Why do passive speakers still exist?

[pseudoid]

They can and they would sound even better as a contemporary active, the reason they aren’t is because of the whole stinking ‘upgrade’ paradigm.
Keith

I think you mean being FORCED to throw out a perfectly working power-amp if the passive parts need to be upgraded... or being FORCED to throw out perfectly working passive parts, when more power is needed.

There is also a similar paradigm, if someone opts to marry desktop/monitor speakers with a subwoofer (rather than opting for floor-standers which are 'full range').

 

[levimax]

I bought a pair of these Bang & Olufson Penta speakers in 1986, active speakers and active towers are nothing new.

 

[Pearljam5000]

YG Acoustics VANTAGE 3 Live
Active towers , $60K a pair

 

[FrantzM]

YG Acoustics VANTAGE 3 Live
Active towers , $60K a pair View attachment 292507View attachment 292508View attachment 292509

They're aluminum... they sound good...

Peace.

 

[juliangst]

Good passive speakers like Kefs and Revels still have the edge over active speakers imo. Most actives, even the 8361a, are limited by the internal amplification and build in limiters and their distortion figures aren't much better than those of passives (just compare the 10.000€ 8361a to the 2000€ Kef R3 Meta for example).

There of course are exceptions to this but my general impression is that passives still are viable options. The best of both worlds would be an active speaker with external amplifications and crossover. This would allow for bigger higher power amps and you don't need a power outlet next to each speaker

 

[Pearljam5000]

They're aluminum... they sound good...

Peace.

After I found out the Utopias are MDF I'm more fine with it now

 

[Angsty]

Yeah, because they don't exist. Active floorstanders aren't really a thing.

Not below US$3000, but the KEF LS60 is a real thing.

LS60 Wireless

It will feel like you’re inside the game, the film, the music. Refining what immersive experience really means, the LS60 Wireless delivers truly realistic, high-fidelity sound for home entertainment. Its slim, plug and play design, packed with KEF’s key technology, offers the whole package: not...

us.kef.com

 

[dfuller]

Not below US$3000, but the KEF LS60 is a real thing.

LS60 Wireless

It will feel like you’re inside the game, the film, the music. Refining what immersive experience really means, the LS60 Wireless delivers truly realistic, high-fidelity sound for home entertainment. Its slim, plug and play design, packed with KEF’s key technology, offers the whole package: not...

us.kef.com

Again, one of like 5 I can think of.

Good passive speakers like Kefs and Revels still have the edge over active speakers imo. Most actives, even the 8361a, are limited by the internal amplification and build in limiters and their distortion figures aren't much better than those of passives (just compare the 10.000€ 8361a to the 2000€ Kef R3 Meta for example).

There of course are exceptions to this but my general impression is that passives still are viable options. The best of both worlds would be an active speaker with external amplifications and crossover. This would allow for bigger higher power amps and you don't need a power outlet next to each speaker

The 8361A has 700 watts of amp just for the woofers. I don't think I'd call that much of a limitation.

The R3 Meta is a good speaker, of that there is no doubt. However, you need to factor in the cost of a competent amp, which even if you get one of the dirt cheap Hypex assembler amps, you're still looking at adding an additional 500-1500 dollars to that cost.

 

[Angsty]

Again, one of like 5 I can think of.

I’m expecting more from KEF as they demonstrate there is a real market. This is a great leap for those who have not already invested in separate amps, preamps, streamers, DACs, etc. For those moving from a primarily headphone based setup to a floorstander, this makes sense.

 

[MoreWatts]

The best of both worlds would be an active speaker with external amplifications and crossover. This would allow for bigger higher power amps and you don't need a power outlet next to each speaker

Bryston does this with their 'T Active' speakers, with large and medium floorstander, and standmount models. They have an external crossover box with DSP, and then use various Bryston amp combinations to achieve 6 channels (I think) of amplification. The set-up with the top floorstander can go over $20K.

No, this is not an example of a viable 'active floostander.' There's boxes and cables everywhere.

 

[Purité Audio]

Good passive speakers like Kefs and Revels still have the edge over active speakers imo. Most actives, even the 8361a, are limited by the internal amplification and build in limiters and their distortion figures aren't much better than those of passives (just compare the 10.000€ 8361a to the 2000€ Kef R3 Meta for example).

There of course are exceptions to this but my general impression is that passives still are viable options. The best of both worlds would be an active speaker with external amplifications and crossover. This would allow for bigger higher power amps and you don't need a power outlet next to each speaker

No they really don’t have an edge, passive speakers are still made mostly because the ‘industry’ demands it, actives mean no chance to ‘upgrade’ it has been the fallacy which enthusiasts have been fed for the last forty years, ‘the ultimate sound is within reach just one more upgrade’ sickening, also many traditional makers simply do not have the skill set to make a contemporary active speaker, driver stuffing is much simpler.
Keith

 

[dfuller]

No they really don’t have an edge, passive speakers are still made mostly because the ‘industry’ demands it, actives mean no chance to ‘upgrade’ it has been the fallacy which enthusiasts have been fed for the last forty years, ‘the ultimate sound is within reach just one more upgrade’ sickening, also many traditional makers simply do not have the skill set to make a contemporary active speaker, driver stuffing is much simpler.
Keith

It's not even as though they need to go full DSP, analog active can achieve stellar results (see: Neumann, to some extent PSI). But I guess you can't put magic capacitors in to lift veils.

I’m expecting more from KEF as they demonstrate there is a real market. This is a great leap for those who have not already invested in separate amps, preamps, streamers, DACs, etc. For those moving from a primarily headphone based setup to a floorstander, this makes sense.

Yes, I'd love to see more. That said, $7000 for the LS60s... oof. That's a lot. You can get a lot of speaker for that much if you don't care about it being rather studio utilitarian.

 

[juliangst]

No they really don’t have an edge

So why do Kii Three, D&D 8c and Genelecs which are all active and should be 'better' have higher distortion than a pair of 2000€ Kefs?

 

[Purité Audio]

I have tried the ‘traditional’ actives, PSI and ATc of course I was slightly underwhelmed why not embrace new technology, if of course you are capable.
Keith

 

[Purité Audio]

So why do Kii Three, D&D 8c and Genelecs which are all active and should be 'better' have higher distortion than a pair of 2000€ Kefs?

I have all three their ‘distortion’ is inaudible , unless you desire permanent hearing damage.
Keith

 

[dfuller]

So why do Kii Three, D&D 8c and Genelecs which are all active and should be 'better' have higher distortion than a pair of 2000€ Kefs?

Kii and D&D are because of the cardioid loading, that's the tradeoff. Genelec... doesn't?

 

[juliangst]

I have all three their ‘distortion’ is inaudible

That's irrelevant. I just want to make the point that passives are not worse than actives and can even be better in some regards (like distortion in this example)

unless you desire permanent hearing damage

depends on listening distance

 

[Purité Audio]

But they are worse than contemporary actives in every metric, I suggest you actually compare something like the 8Cs to the KEFs ( which are extremely good designs) or ask the KEf designer who stated here that he would personally prefer to design a contemporary active more like the LS60.
Passives just support dealers, sell a pair of actives and you never see the customer again, with passives and a gullible customer the world is your lobster.
Keith

 

[juliangst]

We really need active Blade Metas

 

[gnarly]

Why do passive speakers still exist?​

Well, passives do hold time honored respect and rightly so, for the very simplest of speakers (small 2-ways)

Past that they suck, and should be buried!!!!

So why do passives beyond simple two-ways still exist ?
Hey, everyone wants to think they're right .......think they have it all already........and think no further expense/effort is needed !!