Easier said than done. I don’t believe we’ll be able to offer that option because the woofer will be DSP and (possibly) servo controlled. It will need to be handled by our own dedicated amplifier. As James writes, the rest will be up to you.
Aye you folks are best placed to do the woofer fir sure
Be interesting to see how many get their screwdrivers out to actively cross over the rest.
I have a feeling they will sound pretty good without, but some of us just got a tinker
do passive crossovers choke more of signal strength than active X/overs and multiple amplifiers work way better with a narrower bandwidth to amplify?
Yes,but not an issue with modern amps.
Also, yes, but less of an issue with modern amps, though separating the bass off can be a good thing.
I never recommend DIY active unless the person concerned really understands filters and their interactions though.
Curious about the same. What are the pros and cons of a passive speaker versus an active speaker? When I say active I’m referring to speakers with amplification but without digital inputs.
without any real understanding, (and I’ll be the 2nd to admit it) i just plugged in my analog mono 3-way Krell KBX’s and used the individual driver’s/channel’s volume controls to control their power output, matching the output volume levels, at the listening position, by ear… room correction without additional DSP processing in the signal path…preserving the original signal’s integrity…
My DEQX unit is calibrated by DEQX dialling in and me placing the mic near the drivers individually (I take the digital feeds out of the DEQX unit into the dacs and then into the amps/drivers). They then time align within each driver and time align between drivers and digitally cross over leaving me to play with parametric equalisers. If I didn’t want them to dial in I could configure crossover points and choose different types of crossover algorithm and slope - I choose to go ‘the whole hog’ and let them do the best they can (I don’t have a deep enough understanding of how to process the impulse response measurements).
This was the most inspiring perspective for the next years!! Now I see an active PSA speaker (line?) on the horizon from a company with top high end speaker AND amp skill. A dream! I hope when it is realized I have the room and wallet size to take the chance!
I’m quite sure this will make PSA quite unique and possibly initiate an „active“ spring in high end audio People will get rid of their biggest problems. (room/speaker/component change matching) and additionally provide another level of immediacy and other SQ characteristics.
I’m glad you think so highly of your P.A. amp. I know what active crossovers are, lol. Your original post asked about active SPEAKERS. That is a speaker that is self powered, not a speaker with an active crossover.
You’ll never convince me a 34lb, 600watt, P.A. amp with a 3 speed fan is equal to the rest of your system. Your opinion is the only one that matters to your implementation though. Please don’t feel you need to justify your choices. I am merely sharing my opinion.
Others read my original post in the way that I intended - you’re obviously unique.
Yes, except for jamesh, The PS Whiz Kid! Lol. I guess we thought you used the correct terminology. I’m not sure why you keep addressing me in an aggressive manner. Must be important to convince me?
Jamesh replied to me over 20 minutes after I wrote this:
It’s only a matter of making connection options so you can choose to bypass the crossovers and connect directly to the drivers.
So, I made it abundantly clear to all except you as to what I meant. I speak English ):-
Dude, drop it, I don’t care what amp you use! Enjoy your audiophile grade Crown PA amp.
“Yes, the last I heard, the only active portion of the speakers will be the woofer section. All else passive.” jamesh.
Hope I’m not the cause of this spat
I wish my memory was better (I’m not even that old), but I’m pretty sure I was addressing Kyle’s comment about only the woofers being active.
Sorry fellas.
No worries! I was responding to danofesherintheuk’s comment, “Why Not Build In The Option To Drive The Upper Frequencies Actively?.”
Drive, implies amplify. It’s clear, from subsequent posts, he meant, crossover.
Doesn’t change the fact, an old crown PA amp, is, inferior to BHK. I don’t want ANY fans in my listening environment, period!
I’m allowed to have the opinion, Crown amps are for PA applications, not audiophile bliss!
Kyle, we agree on something - the amp is located in the adjoining room. Happy Christmas, Dan.
Ummm…ok…
That’s because Linn speakers are built to sound “not so good” passive so you spend the money buying all the amps and whatnot. I’ve rebuilt Linn passive crossovers and the difference is night and day.
Ultimately, like everything else, active vs passive is 100% dependant on the implementation.
I have just moved my Canton “full range” another 4” farther from the wall, to about 12”. They are passive front firing reflex speakers. I got more bass all right, but it wasn’t natural, like resonating at certain frequency. Downside of a small listening room I am afraid. Room treatments are a NoGo, it’s our living room.
With this experience and all the threads I have followed, next system is going to be with DSP driven subwoofers integrated into the left and right speakers, then mid and treble passive and preferably analog as for quality time listening, vinyl and DSD are my personal preference.
I just do not want to spend thousands on a pair of speakers just to find out that the Bass is either not deep enough or that I can’t suppress the resonance low frequency.
So the AN3 concept rather fits this checklist only not the cost aspect anymore. Hope this tech can be implemented in the Stellar.
Otherwise the Klipsch Forte Driving the bass active with high power DSP like Dirk explained, Avantgarde Acoustic Zero XD TA Teil Aktiv (German for , 104 dB), Rowen Symphony S12 (92 dB, closed cabinet) Rowen, like Linn makes the active filters available dedicated to those speakers.
I’ve heard the Rowen, driven with NAD Amps, the Avantgarde Acoustic Uno XD, bigger brother of the Zero driven by Octave integrated tube amp for midth and treble. In both cases the sound was incredibly impressive. The UNO’s like the AN3’s over my budget, but the principle of the Active Bass in the AN’s is definitely the way to go, for my taste that is. So it’s exciting to see what will be released next year.
If this is indeed a next generation speaker plan, an all active AN Series,
I am all for it. Good companies, like ATC, have improved their sound with
matched integral amps and have reduced overall costs for the same
verses outboard amps and cables. PSA has the amp chops and promising
(passive) speaker line. Seems like an obvious future marriage.