Why are JTR speakers more popular than Seaton Sound speakers? - Page 4

Originally Posted by RMK! 

Details can be found here:
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1446450/ne-spring-speaker-shootout-gtg-date-poll-and-discussion

Hope you can go. I would love to but it's 2000 miles and a bad week for me ...

Originally Posted by Blackdevil77 

They are mo betta then da best EVA!!!! lol .

Originally Posted by Blackdevil77 

Damn, looks like they are at max capacity If a spot opens up, I'll jump in

Originally Posted by Frohlich 

Well at least now you sound believable and aren't some random punk trolling the boards

Thanks for your review by the way. I have never heard the Seatons but I am sure they sound fantastic and I know they have a fantastic reputation. Like many owners on this thread I own JTR, but I can appreciate great speakers regardless of brand.

Originally Posted by RMK! 

Well, if you agreed to bring your Catalysts they might make room ...

Originally Posted by Rick Craig 

As a designer (and not having listed to JTR or Seaton) I would tend to favor Mark's approach. With these drivers DSP is certainly the best way to go with much greater flexibility than a passive system. Being able to tune the room with adjusting the DSP is a big plus as well.

Originally Posted by Mark Seaton 

There are only 2 DSP settings which have ever shipped or reside at a customer's home. The first being the same as what fugueness has had in his speakers since the beginning, and the second being a recent addition of a subtle baffle wall compensation (at lower frequencies) for those building their Catalysts flush in a baffle wall behind a screen. I continue to experiment with options for user EQ, but such options have to allow the same capabilities of the current design, be practical to set up and use, and also be superior in some way to the many room correction systems currently available.

Originally Posted by Bill Fitzmaurice 

+1. The flattest speaker in the world isn't flat anymore when you put it in a room, and every room is different, so what's perfect in one won't be in another. Flat response was the Holy Grail of the audio Dark Ages, when we didn't have the ability to EQ. Today it's not an undesirable trait, but not a necessary one either.

Originally Posted by MKtheater 

3 Noesis's plus DCX 2496 plus 3 channel amp equals 3 powered LCR's with DSP and EQ that can be tailored to any room. Don't like the quality of the DCX, there is the QSC or DBX. It does not matter if the amp and dsp is in the speaker cabinet or not.

Originally Posted by Mark Seaton 

Indeed, powered speakers have never been the most popular choice of enthusiasts as they are less conventional from what we are used to and regardless of the total cost being similar or not, it's easier to stomach a few smaller purchases vs. one larger expense. It was a choice I knew would limit sales, but delivered a superior product. There are aspects of the crossover alignment and integration which cannot be executed as well passively. Delays and precise, narrow EQ are simply not practical with passive crossovers. The active crossovers also make it easier to execute the very low crossover to the woofers I use in the Catalysts of <250Hz helping the in-room and off-axis response variations. The active solution is a more expensive path, just as the smooth cabinet face with large edge bevels and premium sealed woofers I employ all add to the expense. They are also key parts of what provide the resulting performance. I would never suggest that I wouldn't design and offer a passive speaker, but that's not what I wanted to found and anchor my company with.
The mention of power loss is related to the passive crossover components. Passive crossovers reduce efficiency at intended frequencies and ranges to achieve the desired response and have internal losses and non-linearities of their own. An active crossover doesn't re-direct or absorb the amplifier's power, but rather adjusts the level coming from the amplifier. As evidence by many great passive speakers, this is not a fatal flaw, but rather a compromise which can be minimized, particularly in high efficiency designs and with quality component choices. Of course and active solution eliminates the issue.

Originally Posted by RMK! 

While I agree in general with your statement, you are ignoring Marks comments (see below) as to the enhanced capability of the active crossover utilized in the Cats. I have had conversations with Jeff and he agree's this is a distinct advantage but it does come at a cost some of which I mentioned above.

Originally Posted by MKtheater 

You can do all that with the DCX, QSC, DBX, Ashly etc..

Originally Posted by RMK! 

With a passive crossover sitting between the EQ and the Drivers you simply cannot "do all that". How much difference that level of control actually makes is debatable.

Originally Posted by N8DOGG 

Im pretty sure he means the speakers with no passive xover. Just the drivers and use your own active xover. DCX etc.

Originally Posted by RMK! 

With a passive crossover sitting between the EQ and the Drivers you simply cannot "do all that". How much difference that level of control actually makes is debatable.

Originally Posted by RMK! 

We are belaboring this point. DIY aside (I know that's hard for you ) there simply aren't many bare bones driver/enclosure speakers out there in the world.

I believe Marks comments were directed at his vs passive crossover systems like Noesis.

Originally Posted by MKtheater 

I understand. There are other powered speakers out there as well. I am not sure how many are refined for the home crowd though. Some higher end pro gear is very expensive and I would expect them to sound nice.

Originally Posted by Blackdevil77 

Damn, looks like they are at max capacity If a spot opens up, I'll jump in

Originally Posted by mrlittlejeans 

How does the price of Genelec or Procella compare to Seaton or JTR?

Originally Posted by aligborat 

Procella and Genelec are both *far* more expensive than Seaton / JTR.

I'd be interested to hear some opinions on the comparisons between these four though.