not widely advertised, my understanding is that the 800 series speakers used in Abbey Road studios have actually been converted to active (Disclaimer: I don't have a direct reference for this, have just heard it).

Started doubting myself and checked with a reputable source, apparently this is NOT the case, but they did have partially active versions some generations ago. But likely not the current setup.

 

[Somafunk]

I don’t see the point in ever using anything other than passive speakers in a home hifi environment.

Splitter!....burn the heretic....burn the heretic......

 

[Palladium]

Bang for the buck clinched the decision for yours truly. Can you find a combination of a pair of passive three-way speakers plus a well-matched amp for under $1K that can perform anywhere near what a pair of Kali Audio IN-8v2s can deliver at that kind of price point?

I don't think any money on passives will even get anything that comes close to the OG iLoud Micro when limited to the same form factor, let alone the Pro or the MTMs.

 

[Matt_Holland]

If hi fi "audiophile" speakers were better I assume the professionals would have used them in the studio instead of the pro studio monitors
Actually Abbey Road Studios use the B&Ws but I don't know of many other studios that do the same View attachment 479009View attachment 479010View attachment 479011

Two reasons:
There is a marketing agreement between B&W and Abbey Road.
The speakers in the monitoring rooms have custom crossovers to deliver a more linear response. When I was at the studios about 4 years ago the sound in AR1’s monitoring room was overly bright for my taste but I’m sure they did the job for the engineers.

 

[a4eaudio]

Bang for the buck clinched the decision for yours truly. Can you find a combination of a pair of passive three-way speakers plus a well-matched amp for under $1K that can perform anywhere near what a pair of Kali Audio IN-8v2s can deliver at that kind of price point?

I have a nice amplifier and I have about 9 pairs of speakers, so how would I hook up the Kali Audio IN-8v2s to my existing amplifier?

...active is universally better.

There have already been several posts that describe instances where passive is the better choice. But I will agree, that in a situation where the active speaker sounds better and is a better value than the passive speaker, then the active one is universally better. (Where "universally better" means in that one circumstance.)

 

[dfuller]

There have already been several posts that describe instances where passive is the better choice. But I will agree, that in a situation where the active speaker sounds better and is a better value than the passive speaker, then the active one is universally better. (Where "universally better" means in that one circumstance.)

In terms of raw performance (not taking any practical concerns into account), active is better. There are practical reasons to choose passives (like not wanting to run power cables everywhere).

 

[PristineSound]

Some may have mentioned why active is "better" but I'm not sure if anyone mentioned that driver performance, cabinet performance, directivity, distortion so on and so on, is not affected by active or passive. You can't "cheat" your way out of those factors.

 

[DSJR]

I have a nice amplifier and I have about 9 pairs of speakers, so how would I hook up the Kali Audio IN-8v2s to my existing amplifier?



There have already been several posts that describe instances where passive is the better choice. But I will agree, that in a situation where the active speaker sounds better and is a better value than the passive speaker, then the active one is universally better. (Where "universally better" means in that one circumstance.)

I meant 'universally' in the context of a basically good speaker design using well matched drive units. One or two UK made models once, where the passive crossover could mask a multitude of sins that active drive would expose.

 

[Henryk]

Bang for the buck clinched the decision for yours truly. Can you find a combination of a pair of passive three-way speakers plus a well-matched amp for under $1K that can perform anywhere near what a pair of Kali Audio IN-8v2s can deliver at that kind of price point?

You figure those are the best 3-way active speakers for the price?

 

[Bruce Morgen]

You figure those are the best 3-way active speakers for the price?

They certainly were back when I bought them a few years ago, shortly after the "2nd Wave" version -- which corrected the hiss issue -- came out. They've gotten more expensive since then, but they're still (just barely) under $1k/pair. That said, I don't know if there are equally good alternatives at or below their price nowadays, since I'm no longer in the market for new speakers

 

[Bruce Morgen]

I have a nice amplifier and I have about 9 pairs of speakers, so how would I hook up the Kali Audio IN-8v2s to my existing amplifier?

