Active speakers

[BuckOff]

Hi everyone,
I'm looking at expanding out from my headphone amp system, it's a Schiit Jotunheim 2 and a Modius E DAC. The Jotunheim has a pre-amp built in, so was looking to purchase some active speakers and the ones that get recommended quite often are the Genelec 8030's . . . . but I just don't like the look of them, so I'm thinking about going down the passive route and maybe getting a power amp and speakers, I'm wanting to use the XLR outputs on the pre-amp, and the Fosi V3 mono's get some good reviews, and maybe pair with some Dali Opticon mkII.
After your thoughts and recommendations, or other alternatives.
Cheers

 

[sx_turbo]

Have you looked at edifier for active speakers, even the budgets are very good for what they cost, but they do significantly better ones the more money you pay.

Otherwise it's a case of what do your ears like, speakers are a fickle thing for others to recommend.

 

[hornetstinger]

Pros and cons of active and passive speakers

Active pro
Typically biamped, and are active biamping (so each amp gets suitable frequencies for the high and MF/bass drivers)
Less space needed as don't need dac/pre/amp/switch box
Typically more suited to monitor use.

Cons
Can't upgrade just the amplifier, or the technology ie you want to go from class D to AB or vice versa, or upgrade with more power
If the amp dies you're relying on that speaker brand having replacement plate amps, compared to off the shelf avr/amps
Requires a power socket per speaker
Won't have the same I/O as a stereo pre-amp/integrated and certainly not a full on AVR. Might not have enough inputs.
Can't upgrade I/O as tech moves forward, ie with introduction of ARC/E-ARC that would allow you to use active monitor speakers from a TV.
Lack of remote control
No surround decoding/downmixing
No room EQ like AVR

I only use passive speakers apart from the sub, since Hifi / AV is mostly catered to that- although there are some active speakers around, Meridian etc.