Roth expands Oli range with Powa-5 Bluetooth active monitor
Roth Audio has unveiled its first active speaker, the £250 Powa-5, which goes on sale from November 12th.
One of the speakers has an 80W amp built into it, and this is connected to the second passive speaker using the supplied cable.
Connectivity includes a pair of RCA analogue phono inputs, one 3.5mm stereo jack, two optical digital inputs and an integrated Bluetooth receiver.
There are also two USB outputs to provide power to mobile devices such as a smartphone or tablet, and a subwoofer output. A remote control comes as standard.
Roth says the Powa-5 can be used to boost the sound of a TV or computer, or as bedroom or kitchen speakers.
"The Powa-5 design is a compelling fusion of cutting-edge technology and good, old-fashioned high-quality audio," says Roth AV founder James Roth.
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Comments
the last comment made me laugh so much i think a bit of wee came out.
Welcome to the modern day lecson. All manufacturers in all fields will twist, turn, use words to make their product sound the nuts. TV advertising will show the best model car, billboards show the best looking people in cheap high street clothes and some deodorants claim to attract women and make them crash cars to get to you.
Luckily we are all free to test the products before buying.
Even more lucky is that I have a pair of the Roth POWA-5 in a nice High Gloss White Finish, they match my fridge that makes ice cubes and everything (go figure), and they are and were the best on the shelf and believe me i auditioned quite a few - glad i chose to be attracted by the marketing as it has left me with a stunning pair of active/powered, you choose, speakers.
As a music lover i choose not to get all Jeremy Clarkson and go for power! My words of advise to you is to use your ears and not your eyes when buying speakers - makes sense to me....but thanks for making me laugh!
Ah, 'active' has evolved into a marketing term.
No gripes against the Roths but it smacks of the old music power versus RMS trick. Fudge the specifics and lure your customer.
Ahhhhhh. (As I said to my GP just the other day.)
Signatures don't show on news/blog comments, Murdo – but thanks for the input.
My signature has dropped off (again). For the record, I handle UK PR for Roth.
Murdo
Thanks for your comments daveh75. In response, I would respectfully suggest that, when discussing speakers, the term 'active' has evolved and become interchangeable with 'powered'. So what we - Roth and myself - are saying here is accurate, and also clearly explained. Personally, I prefer the term 'fully active' when discussing, er, fully active loudspeakers.
The even better news, though, is that Roth's well thought-out products, complete with extensive connectivity to compliment today's various audio sources - of which OLi POWA-5 is a great example - greatly help to promote appreciation of high-quality audio well beyond 'specialist' circles. So, in essence, Roth is helping getting 'all and sundry' listening to better quality audio. And that, in my view, can only be a good thing!
Best regards,
Murdo
So not active at all then. Just another manufacturer misusing the term, for powered passives...
Have asked the question, Mr Thelch...
EDIT: And the answer is 24-bit/96kHz
Any chance you could find out what bit/sample rates the optical inputs accept? I haven't been able to find anything in Roth's blurb or manual.