Re: [ARSCLIST] Cables- was Can 78s sound better than LPs?

[Tom Fine <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Speakers have become very commoditized, especially small, near-field types. The sound quality, at 
least to my ears, runs the whole range. I generally understand very well WHY powered speakers SHOULD 
sound better (amp is tuned to speaker, can be EQ'd for flat response with given drivers and cabinet, 
etc) but many that I've heard don't sound very good. I know a studio monitor needs to be honest, not 
sweet. But many of the amplified speakers I've heard sound overly bright and I guess I'd say overly 
aggressive -- like they were tuned by people with Napoleon complexes. I use passive speakers with a 
very good amp, at least to may ears (ADA 200WPC FET amp, circa 1990). My speakers are near-field and 
I have a fiberglass baffle behind them. Stuff that comes out of the studio, so far, works for the 
clients, so I consider them reliable. On the other hand, for big speakers in big rooms, there is an 
argument nowadays to investigate DIGITAL (DSP) crossovers and as many as 4 different amps per 
channel. This is TOTAL heresy to the analog/vintage crowd, of course.

-- Tom Fine


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lou Judson" <loujudson@xxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 10:36 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Cables- was Can 78s sound better than LPs?


I have to challenge this. I have no idea if a similar model of speaker
has the same components inside of powered vs unpowered versions. It is
entirely possible they put in a cheap crossover in order to sell more
powered versions.

While I have never done any tests - I don't use powered speakers as
they are too heavy, and I do live sound all the time - It would take a
careful matching of amps and crossovers to eliminate the variables...
Who knows, maybe having the amps built in the back of a speaker with
inches instead of feet of wire IS the ideal design. In my experience,
Mackie HR studio speakers sound great, while Mackie and JBL PA speakers
sound better to me in externally powered versions. But then, it is hard
to compare because of the material other people play on their systems,
as I like my kind of music better and have never been able to set them
up side by side. So shut my mouth, I dunno...

Lou Judson • Intuitive Audio
415-883-2689

On Aug 28, 2006, at 5:29 AM, Steven Smolian wrote:

> I expect cable length has more to do with it than thickness.  All other things being equal, I've 
> found powered speakers sound better- more open- than the same speakers with external 
> amplification.