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Why do passive speakers still exist?

Passives still exist because there's a market for them, because some companies can't make actives, and because some people don't want them.

None of my hifi is integrated. I have a pc, a dac, a transport, pre and monoblocks with passive speakers.

I have no wish to include two device groups in one chassis, it just leads to quicker obsolescence
 
Possibly, but better sound quality. I prefer to enjoy the sound quality now while I am still alive.
Keith
 
I don't see active speakers gaining widespread consumer acceptance until/if the receivers can output POE (power over ethernet) that could accomodate a few hundred watts; especially for surround systems.

Another option is wireless (multichannel bluetooth or something similar), thus leaving only the need for power fed to each speaker.

This would reduce the wiring required to one cable/speaker.

It probably not going to happen, given the limited market (if you want to sell a large number of anything, you need to make it like a refrigerator or cell phone; something that everyone wants and thinks they need), plus the need for R&D, engineering effort, manufacturing and marketing to bring it about.
 
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Are there active speakers that can hit the performance of the Revel M16 for the price of a pair of M16s + amp? Let's say around $1200-$1500?

I'd seriously consider that but right now I've got my eyes set on a pair of M16s and an Audiophonics Nc252MP amp.
 
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So, why do those stupid engineers and businessmen still design, manufacture and sell passive speakers?

Because AVRs with multiple built-in amplifiers and DSP are cheaper than AVPs?

Disclaimer: I have one of neither.
 
Because AVRs with multiple built-in amplifiers and DSP are cheaper than AVPs?

Disclaimer: I have one of neither.
It was very difficult to understand what AVP means :(
Well, it's a kind of indistinct "processor" for something.
OK.
I love conspiracy theories and even collect them, but in this case, I beg to differ.
For a long time, everything digital is cheap. The most expensive chip (or 2 chips) DAC in small quantities costs about $ 100, which is absolutely nothing considering the almost complete functionality and parameters. All-digital amplifiers (whatever that means, they exist in the form of a single chip) generally cost a couple of dollars. Switching converters (for powering) are also worth nonsense.
It's not about cost at all.
It is precisely active speakers that bring manufacturers very good profits, it seems, much more than the production of such traditional separate components as amplifiers and so on.
I tend to think that not all consumers love active speakers. For some, they are convenient, but for some, their limitations are simply inconvenient. For example, pulling analog inputs to them is illogical, and using an additional analog-to-digital conversion for speakers is all the more illogical.
There is nothing wrong with active active speakers.
For some, they are enough.

PS
I'm sorry, I don't know a lot about multi-channel systems because I don't use them myself and don't know the people who use them, sometimes it seems to me that all these "home theaters" are something dusty from the early 2000s. It's hard to find a good mastering of a stereo recording, what can we say about this synthetic multichannel :(
 
It was very difficult to understand what AVP means

The general term AVR indicates Audio/Visual Receiver. It is assumed most or all of the channels have amplifiers in the unit. I think it may be rare to also have a pre-out on all those channels.

An AVP is an Audio/Visual Processor. It is assumed they do not have amplfication, only pre-outs, maybe a choice of RCA or XLR, and they tend to be much more expensive than an equivalent AVR.

I too have neither.

Stereo is good enough.

 
I don't see active speakers gaining widespread consumer acceptance until/if the receivers can output POE (power over ethernet) that could accomodate a few hundred watts; especially for surround systems.

Another option is wireless (multichannel bluetooth or something similar), thus leaving only the need for power fed to each speaker.

This would reduce the wiring required to one cable/speaker.

It probably not going to happen, given the limited market (if you want to sell a large number of anything, you need to make it like a refrigerator or cell phone; something that everyone wants and thinks they need), plus the need for R&D, engineering effort, manufacturing and marketing to bring it about.

There are already wisa-standard compliant speakers from System Audio, Buchard, Phonar etc...

wisa enables multichannel 24-bit/96 kHz transmission.
 
There are already wisa-standard compliant speakers from System Audio, Buchard, Phonar etc...

wisa enables multichannel 24-bit/96 kHz transmission.
Sounds promising, but they lost me at the mention of a 7.1.4 soundbar...
 
I also like the idea of WiSA for clutter free setups but I have no idea how you would set them up in a multichannel setup.
Are there devices that can do the room, level and delay calibration for WiSA setups?
 
There are already wisa-standard compliant speakers from System Audio, Buchard, Phonar etc...

wisa enables multichannel 24-bit/96 kHz transmission.
I’m confused by this. The system appears to just be a standard ad hoc Wi-Fi system. Where I live we already have congestion problems in a small block of apartments, though it’s improved as devices have found homes across different bands.
Multiple ad hoc networks in larger blocks are going to bring all that trouble back.

Also, 12 - 15 power points for speakers is entirely possible for those of you with dedicated rooms, but where I live ceiling speakers are effectively banned and some walls can’t be touched either.

Following recent lectures from others here about not trying hard enough, I started exploring wireless multichannel network n my living room and hit on four figure quotes for one(!) additional power point in an awkward corner with a requirement to get permission from strata management.

I guess ther’s always that Sony soundbar with detachable wireless battery powered speakers for the rears…
 
@juliangst which part of their axial response is “good measurements” to you?
 
This kit from ex machina is cool and I like how it's active with less cabling and aluminum cabinets!
shame that they're not very good speakers.

I mean...
Titan-Coax-Angle-Vs-Freq-2048x755.png
 
The off axis response is really sad. I still like the overall idea but the price is a bit steep as well.
You could get 4x Genelec 4430A for almost half the price and have a set of fairly small aluminium enclosure speakers that only requires one cable as well.
Just with much better performance
 
I’m confused by this. The system appears to just be a standard ad hoc Wi-Fi system. Where I live we already have congestion problems in a small block of apartments, though it’s improved as devices have found homes across different bands.
Multiple ad hoc networks in larger blocks are going to bring all that trouble back.

Also, 12 - 15 power points for speakers is entirely possible for those of you with dedicated rooms, but where I live ceiling speakers are effectively banned and some walls can’t be touched either.

Following recent lectures from others here about not trying hard enough, I started exploring wireless multichannel network n my living room and hit on four figure quotes for one(!) additional power point in an awkward corner with a requirement to get permission from strata management.

I guess ther’s always that Sony soundbar with detachable wireless battery powered speakers for the rears…
WISA operates at bands from 5.2 GHz to 5.8 GHz, whereas wifi uses 2.4 GHz, 5GHz, or 6GHz bands.
 
WISA operates at bands from 5.2 GHz to 5.8 GHz, whereas wifi uses 2.4 GHz, 5GHz, or 6GHz bands.
That’s not what their website says: 2.4 or 5Ghz depending on which version you use. Read from here;

 
That’s not what their website says: 2.4 or 5Ghz depending on which version you use. Read from here;

We are talking about two different flavors of wisa. You are referring to WiSA Discrete System Technology, whereas I was referring to WiSA Home Theater Technology.

Note that Home theater technology uses U-NII bands that are not exactly 5GHz, but as I mentioned earlier from 5.2 to 5.8 GHz.
 
I'd agree; it's a continuum. DSP that is self-contained is likely to last longer than DSP that relies on an external smartphone to manage settings.
Indeed. And furthermore, if you think your room correction settings are eternal once you set them.. what happens when things change, as they sometimes do in life? You will no longer have a working toolset if Dirac v30 discontinued support for your stuff eventually down the line...

In a nutshell, yeah just leave it at integrating an (awesome) DAC at most in active speakers, keep the rest out.
 
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