Unless your amplifier has preamp output jacks, you'd have to connect them to the DAC (or other signal source) and control volume from that device. If you have an active subwoofer that can be connected via the speaker terminals of the amp and has high-passed line level output jacks, that would also work.

 

[Hear Here]

Are products made for the pro market a better value than those made for home listening?

The trouble is that these so-called pro speakers are not designed for pro use. They are relatively cheap and aimed at the lower end of the market -typically for those wanting better sound from a PC - not for hi-fi audio use, let alone professional studio use!

Misleading claims are not unlawful so you have to judge these speakers by the spec and their performance in your own system. For active speakers to be able to offer exceptionally good sound and better than a passive equivalent, you are talking about 5-figure speakers, not hundreds!

 

[Somafunk]

The trouble is that these so-called pro speakers are not designed for pro use. They are relatively cheap and aimed at the lower end of the market -typically for those wanting better sound from a PC - not for hi-fi audio use, let alone professional studio use!

“Here” we go again………..

 

[Bruce Morgen]

For active speakers to be able to offer exceptionally good sound and better than a passive equivalent, you are talking about 5-figure speakers, not hundreds!

That is nonsense IMO -- there are plenty of recording professionals who make a living using relatively inexpensive active monitors for mixdown and/or mastering! Moreover, even some of the most highly sophisticated active speakers on the market sell for less than a "5-figure" price -- e.g. Kii Sevens.

 

[Sal1950]

I want my home speakers to play very loudly and reliably 24/7 too!

Right, the less I stress them to that level the longer they should last.

The trouble is that these so-called pro speakers are not designed for pro use. They are relatively cheap and aimed at the lower end of the market -typically for those wanting better sound from a PC - not for hi-fi audio use, let alone professional studio use!

I think you need to qualify that statement.
Yes the "pro" description is often a marketing ploy to insinuate the speaker is something "special" sounding.
Then there are the true "pro" speakers that mostly are something at least very good, AKA Genelec, etc

 

[ivayvr]

The trouble is that these so-called pro speakers are not designed for pro use. They are relatively cheap and aimed at the lower end of the market -typically for those wanting better sound from a PC - not for hi-fi audio use, let alone professional studio use!

Misleading claims are not unlawful so you have to judge these speakers by the spec and their performance in your own system. For active speakers to be able to offer exceptionally good sound and better than a passive equivalent, you are talking about 5-figure speakers, not hundreds!

Are we talking about Genelecs costing less than 5 figures being bad and being suitable for PC only?!?! Or Neumans?!? or Focals?!?

 

[a4eaudio]

Are we talking about Genelecs costing less than 5 figures being bad and being suitable for PC only?!?! Or Neumans?!? or Focals?!?

All of my friends who don't take music seriously have those cheap Neumann KH 310s as their PC speakers so they can listen clearly to their Mr. Beast YouTube videos.

 

[RexrothPigeon]

Well, if part of your car breaks, you can't drive anywhere while it's being repaired. Meanwhile, if my horse gets sick I just yoke up another one to my buggy and keep rollin along. Fools and their "automobiles" haha, flash in the pan trend that just won't last, simply not practical. Horses and buggiez 4 evar!

 

[dfuller]

Some may have mentioned why active is "better" but I'm not sure if anyone mentioned that driver performance, cabinet performance, directivity, distortion so on and so on, is not affected by active or passive. You can't "cheat" your way out of those factors.

Not entirely true. Distortion can be a bit lower on actives, all other things being equal, just because there are no inductors to saturate.

The trouble is that these so-called pro speakers are not designed for pro use. They are relatively cheap and aimed at the lower end of the market -typically for those wanting better sound from a PC - not for hi-fi audio use, let alone professional studio use!

Misleading claims are not unlawful so you have to judge these speakers by the spec and their performance in your own system. For active speakers to be able to offer exceptionally good sound and better than a passive equivalent, you are talking about 5-figure speakers, not hundreds!

5 figures? LOL. I dare you to find better speakers than Kali IN-8s for $800 a pair, active or passive.

Oh, but if it's passive, you have to include the cost of an amp, too.