If Thiel, Wilson, Sonus, made active speakers?????


Lately I've seen a few "active speaker" threads on the gon.
So, I'm curious...if some of the more well known high-end speaker manufacturers, like Thiel, Wilson, Sonus, Merlin, Audio Physic, Verity audio,B&W (or whatever) offered "active speakers" in their lines, would you as audio consumers be interested in possibly buying them? That is of course assuming the same great clear, pure, refined sound you've come to love from your favorite line, only the befefits of an active speaker(more power, finess, controld, dynamics, pressence, soundstaging, etc).
Also, knowing you'd have to give up your favorite amp/amps and the flexibility of choice there(again, assuming the manufacture "got things right" in the amp sections, yielding stellar sonic results, bettering the passive designs they already offer), and would likely end up paying more for the speaker (if offered with crossover and amp's, as opposed to "adding those yourself"), do you still think you'd be interested?...or does your passive high end speaker you're likely using now suit you just fine, and you'd likely never consider changing?
I simply see no reason speaker makers can't come up with a speaker with an electronic active crossover, and maybe offer matching amps, or let you chose your own!!! The potential benefits surely have to out-weigh the potential downsides (if any, I don't see them), ya think?
Anyway, curious as to what people think.
Once again, if your fav speaker designer came out with the same superb sounding high end speakers in active configuration, do you think you'd gravitate that direction, even if it ment a cost premium(of course, you'd have to subtract your amp cost you'd otherwise have)?
exertfluffer
jazzdude - such is the beauty of ATC active speakers - they have no real sound-type. they are, by far, the most neutral, uncolored speakers i have ever heard, period. their amps are world class, just like their drivers and enclosures.
Exertflutter, actually it is as follows for Martin-Logan:

Gayle Martin Sanders
Ronald Logan Sutherland

Not sure about B & W
..."But where would the tubes go? (Nrenter)"...

Actually, the tubes would go in your "pre/amp", where they belong (see CAT's world class pre's)!
As for Aroc's comments, I wholey trust that a high end speaker who's proficient at either building drivers, crossovers, cabinets, or whatever (Like Theil/Wilson) makes their finished product as superb as they are for passive designs, could keep their quality control high for their reputation! I'm very sure these companies wouldn't turn out a "compromised" product mostly (however I balk here at the Thiel PCM's!). They would most assuredly want to release products that keept the same traditional high quality sound they're known for, ya think.
This is the whole reason I mentioned "high end companies", for their rep for building quality high end sounding premium products.
I'd gladely give up tubes as an option for the benefits a good active speaker could offer, I'm certain.
Like I said, leave the tubes for the preamp, if you still need that "tube magic"...
A lot of these speaker manufacturers don't already have or wouldn't want the extra burden of developing an amplification system for their speakers.

Also, the issue of which amplifier manufacturer's technology to use comes under consideration. Some amp makers might not want to reconfigure or in their minds compromise their designs in order to work with a speaker, and vice versa. Using another maker's amp technology or tuner section in a receiver is a lot easier than incorporating speakers and amps. Then, there's the decision as to which active crossover design to incorporate. The speaker builder and the amp maker may have different ideas on this as well. My guess is these might be some of the main reasons we don't see more active arrangements of this type.

I'd love to see what might be if certain players could get together, but I'm sure there are some big obstacles preventing it.
Some players are already "together." Levinson and Revel are "together" under the Madrigal/Harmon unbrella. Paradigm and Anthem are "together" -- I forget the name of the umbrella company. The problem is -- when someone designs an amplifier, they must design it for general use so it will sound good in lots of different applications. The designer is "shooting in the dark." If the amplifier designer knew exactly which speaker he was designing his amp for and could bi-or-tri-amp the speakers with different spec'd amps for each driver, I think you'd see more synergy -- and the elimination of speaker cables would reduce the signal path considerably ensuring the integrity of the signal. There's no doubt in my mind that this approach would produce incredible results. Imagine your favorite speaker spec'd and tri-amped connected directly to your favorite amplifers! Now, whether the audiophile community would embrace this, making it commercially viable -- that's another question.