wrote in message
ups.com...
As you know I have never believed very much in 5.1 audio, beileving
that one, two, or three channels were the right number. However 5.1 is
here like it or not. While a rack of McIntosh Industrial, Manley, or
Fairchild tube monoblocs would be attractive to look at, it really
isn't a practical idea. In fact the only practical power solution as I
see it for 5.1 is the active speaker, having its own active crossover
and multiple amps, and a professional input-AES/EBU digital or +4, 600
ohm balanced in.

I find your comments surprising. The idea that active speakers become more
practical as the number of channels grows seems to me counterintuitive.
Every active speaker has to have its own power supply, not to mention wall
outlet. Whereas large numbers of passive speakers can be driven from
multiple amplifiers sharing the same power supply and only a single power
outlet.

It's true that there are advantages in tailoring the amplifier design
specifically to the speaker, but these advantages are there regardless of
the number of channels.

Norm Strong