A Need For Powered Speakers?
Do you currently own or have a need for powered speakers? If yes, where? I have a high-end DVD player getting long in the tooth (at least compared to the high-definition dawn of Blu-ray) that I wouldn’t mind converting into an exclusive CD player in a room that currently has no audio playback capability but limited space for a full-blown stereo system with an all-in-one audio receiver, much less a stand-alone pre-amp/amplifier combination. I have my kitchen, dining room, or living room in mind.
In your opinion can powered speakers sound as good as passive speakers paired with an amp or receiver? I don’t have any experience with powered speakers (except perhaps as a reference stretch, my Definitive Technology floor-standing speakers, whose subwoofers are the only drivers powered). Having said that, I think powered speakers can (at least theoretically) sound as good as passive speakers, if the former incorporate quality pre-amp and amplifier capabilities and involve a reliably good signal receiver.
If you add wireless surround speakers to your home theater system, will they match the sound quality of your passive speakers? Is this something you would consider doing? There is no doubt a growing market for wireless home theater components, especially surround speakers (and subwoofers). Assuming such speakers have the matching acoustic timbre with the three front channels presumably built by the same manufacturer – and, the bigger assumption, there is no signal loss or compromise in the wireless signal transmission – then I would consider wireless surround speakers in a future home theater system.
If you use a desktop computer speaker system, what do you like or dislike about the system? My two-channel desktop computer speaker system sounds fine for what it represents (nothing special), but it has no bass extension due to its small size.
When you are listening to music, how important is the ability to change songs and source without walking to your audio system? A remote control capability is pretty important for all source components – and for the volume control of powered speakers -- since user-friendly convenience is highly desirable.