Skip to main content

Thinking about purchasing the Dynaudio Bm15's.

The passive model is about $1500.00 less. I do have a Harmon Kardon citation 100 watt power amp I can use, but my DA converter outputs are Xlr and the inputs on the power amp are rca. Would there be any advantage over getting the active version than the passive model.

Anyone have any experience with the Dynaudio's and how can I convert the XLR to RCA?

Thanks
Jonesey

Comments

anonymous Fri, 09/12/2003 - 07:04

I like the active speakers. I bought a pair of the Event 20/20BAS and I was debating about the active or passive models. A good friend of mine who is a fairly successful producer advised me to go with the active as the power amp was designed specifically for that monitor. That's not to say the passives who be a bad way to go, but I liked the idea of a matched amp/monitor system.

Ethan Winer Fri, 09/12/2003 - 08:46

Jonesey,

> The general consensus is active. <

Yes, and one very important point nobody else mentioned is that active speakers have the potential for much lower distortion than any passive design. Not only due to the biamping - which you could do with passives - but also because the speaker drivers can be included in the amplifier's correcting internal feedback. I know the Mackie HR series does this, but I assume some other brands and models do too.

--Ethan

sdevino Sun, 09/14/2003 - 10:59

I have to add that at some point there are passives that outperform many of the actives on the market. I have Earthworks Sigma 6.2 (which are not cheap), and I would stack them up against any speaker under $5000. there are others that are close and slightly different flavor, but none better than these in this range.

So passives with excellent crossover design and carefully selected power amps can out perform an active in terms of accuracy and distortion (you can opt for more headroom than actives have).

Steve