Fullrangers win Stereophile product of the year

[Ajani]

While I think you're right, I also think that consumer, active speakers would be, (indeed are), quite feasible and could be sold relatively economically. Again, professional monitors are proof of this. Passive speakers and separate amps are much a traditional as anything else.

In the HT and low-end markets, people are used to buying receivers and integrateds -- it's a mind set and it's what the big companies are delivering. In the high-end market I think the tweaking aspect, not to mention the fixation on tubes, is more important.

I think active speakers will gain traction with the younger crowd; Those persons who don't regard "convenience" as a bad word. Older die-hard audiophiles are far less likely to accept the lack of tweaking options... However persons who just want plug and play combined with great sound quailty, will be more open to the concept... I gave my younger brother my M-Audio actives and he is in love with them (no way would he ever opt for typical audiophile seperates), So I can certainly see active speakers connected to Dock/Dac/Computer gaining popularity...

But to me when you're in the $30k range, I think it's sane that a speaker ought to come with a custom crossover network & amps finely tuned to the drivers and box. My experience with digital amps demostrates to me that you don't need large, heavy, very expensive power amps. If you want to color you music, do it at the front end with a tube preamp.

If you're spending $30K, you should be ridiculously demanding about exactly what you want... With that kind of coin you could have your setup custom built if you so desire...