Quote Originally Posted by cackalacky
The speakers I described will be for my desktop, but now I'm intrigued with the idea of powered speakers in a primary system. Mackie and others do this well with P.A speakers. Anyone doing it with stereo or home theater?
My thought, (not my experience, though), is that self-powered speakers make excellent sense for home theatre. However there are some practical downsides.

In the first place, you need either an HT preamp, a.k.a. "prepro", or a receiver with preamp outputs -- this requirement limits your choice of equipment, usually to more expensive models.

Other than that, the most desireable self-powered speakers will have certain characteristics that limit choice:
  1. Settings to adjust bass output depending on placement, that is, proximity to walls or corners: this also limits choice somewhat.
  2. "Controlled dispersion" or similar description indicating that the width of spread of, especially, high-frequency sound is relatively limited so that the effect of room reflections are accordingly limited;
  3. Balance inputs, typically with XLR-type connectors, because balance cable runs have much higher noise and interference rejection than the single-end, RCA type. But to take advantage of these your prepro or receiver must have balanced rather than just RCA outputs. If you must use RCA connections, make sure the cable is high quality, shielded type.