idea of using Active Monitors for HT

[Tarheel_]

I was reading a forum thread on Audiogon recently and came across an interesting one. The theme was using active monitors all the way around with a separate sub for 5.1. The main case was placement options and the lack of needing an expensive separate amp. JBL and others have room correction programs which help integrate the speakers into your room. Pretty cool stuff.

Never really considered this route, but it has it's merits. Wondering if anyone here has an opinion or owes a pair.

Here's a few URLs if your interested...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search...597+4291399742

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr...openfrom&2&4#2

[Feanor]

I was reading a forum thread on Audiogon recently and came across an interesting one. The theme was using active monitors all the way around with a separate sub for 5.1. The main case was placement options and the lack of needing an expensive separate amp. JBL and others have room correction programs which help integrate the speakers into your room. Pretty cool stuff.

Never really considered this route, but it has it's merits. Wondering if anyone here has an opinion or owes a pair.

Here's a few URLs if your interested...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search...597+4291399742

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr...openfrom&2&4#2

I think using active monitors could make a lot of sense for the reasons you indicate. A couple of the big reasons are the optimization of the built-in amplifier or multiple amps for bi- or tri-ampoing, and the bass adjustments for room placement, i.e. on-wall or corner placement vs. mid-room.

There are plenty of active monitors available, though you'll need to look for them under "professional studio monitors" instead of "home audio".

On the negative side, there is a lack of affordably priced pre/pros with balance outputs.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

As a person who has been using PMC and Genelec active monitors for years, this is an excellent way to do a home theater. All you need is source components, and these speakers, and you are ready to go. There are tons of benefits to going this way. The amps and speakers can be designed from the ground up to work with each other. There are excellent calibration and equalization DSP's on board, so there is no need for an external black optimization box.

[E-Stat]

The theme was using active monitors all the way around with a separate sub for 5.1. The main case was placement options and the lack of needing an expensive separate amp.

There's fundamentally no difference with using actives in a 5.1 environment than with 2.0, 7.2 or whatever you please. The advantages and tradeoffs are pretty much the same. I used active monitors back in the 70s. Just ensure you have AC power in all the places it needs to be.

rw