Interesting article. I have a query - i have 2 pairs of speakers which are beolab 8000 & Beolab 6000. I am currently running both in different rooms directly with an ipod. These are active speakers and which I want to now use together. How do i match any good preamp with it ?

My2cents: If you’re using a consumer grade receiver the power amps are a good part of what you paid for and it makes little sense to buy powered speakers.  If you are in the middle, between mass consumer, and “high end” i.e. you opted for an AV preamp/processor sans amps but are not a died in the wool audio file then powered speakers are definitely your best bet as they will keep you from throwing money away on amps that are over speced, over engineered, or mystically engineered.

I use powered Event monitors in my studio and in my media room use biamped ML Prodigies powered by what most audiophiles would consider low grade amplifiers that are driven by DBX digital Xovers.  I’ve yet to have anyone who auditioned the system find fault with it and that includes professional classical musicians and engineers.

This article is well written and does an excellent job at identifying the important distinction between “active” and “powered” loudspeakers which by design has misled consumers for some time. The drawbacks inherent to passive crossovers are many and Bart LoPiccolo from Genelec did a good job at explaining some of the key issues from the company that is most credited with the proliferation of active speaker technology. What I believe is worth mentioning is, just because you may own or choose to purchase a receiver with an amplifier section, this does not negate the advantage of active loudspeakers. Many feel that this is a waste of the money spent on the built-in amp portion. Not so, even if you utilize on the preamp section of a decent receiver by connecting preamp line out to your active speakers you still have gotten your money’s worth. Receivers from companies like Denon, Integra and the like have an economy of scale that could be considered to make the amplifier section free. Dedicated preamp/processors begin at price points well above the pedestrian $1200 receiver. Preamp/Processors are costly in large part due to the fact that engineering costs must be distributed across far fewer sales when compared to a receiver that will be sold at countless mass merchandisers. The receiver is a very economical way to put a full-featured preamp in front of a nice pair of Genelecs, Dyns or whatever you may choose and the active technology will have first-time listeners breaking out their CD collection for a fresh listen guaranteed.

Nice balance in the article.  Not.  Love how all the “experts” are from companies that specialize in powered speakers.  Why bother to write something this one-sided?

I have a small band and would like advice on the best speaker system or audio system to use. Usually i have 2 singers, 3 musicians tops. Any advice?

I wasn’t aware of the many ripples and depth to this story until I   surfed here through Google! Great job.
Trivia Questions

I have an older Mac G4 that I now run through a very cheap home theater system in my basement.  Better than the computer’s sound output for sure. Is the sound output relative to the computer or relative to the powered speaker’s capabilities.  What’s available for purchase?