But the other side of the equation is far more interesting. If you look at hybrid, part-active systems as an opportunity to increase performance rather than convenience, the landscape starts to look very different indeed. Carefully executed active bass removes the impact of a subtractive bass leg, seriously simplifying (or even eliminating) any crossover requirement. Place that crossover outside the speaker and you might increase costs, but it will bring real performance benefits too, especially if you add the option to run identical amplification across the whole audible range. Such a system already exists, albeit at a price, in the shape of the active option for Stenheim’s Reference Ultime 3. But why not apply it at lower price levels? The hardware certainly exists and, combined with wide-bandwidth drivers like the Jordon Eikona, or bending-wave units from Manger or Göbel the possibilities are extremely attractive. Manger already offers part-active solutions, but has done so for many years and I can’t help feeling that it’s taking them time to catch up with current opportunities.
One step beyond…
I wrote an earlier article about the attractions and benefits of vertical bi-amping (https://gy8.eu/blog/think-piece/the-shape-of-things-to-come/). External, part-active operation is just a further extension of that thinking, delivering potentially still greater benefits. It posits a new approach to system architecture and opens the door to different speaker and driver design philosophies. Objections will centre on the proliferation of boxes and increased system complexity that will inevitably result, at a time when so much of the market is moving in the direction of integrated, multi-function components and reduced box count. But countering that is the past success of modular active systems from the likes of Naim, Exposure and Nytech, the provision of a clear and clearly structured upgrade path (that delivers demonstrable, cost-effective performance benefits) and the ability to deliver more performance from smaller speaker systems. The issues here lie in the execution and, clever, tech-savvy solutions are available as never before. Keep your all-singing, all-dancing, one-box digital front end: the modularity is limited to crossover and amplification. Hell, you can even build both, multiple channels into a single, configurable chassis if you choose to. Given the challenges facing the industry as a whole, and the ever-increasing prices being asked for equipment, is it an opportunity that performance orientated manufacturers and designers can afford to ignore?
Price and availability
Focal Sub 1000F – €949 ea. (including 20% sales tax)
Manufacturer:
Focal-JMLab
EJ Jordan products are available direct from the manufacturer in the UK and Europe. In the US they are available through Robyatt Audio (www.robyattaudio.com).
UK Prices:
EJ Jordan Greenwich Loudspeaker
Walnut – £5,940 (pr, inc sales tax)
Tamo Ash – £6,180 (pr, inc sales tax)
