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 May 1, 2006 Active Speakers: Redux with a Few New Wrinkles I’ve long been a fan of active speakers -- those that come equipped with active crossovers and their own power amplifiers. Usually the amps are built into the speaker cabinets, but sometimes not; however, whichever way the company goes about it, these products have often been engineered so that the amp/speaker interface works as perfectly as possible, something that doesn’t always happen when consumers go amp and speaker shopping on their own.The benefits of active-speaker technology are numerous, and in certain circles active designs have been well accepted. For example, in the pro-audio world, active speakers are widely used, and many companies make them for such use. However, when it comes to home audio, active speakers have had a hard go of it. In fact, there are hardly any companies producing such designs for consumers. Why? No one really knows exactly, but some people (like myself) feel that part of the reason lies in the fact that audiophiles like to tinker with their systems -- mixing this and matching that -- and active speaker systems don’t allow for as much of that. Active speakers can be thought of as an all-in-one solution. Despite the past failures of many companies, two North American-based firms are once again making active loudspeakers, but with a couple of new twists. I happen to have systems from both companies in my house right now for review.
NHT’s Xd system is a collaborative effort of three companies: NHT, an American company that has long been known as a maker of high-quality passive loudspeakers; PowerPhysics, an American company that produces digital-switching amplifiers; and DEQX, an Australian company that offers a wide range of products, including a DSP-based crossover that’s critical to making this system work. The entire Xd system consists of two XdS satellite speakers, a single XdW subwoofer, and the XdA, which houses the satellites’ amplifiers and the crossover technology. Cabling to connect it all is also included. The Xd's price is $6000 USD. While the Xd system boasts a plethora of design features, the real standout in this system is the DEQX-based crossover, which takes one of the benefits of active speakers systems, the removal of a passive crossover between the amplifier and speaker, in an interesting direction. All line-level signals that enter the XdA are first digitized. Then, all crossover manipulation is done in the digital domain. Performing this operation digitally allows the NHT engineers to use extremely steep crossover slopes, which virtually eliminates the overlap between drivers, in turn improving the speakers’ dispersion as well as their power handling. NHT can also correct for time, phase, and amplitude response. That’s an astonishing degree of design control, something that conventional passive loudspeaker design won’t allow for to the same degree. As a result, to many, digital-crossover technology represents the future of loudspeaker design. On the other hand, Aurum Acoustics’ Integris Active 300B speaker system, which sells for $30,000 (cabling included), takes the active approach in a somewhat different direction. Aurum is a new, small, and obviously innovative company from Canada.
Whereas NHT is using cutting-edge digital amplification throughout, Aurum is using old-style tube-based amplification for the midrange and high frequencies, along with tried-and-true solid-state amplification for the bass. All of these amps are housed in a single separate chassis. But while the NHT solution can be considered a multi-national collaborative effort, Aurum Acoustics is the brainchild of Derrick Moss, company owner and product designer, whose education is in engineering and business. But Moss didn’t produce the Integris Active 300B system just to be different; he contends that his design philosophy yields better sound, even if it doesn't use cutting-edge digital circuitry. For experienced audiophiles, the reasoning for Moss’s mixture of technologies is apparent. Tube-based amplification is thought by many to be superior for midrange and high-frequency reproduction, whereas solid-state amplification is better for the bass -- hence the differing amplifier technologies in the Aurum Integris Active 300B. And by making the system active, Moss eliminated the passive crossover between the amplifier and speaker drivers, putting the crossover up front in the chain, allowing the design to manipulate line-level signals instead of high-level ones. What’s more, by having full control of the crossover and the signals that are fed to the amps, Moss is able to mate the different types of amp technologies with his speakers -- something that many audiophiles try to do by biamping, and fail at more often than not. Aurum’s system is complex, but because it’s completely active, the guesswork is gone. Indeed, Moss might be onto something. At CES 2006, I thought his room was one of the best-sounding of the entire show, and the reason I lined up a review of the product. Furthermore, our own Jim Saxon thought it was the best sound of the show, and said so in his annual "Jimmy Awards." Can this MBA-wielding engineer from Canada change the minds of audiophiles? Time will tell. While the NHT and Aurum Acoustics systems differ substantially in terms of technology and price, they have one thing in common: both of their makers feel that active speaker systems are the best way to the best sound. But will audiophiles catch on this time around? ...Doug Schneider To learn more about NHT's Xd system, visit www.nhtxd.com. To learn more about Aurum Acoustic's Integris Active 300B system, visit www.aurumacoustics.com.
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