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Which speaker setup best describes your primary audio system?

Please choose the option below that best describes your primary system

  • Passive stereo 2.0

    Votes: 82 26.4%
  • Active stereo 2.0

    Votes: 31 10.0%
  • Passive stereo 2.x

    Votes: 69 22.2%
  • Active stereo 2.x

    Votes: 49 15.8%
  • Multichannel 3.x

    Votes: 5 1.6%
  • Multichannel 5.x

    Votes: 32 10.3%
  • Multichannel 7.x

    Votes: 13 4.2%
  • Multichannel 9.x

    Votes: 7 2.3%
  • Multichannel 11.x or more

    Votes: 10 3.2%
  • Something else (please post details)

    Votes: 13 4.2%

  • Total voters
    311
  • Poll closed .

maverickronin

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Going to be passive 2.2 soon enough I hope.

Currently using Kef R3s. Building pair of dual opposed subs with Dayton Ultimax 12s. BSS Blu 160 for crossover.
 

JustJones

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I've played around with a lot of different setups during covid but running passive 2.0 now.
 

kthulhutu

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OP should've included headphones in the poll. I personally am curious how big the divide between headphone and speaker users is.
 

Chrispy

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A poll on all audio systems in the household might be interesting, too.
 
OP
Rick Sykora

Rick Sykora

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OP should've included headphones in the poll. I personally am curious how big the divide between headphone and speaker users is.

Thanks and realized right after I completed the poll that I excluded IEM and headphone users. Suspect we have some members that get analyst reports that should compare the market sizes. Otherwise, is a good candidate for a follow-up poll.
 

Chrispy

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OP should've included headphones in the poll. I personally am curious how big the divide between headphone and speaker users is.
 

sarumbear

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Going to be passive 2.2 soon enough I hope.

Currently using Kef R3s. Building pair of dual opposed subs with Dayton Ultimax 12s. BSS Blu 160 for crossover.
Is it passive 2.2 if you use an active crossover?
 

Martin

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I voted passive stereo 2.0 because that is what I use for music. I occasionally use the system with headphones. (I have a Benchmark HPA4 preamplifier / headphone amplifier.) I also have a multichannel 7.x system for TV & movies and an active stereo 2.0 system in my office.

Martin
 

Thomas_A

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Have 4.2.2. I may go 5.2.2 but need a good diy idea for a double center, below and above TV.
 

sergeauckland

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As long as the speaker cabinet does not have any internal amplification, it should be considered passive.
Many active pro monitors have the amps and crossovers externally, both for space and heat reasons, so it can't be said that only internal amplification can be called active. It depends where the crossovers are, before or after the power amps that determines passive or active.

S
 

Pretorious

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Passive 2.0. Extremely pleased with the sound, and never desired to devote the effort into blending a sub into this system. This setup is all I need to enjoy.
 

LightninBoy

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So far, in a board for audio enthusiasts, at least 87.3% have 5 channels or less.

But the manufacturers keep pumping out 9+ channel monstrosities.
 

Chrispy

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So far, in a board for audio enthusiasts, at least 87.3% have 5 channels or less.

But the manufacturers keep pumping out 9+ channel monstrosities.
So you need more 2ch audio enthusiasts it seems in order to make such equipment available at as competitive of price perhaps. Economies of scale are what they are. This forum is more 2ch focused than some others, too.
 

DWPress

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It depends where the crossovers are, before or after the power amps that determines passive or active.

That was what I was getting at - until this new generation of POWERED speakers came along for home use active meant XO scheme. Some of these have DSP integrated but many still have passive XO inside.
 

sarumbear

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Many active pro monitors have the amps and crossovers externally, both for space and heat reasons, so it can't be said that only internal amplification can be called active. It depends where the crossovers are, before or after the power amps that determines passive or active.

S
In the poster’s case, both internal (passive) and external (active) crossovers are used.
 

vicenzo_del_paris

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Voted "something else" as my system is a mix of other options.

For music it is 2.1, a streamer connected to preamp/DSP/active crossover that feeds both a power amp with passive main speakers and an active sub.
For TV and movies, it is 5.1, an AVR feeding passive surrounds/center speakers and the same preamp/DSP/active crossover for mains and LFE channels (as for music).

Primarily focused on music but also watching TV & movies!

For home office, it is 2.0 (laptop + active speakers).
 

ZööZ

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I guess 6.2.2 for now (Mains/surrounds and subs active, top middles passive) although most of my music and tv listening is either 2.2 with LR or 2.0 with the top middles or 3.2.2 mchstereo .
Movies, gaming and occasional atmos etc. music with everything on obviously.
 
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