Current amp vs Voltage amp

I have to agree with Bombaywalla. Some manufacturers of ESL's specifically made/make ss amps for use with their speakers, Acustat and Sanders come to mind. Many ESL manufactures use ss amps when demonstrating their speakers. I remember a particularly fine demonstration of Martin Logan's with Threshold amps.

It does beg the question, why aren't more manufacturers making powered speakers, and why is it that people don't seem to buy them. Since the interface between speaker and amp is critical, and hopefully a designer has taken that interface into consideration in the design, it does seem logical that a powered speaker should be the best of both worlds. Ideas?

The problem with powered speakers is it eliminates any possible flexibility of choice.The asuumption that the builder will have selected the 'best' amp-speaker match is well,an assumption. If your hearing/listening bias differs from the builder you won`t be satisfied with this 'fixed pairing' and won`t be able to tailor to your preferences.This powered speaker could measure superbly on paper yet the possibility exists you may not care for the sound regardless.

I think Hifigeek1`brings up an excellent point!

Why aren't more manufacturers making powered speakers, and why is it that people don't seem to buy them.

Lots of reasons come to mind. Charles mentioned an important one.

Let's say that a passive speaker is designed such that it will perform optimally, in a typical room, with an amplifier having a certain output impedance, a certain amount of feedback, and a certain power capability.

Separate power amplifiers meeting those criteria might range in cost from say $500 to $100,000. Their size, weight, and design philosophies will vary enormously. If the speaker manufacturer were to design a speaker incorporating an amplifier meeting the impedance, feedback, and power criteria, how would he choose among all of those kinds of possibilities without greatly limiting the number of potential customers?

Also, the size and weight of the speaker is likely to increase considerably. Its physical complexity and its appearance will change. WAF is likely to decrease considerably. Microphonics would have to be addressed in the design. Finally, the expertise required to design speakers is obviously very different than the expertise required to design amplifiers. As might be expected, there don't seem to a lot of high-end companies capable of, or even interested in, producing both kinds of products to a high standard. Israel Blume of Coincident being a notable exception.

Regards,
-- Al