Intriguing inquiry, are floor-stand speakers always better than active speakers?

[Preston8452]

Hi guys,

Just a general wondering though, nowadays I've seen a lot of new active speakers, and truth to be told, I find them quite professional indeed, when I go into an audio shop and ask some advice, some might even encourage to purchase the bookshelf speakers, as they're more cost-effective and space-saving hahah.

All that asides, regarding the sound quality matter, it ain't bad at all, but I'm not sure if it's my living room just not that big or some technical matters, the sound experience is actually vivid, but yeah I also think when you put the extra circuit inside the speaker for amplifying use, it'd certainly affect the original performance more or less. Especially under this digital streaming era, every part seems to be specifically separated, so it can perform to its fullest, and lessen the interference between each device.

Anyways, let me know what you think, I'd be grateful, or maybe share you existing setup with us!

Best,

 

[MTB Vince]

Well designed active loudspeakers come in floor standing versions too, they are just a little less common. I'm very much a fan of great active loudspeakers, though not so much the current lot of "everything-but-the-kitchen-sink" consumer actives. After having owned several '90s Meridian actives which used exclusively digital inputs and DSP based electronic crossovers, I've come to the conclusion that I like my active speakers with analog electronic crossovers and class AB amplification. Implemented well, I see no significant downside to having the electronic crossover and amplification onboard the loudspeaker.



My dual duty music and cinema big rig uses five identical ATC SCM20 ASL Pro active studio monitors underpinned by a quartet of Seaton Submersive HP active subs. This system features completely separate stereo and multi-channel signal chains which share only the front stereo pair of ATCs and the subwoofer array.





The living room set-up uses a pair of of Meridian's late '80s flagship 3-way active M100s (which look better with the grills on ).

 

[Preston8452]

Well designed active loudspeakers come in floor standing versions too, they are just a little less common. I'm very much a fan of great active loudspeakers, though not so much the current lot of "everything-but-the-kitchen-sink" consumer actives. After having owned several '90s Meridian actives which used exclusively digital inputs and DSP based electronic crossovers, I've come to the conclusion that I like my active speakers with analog electronic crossovers and class AB amplification. Implemented well, I see no significant downside to having the electronic crossover and amplification onboard the loudspeaker.

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My dual duty music and cinema big rig uses five identical ATC SCM20 ASL Pro active studio monitors underpinned by a quartet of Seaton Submersive HP active subs. This system features completely separate stereo and multi-channel signal chains which share only the front stereo pair of ATCs and the subwoofer array.



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The living room set-up uses a pair of of Meridian's late '80s flagship 3-way active M100s (which look better with the grills on ).

Geez, those setups look quite fascinating haha, I currently only have a Silent Angel Rhein Z1 as a Roon Core, and Munich M1T as a Roon Ready streamer, then to PS Audio DAC, then to KEP active speakers, which the sound quality ain't bad at all lol.

 

[MTB Vince]

I'm a physical media guy exclusively when it comes to listening to music for pleasure. Sure I have a big Itunes library of lossless ripped CDs but that is for background music and teaching Spinning classes. You can call me old school, a luddite, or what have you, but I want to own a physical copy of the media I like and I love the ritual of putting on a CD or an LP and just listening.

Despite having subscriptions to Netflix, PrimeTV, Crave, Disney+, Paramount TV, and Apple TV- I also feel much the same way about great TV and movies. So where possible I buy the highest resolution physical media format of my favorite movies and TV shows. Surprise, surprise... They look and sound WAY better on Blu Ray or 4k discs than they ever do streamed.