Active streaming loudspeakers, such as the $2,800 KEF LS50 Wireless II, promise all the performance of a traditional component-based stereo system combined with the simplicity of a “lifestyle” audio product. These products have become very popular, so there’s clearly a market for compact, all-in-one audio systems. But will hardcore audiophiles ever replace their big two-channel rigs with all-inclusive active streaming speakers?
Active Speaker Advantages:
- Analog crossovers replaced with Active for better driver integration and higher efficiency
- Bi or triamplified system
- DSP tuning and sometimes room correction for optimized performance
It’s probably fair to assume that some audiophiles would never give up the freedom and the fun that can come with assembling a component-based system from scratch. And the loudspeaker manufacturers featured here aren’t about to stop producing regular passive speakers any time soon. But even ignoring the convenience and space savings provided by an active streaming speaker, there may be truth to the notion that these designs can simply deliver more pure performance per dollar than a comparably-priced component system. For every separate component you buy, you’re paying for a chassis, power supply, maybe a display, cables, and more. These active streaming systems condense your money into one purchase, letting it go farther than it otherwise could. And while an active streaming speaker doesn’t let you decide which components to pair together, there’s something to be said for removing the guesswork both for you and for the speaker designer. When building a passive loudspeaker, the designers have no clue what electronics the customer will use. But when you buy an active streaming speaker, you are relinquishing control to the designers, effectively letting the same people you trust to engineer a great-sounding speaker have the autonomy they need to make that speaker sound its best. Is that a compromise that you’re willing to make?
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Read: Can Active Streaming Speakers Replace a High-End Stereo System?