The active speakers club

PMC, pro and domestic models (if a bit rough looking)

http://www.pmc-speakers.com/

the bigger active models use external crossovers and amps so quite bulcky.

Do not have price ranges but not cheap - prices similar to ATC .

I have heard the model in the pic as part of a 5.1 AV demo and it sounded superb - very clear, dynmaic and clean bass.

AVI - domestic only

http://www.avihifi.co.uk/

Standout features - multiple inputs including plenty of digital, remote control pre-amp built in. 

I have heard teh 9ts in comparison with Adam Artist 3 and Dynaudio 100a - see my ssystem thread for observations.

Adam Audio - both pro and domestic

http://www.adam-audio.com/en/multimedia/products

Some models have volume control.

I have heard Artist 3 - excellent sound, very compact speaker.

Prices are from about 500gbp (for Artist 3) to stratospheric (the big Actives in the Tensor range).

Wireless LAN active from Teufel:

Multi-room streaming with controls courtesy of the Raumfeld Controller or the free Raumfeld App (Apple or Android)
Two 170 mm woofers, a 130 mm midrange driver and 28 mm tweeter in each speaker for astounding sound
Integrated, efficient amplifier with 170 watts of performance capacity
Recommended for rooms up to 40 m²

RRP £1120

Ella Active from Klangwork:

Two way active with balances input.

Level setting and roll offf setting form easy positioning.

6 Moons reveiw: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/klangwerk/ella.html

RRP 6k

I just discovered that I cannot edit the post listing the speaekr sany more so any additions have to be further down the thread. Good going so far.

Dynaudio - both pro and domestic

http://www.dynaudio.com/int/index.php

The recent Xeo range is wireless (via a transmitter), has multizone capability.

SE Electronics - Pro models only

http://www.seelectronics.com/

These are one of the many speakers described as "active" that are powered passive speakers. Only one amplifier controlling all the drivers with passive crossovers.

Acoustic Energy - pro only models http://www.acoustic-energy.co.uk/Default.aspx?pagename=Professional-Seri...

Let's keep those types in too, with clear note 'powered', where known.

Focal - pro and 'kinda domestic looking' models as well as a recent nice compact XS speaker

http://www.focalprofessional.com/

www.focal.com

You mean 2? Not sure that's quite the definition of plenty.

When 3 = many, maybe it is.

When I've been browsing around active setups, I've found the variety of inputs quite confusing, particularly in the context of pro-audio vs domestic, where technical know-how is presumed.

There are the small number of domestic setups that are easy to understand, such as the AVIs with their optical input option and the new Dynaudio Xeos. So to use the AVIs as an example, connect an optical cable to your source such as Apple Airport Express or Apple TV and off you go.

But most other speakers, especially pro-audio seem to have different input options, such as RCA, jack, 3.5mm analogue, XLR etc.

I guess that if you have this basic, but technical knowledge then there's no problem, but to the domestic consumer who is primarily intereted in getting the best quality of sound with ease of set-up, you have to think about which speakers have which inputs, the relative merits of each and how each could be used to connect to your source, whether PC, Mac, AEX etc etc.

And of course there's where the DAC fits in, but I'm loathe to mention DACs, since they appear to engender some of the partisan discussion that we've trying to avoid here.

That's what I was thinking about when I mentioned 'cabling' !!