MakeMineVinyl
Major Contributor
No doubt that active speakers have the potential (and it is the reality) to perform better than similar passive speakers because of the precision of DSP to tailor the frequency response, phase response and levels. The internal amplifiers can be matched to the requirements of the drivers. They are much more of a plug 'n play solution and they make absolute sense if somebody wants a clean, no hassle system.
Does an active system with external amplifiers, external DSP and external active crossovers have the potential to be better? I would say no generally on a basic performance level. However this route has a lot more of an advantage in terms of flexibility, i.e. the ability to swap out various components, go with vacuum tube amplification, change individual speaker drivers and such. An external active system is a tweaker's delight, although it can be messy as hell to a significant other who doesn't also happen to be a tweaker.
In my opinion, passive crossover speakers seem to be doing it the hard, ineffecient way and don't have nearly the flexibility in comparison to a DSP solution. They sit in a somewhat middle ground between the plug 'n play active speaker and the external active route. Amplifiers can still be changed out to taste, mindlessly expensive cables can be used, and don't forget cable risers.
Myself, I have an external active system but don't use DSP. What filtering is necessary to tailor response of the speakers to the room is done with passive R-L-C filters. The only digital stuff in my chain is a DAC, a Focusrite recording interface, and an older ProTools system.
Does an active system with external amplifiers, external DSP and external active crossovers have the potential to be better? I would say no generally on a basic performance level. However this route has a lot more of an advantage in terms of flexibility, i.e. the ability to swap out various components, go with vacuum tube amplification, change individual speaker drivers and such. An external active system is a tweaker's delight, although it can be messy as hell to a significant other who doesn't also happen to be a tweaker.
In my opinion, passive crossover speakers seem to be doing it the hard, ineffecient way and don't have nearly the flexibility in comparison to a DSP solution. They sit in a somewhat middle ground between the plug 'n play active speaker and the external active route. Amplifiers can still be changed out to taste, mindlessly expensive cables can be used, and don't forget cable risers.
Myself, I have an external active system but don't use DSP. What filtering is necessary to tailor response of the speakers to the room is done with passive R-L-C filters. The only digital stuff in my chain is a DAC, a Focusrite recording interface, and an older ProTools system.