Should I upgrade to active studio monitors from passive setup?

[sabih]

Hi,

I am currently using Wharfedale diamond 10.1 and also have diamond 9.1 speakers and sound quality is pretty enjoyable.
Amplifies are Soul Note sa3.0 and Sa4.0 mono blocks and also Class D O-Noorus D4 [PFFB] upgraded with opamps.
Listening distance is around 4-5 meters and room is medium-large.

I was wondering if I buy JBL 305p, Kali LP6 V2 or any other studio monitor. Will it be an upgrade or downgrade? considering room size and listening distance
Speakers will be used for casual home usage only.

 

[fpitas]

There's nothing that makes an active speaker inherently better than a passive. It's true that some of the better ones have extensive EQ and high-order filters, but you pay for that. The cheaper ones offer convenience in that you don't need a power amp. So, unless you just like to experiment, if you enjoy what you have, it's already paid for.

 

[Marc v E]

The biggest upgrade I perceived is having a subwoofer that handles the low frequencies, a proper crossover and the ability to eq. The latter for integrating the sub and speakers and adjust to the room from 20 hz to about 500 hz.

In my personal experience and opinion there is something about active monitors that just sounds 'right' to me. Can't really explain it, but to me it sounds more instant, natural and effortless. Could be my setup though. In any case,this is a minor effect compared to what i described above about subwoofers and eq. A suitable avr amp or wiim amp ultra can do that for you.

Expect easier to identify instruments and clearer voices after a sub plus eq. A more effortless sound too with scale when necessary.

 

[Redacted]

I'd be OK with the type of active speakers that are purely digitally fed, and optimise XO feed to 2 or three drivers digitally - I don't want to pay for a chain of several concatenated ADC/DAC conversions.

I do like the flexibility to change amps without changing the speakers though (or vice versa).

A speaker with no cross-overs appeals too - if you could use data from the speaker manufacturer (as drivers and cabinets vary) to set the digital filters in your own multi-channel DAC which then feed multiple power amps directly wired to each speaker driver. A bit like an AVR, but a head unit just for stereo, and doing the DSP work. And add room EQ to that!

 

[fpitas]

A speaker with no cross-overs appeals too - if you could use data from the speaker manufacturer (as drivers and cabinets vary) to set the digital filters in your own multi-channel DAC which then feed multiple power amps directly wired to each speaker driver. A bit like an AVR, but a head unit just for stereo, and doing the DSP work. And add room EQ to that!

A setup like that is very flexible, and rewarding in the end, but can be a bit of effort to get right.

 

[Mort]

There's nothing that makes an active speaker inherently better than a passive. It's true that some of the better ones have extensive EQ and high-order filters, but you pay for that. The cheaper ones offer convenience in that you don't need a power amp. So, unless you just like to experiment, if you enjoy what you have, it's already paid for.

Thats not exactly true. There are advantages to both. Active flattens at the crossover. Passive has less hiss.

 

[Redacted]

A setup like that is very flexible, and rewarding in the end, but can be a bit of effort to get right.

Well, people already endless faff about with EQ with varying degrees of satisfaction.

I'm thinking that the envisaged head device would be able to go online and download the filter data for a given speaker, which the users selects using a few clicks and drop-down menus on a phone or PC, and the device just runs with it.

 

[fpitas]

Thats not exactly true. There are advantages to both. Active flattens at the crossover. Passive has less hiss.

Often, but not necessarily.

 

[Redacted]

Thats not exactly true. There are advantages to both. Active flattens at the crossover. Passive has less hiss.

Why would there be more hiss from a digital filter done properly? Does the hiss from a CD player or a decent class-D amp cause issues?

 

[Mort]

Why would there be more hiss from a digital filter done properly?

Because the amp is in front of the crossover

 

[fpitas]

Well, people already endless faff about with EQ with varying degrees of satisfaction.

I'm thinking that the envisaged head device would be able to go online and download the filter data for a given speaker, which the users selects using a few clicks and drop-down menus on a phone or PC, and the device just runs with it.

You are still left with things like baffle step compensation and adjusting delay for driver offset. Ask me how I know

 

[Redacted]

You are still left with things like baffle step compensation and adjusting delay for driver offset. Ask me how I know

Sure, but you sound as if you are making speakers...

A speaker manufacturer would have already modelled XO for the cab and the drivers (you'd expect), so it's only about publishing that in digital filter file format for the same cab with no actual XO components in it. If there were additional optimizations, these could be added to their model, or allow the user to vary some of the parameters (safely) to build custom fileter models online and download them.

I haven't put any effort into thinking this through as my latest marketing gimmick to pull on audiophiles - it was a stream of consciousness as I was typing. That's what 35 years of snifffing marker pens, when stood in front a whiteboard with engineers around you, will do to a man.

 

[fpitas]

Sure, but you sound as if you are making speakers...

Indeed, it builds character.

 

[Cote Dazur]

Speakers will be used for casual home usage only.

What is casual home usage? Having music playing while you do something else?

Will it be an upgrade or downgrade?

It all depends what you are trying to get, presumably that your present set up is not providing. What are you hoping a active speaker will do that your present speaker are not already doing?

 

[Redacted]

Indeed, it builds character.

Are there not enough things to add to one's frustration or to be in tears about?

 

[fpitas]

Are there not enough things to add to one's frustration or to be in tears about?

In a masochistic mood I decided that I should learn to design speakers. It's an engineer thing.

 

[Mort]

Often, but not necessarily.

Often enough that your blanket statement is still wrong. Engineers have some of the worst biases.

 

[fpitas]

Often enough that your blanket statement is still wrong. Engineers have some of the worst biases.

The only agreement you'll get is that active speakers seem to bring out strong feelings.

 

[sabih]

Hmmm. I think I will keep using my systems for now.
But will try something like Kali Audio LP6 V2 out of curiosity just to check why some people are going towards active route.

 

[Cote Dazur]

will try something like Kali Audio LP6 V2 out of curiosity just to check why some people are going towards active route.

By all means, go ahead, but you do not have to try it to find out, just ask them.
Active has a lot of advantages, but you might not be interested in any of them, and , as any solution, their is always plus and minus depending on your particular requirements.
Passive speakers are not going away any time soon and probably ever.