"Bob Latham" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Serge Auckland wrote:

Arny, as this is a UK news group, we normally use UK nomenclature. This
side of the pond, using two amplifiers but retaining the passive
crossover is generally called "bi-amping" whilst using two amplifiers
with electronic crossovers is generally called "active".

Sounds about right to me.

The former is of no value whilst the latter provides many benefits.

Such overwhelming confidence presumably means you've tried it.


Bob.

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Bob Latham
Stourbridge, West Midlands

As I grew up in Broadcast, active 'speakers were quite common. I discovered
active 'speakers for home use in the mid '80s and have not had passive
'speakers since. In my view there are several benefits from active
operation:-

1) Not having a passive crossover means no resistive losses in the
inevitable series resistance of inductors in series with bass units, and
with consequently better damping factor, although it is a moot point as to
how much the slightly improved damping factor matters.

2) Crossover frequencies and slopes can be much more accurately and
repeatedly tailored with electronic crossovers, especially if done in DSP
than is possible with passive lumped components.

3) The power output of an active system is additive, as the bass amplifiers
only amplify bass signals, ditto for the treble. Using two 100 watt
amplifiers driving 8 ohm bass and treble units is equivalent to a single 400
watt amplifier driving the same drive units passively crossovered as the *
peak voltages* are additive.

4) As I don't get pleasure from owning lots of boxes, nor playing mix 'n
match with amps etc, an active system having everything in the one box is
domestically more acceptable, and is cheaper as you're not paying for fancy
boxes for the amps, nor have to find the space for them.


I use Meridian 'speakers in my main system and small Genelecs in my second
system, and nothing I've heard recently would make me change.

S.



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