Sam® Speaker Active Matching

[Charise Farag]

Im using the ADI-2 DAC since several months, connected to a Bluesound Node 2i, and a CD player that I use as transport. So far, I only connect with headphones: the Hifiman Arya to the 6.3 socket, and the Meze Rai Penta to the 3.5 socket.

However, I lived alone, and now very soon there will be another person living with me. I have thought that it would make sense to buy a pair of active speakers, and connect them to the RME ADI-2 DAC, so we can also listen to music together.

I've Genelec 8330A but they are more expensive than you indicated, and I sit about 70cm to 110cm from them. Since you want to listen to them with another person I assume that you'll sit further away than that, and might want a more powerful monitor.

On audiosciencereview.com there are reviews of many active monitors of various capabilities and price. Here is one poster that made a selection of some of them in various price ranges. Some European brands are more expensive in USA/Canada than in Europe, Genelec for instance.

Finally I did A/B the RL906 vs KH310 together with a Tonmeister. Initially he wanted to sell his RL906 because of the purchase of the KH310 (therefore my visit). His new Neumanns just arrived at this day and we build them up for A/B.

After A/B comparison he decided to keep both. The RL906 is also analytical but the presentation of audio is more pleasent, not so extremely neutral compared to the KH310. Maybe the box is also a little more special because of the coaxial design delivering an excellent stereo image and depth.

IMHO there is a noticable difference between KH120 and KH310/RL906.

What adds to the RL906 .. it's compact but still powerful. Also useful: poti at the back to trim total volume.

Bass reflex openings at the top, so that you do not get an over emphasis of bass when placing near the wall and you can't hear airflow noise which is possible when they are placed at the front.

This. Go to audiosciencereview.com and lookup speakers there to get an impression of what they're capable of. Much more valueable than e.g. reviews which are just a wall of text and describe sounds with words after which you still have no idea whether it's good or not, only what one particualar reviewer thought of them.

Using audiosciencereview.com is fine but don't buy without listening first. Speaker-room interaction determines the sound to a certain extend. Also just like headphones speakers are personal - something that measures really well doesn't need to sound "good" necessarily.

By listening with headphones, you are used to direct sound:

Visit a person with a speaker stereo-system in a living room. Sit in the listening position and listen to an audio source. After some time, hold both hands behind your ear and turn your hands until you get the highest volume for high frequencies, ...

To 1:

Determine the room modes (standing waves) and the reverberation time. From a technical aspect, influencing the room modes and reverberation time would be optimally possible via passive elements. An electronic influence of the room modes - e.g. via PEQ (ADI-2 DAC has only 5 x peak, the frequency range is limited) - is a compromise solution: e.g. a correction would only be possible for a certain listening position and also only for one person! The impulse behaviour deteriorates.

To 3.:

Determines the max. required undistorted output (SPL) of the speakers.

The greater the distance between the listening position and the speakers, the less precise the sound.

Optimal listening with two people is not possible! But if the distance is big enough, you both have about the same bad sound and you don't need very good active monitors.

I like those monitors, but note that there are no DIP switches or knobs for adjustment sensitivity, and you'll need the GLM Set for enabling auto standby/wakeup (ISS Genelec calls it). The GLM Set also includes calibration (room EQ) which is very useful. You don't need to have the GLM Set connected after setup.

I guess it depends how much money and how big active speakers you want/spend. If you want to keep costs and size down, then I would certainly have a listen to the Acoustic Energy AE1 actives. I have had various versions of the passives and they have never failed to shine. Just a question of a demonstration with the Atom HE, as to whether a suitable match. Next up, is a big jump to something like ATC SCM19A or the 40A. I can say the Atom HE is a match with the 40A. In fact i would not put it that far behind a Auralic Vega G2.1. You could try with Dutch and Dutch 8C speakers, but this is a unknown to me and maybe to in balanced .

They are not my favourite speakers, but Focal does make good speakers and in the right system and room can sound very good. I have SCM40s powered by a 250DR. The active version of them is a popular choice here and I would agree with @Oxbow the 40s would go well if you have enough space for them, then there are the SCM19 actives which are significantly cheaper. Room size and form factor of speakers will also dictate your choice, both the ATCs are floor standers (though the passive SCM19s are stand-mounted). In reality, you need to go out and listen to a few and make your own mind up and if possible take them home for a home trial.

Another fan of actives here, ATC SCM40s in my case. The first time I heard active ATCs I knew I had to own a pair. For my tastes in music, nothing at the price quite matches them in presenting a convincing presentation of the musicians and they ooze musical enjoyment. Big smiles when I listen even after a couple of years with the setup.

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