The active speakers club

Does the Stream Magic 6 have any sort of graphic equalizer or tone controls?

Sound quality wise I prefer good quality active speakers over passives because they can have better clarity. They're not for everyone though and many people prefer the sound of passive speakers so have a listen yourself to see which you prefer. One thing to bare in mind with active speakers is that they'll need a 'pre-amplifier' so that you can control the volume.

Some good active speakers that I recommend you have a listen to are ADAM Audio, Dynaudio, Genelec, Quested and the AVI ADM9s (the ADM9s also include a built in DAC and pre-amplifier which makes them very good value for money).

No.

That's a bummer. Having no tone controls is a real missed opportunity for Cambridge Audio IMO.

Do you think it'd be possible for Cambridge Audio to add tone controls just by updating the software? Maybe you could suggest it to them?

I use SBT with a pair of Focal CMS40s in my bedroom, remotely controlling (digital) volume on SBT, which could be considered similar to a preamp function, ie it offers a "variable" line output.

I have joined the club. Over the course of this year have been looking at various options, ended with B&O beolab 4000's. Bit of a journey over the last couple of years from Rega BrioR with various sources to Onkyo8050 to this, but happy with how it has turned out. Basically wanted to keep it simple, also everything I have is Apple based now and we use Spotify a lot. Looked at Linn Sneaky, simple audio and Naim but found out recently that an old friend worked at a B&O store, he talked me into demo and that was it - especially as they just got some immaculate black ones in pre owned that had very little use. Looked good and sounded very good. Never thought of actives before this demo, can't understand why now, but there we go. Also heard pretty much everything else B&O do at the same time. The 8002's being my favourite but over my price range and 4000's not far behind I thought. Not something I thought I would end up with and was pretty much sold on the Linn sneaky until this, but very happy and glad to stop the search now, they look great wall mounted and just hooked up to Airport Express using AirPlay for now. Actives just happen to provide the right solution for me. Who'd have known.

Always good to open your mind and try various options, isn't it?

What did you compare the B&Os with?

I tried to have a demo of top and mid range B&O actives but it did not go well - the dealer was useless and could not demonstrate properly. So I do not have any impressions of how they sound.

It is and its the first time I have demo'd something and just thought, thats it, thats for me. Shame about your experience, I am down in Bournemouth and they have the main showroom and 3/4 demo rooms.

Didn't compare with anything else active wise, have listened to much of the passives under the £1k mark in various demo's. Not saying active is better, it just works for me.

They ticked all the boxes, so to speak; Wall mountable, low box count, family friendly and could use with my Apple devices (I have MacBook, Ipad and Iphone) and of course sounded great.

I have the MK1 4000's, so its the older A/B amps which are a smoother sound than the newer ICE amps. I will revise my picture from the Quads to the B&O's sometime soon.Also - enjoyed reading your thread and your set up is pretty awesome!

Another option - Elipson LW - a wireless (no other inputs!) active 2-way 50+50W ICE-amped style speaker with coxial drivers with some finish and stands/brakets options.

I am considering these for the kitchen...

http://www.elipson.com/media/marketing/15/ELI_CATALOGUE2012-13-BD.pdf

Remote power on/off and volume. Looks like KLEER wirelss transmission from an optional USB dongle or inlcuded 30-pin ipod/iphone connector dongle.

So, if I use say the USB dongle with macmini:

- will KLEER transmit from the main room to the kitchen (say 5m and a wall)?

- can I select these speakers from 'remote' app on an ipod when itunes is playing from macmini/usb dongle? 

- macmini is currently playing via optical to a dac. will I have to select the usb output manualy (which would kill the whole idea of using these speakers) or can I use the 'remote' app to select which system to play: main, kitchen or both? is that possible?

Just spoke to Stone Audio and they confirmed that if I want to feed these speakers via the usb dongle I will have to manually (midi settings) select one of the outputs (optical OR usb) - the other one will not play. so this pretty much kills this as on an option for me (or anyone who wants to play them as a second system and have a convenient selector of speaker set 1/speaker set 2 / both)

too bad, as they seem to be be an excellent piece - small, active, good looking. shame on the input options.

I’m onto my second Active system the best way I could describe the sound over passive is imagine a blanket sheet hanging over your speaker while the music is playing. Then taking away the blanket , everything opens up , crystal clear with a large open sound stage which you can actually feel in the air like the music is breathing life it’s a phenomenal listen experience

My Akurate speakers are 4 way being powered by 2 x 4 channels of power amp. Basically one amp per one speaker drive unit. Linn install active cards into the amps and make adjustments to the speakers eliminating the crossovers  

Some advice and thoughts please. So I have my AE connected to my B&O's via 3.5mm to phono, control with AirPlay, this was always a first step to get me going on my active way. I like the simplicity of just using AirPlay, but looking at improving things in the new year and being able to connect my sky hd and blu ray up as well, if poss. Does this mean I should look at a DAC/pre amp combo, like the Audiolab MDac...or something else?? 

serious speakers. Any pics of your setup?

The Akurate 212's’s are stand mount speakers. Bass midrange tweeter and super tweeter.

Akurate also do large floor standers too big for the room and my budget.I’m currently out the country due to work. On my return around 15th Dec will post a photo. Mean time here is a link with a picture

 I’m a mature guy now and have been buying hifi for a long time starting out with Arcam with Haybrook HB1’s. The current system is the last I will buy. It’s what we all do if you are right into your music. Get the best you can. When I get home from weeks away the music is on from around 10am right through till midnight. Eating the dinner on the lap with music playing. Far better than some of the guff on tv

 EDIT

The link did not work - Go to Goole images and type Linn 212 speakers and you will get pictures

I have been into Linn for some time. I had an LP12 in the 80s (now sold), and still have a Kairn/LK100 and Karik/Numerik from the 90s.

Somehow I don't connect with their current passive amps/speakers until they go active.....and in this case, I agree with your assessment. Not only does the music sound considerably better, but I find it much more involving than their passive systems.

FWIW. When I heard it, I preferred the ordinary Linn Silvers to the balanced ones.

I haven't gone this route because I prefer Class A.