What are active speakers and passive speakers? How to make the difference?

Active speakers
Active speakers have built-in splitter and amplifier circuits, which can work when they are powered on and signal input. Active speakers mostly use bookshelf design. Our commonly used computer speakers and Bluetooth speakers are all active speakers. If you have an active speaker for your computer, you can use it as long as you connect it to the computer’s sound card. Through a dedicated power amplifier.

Passive speaker
Passive speakers are also called "passive speakers". There is no power amplifier circuit inside, and it needs to rely on the output of the rear stage or the combined machine to drive the sound. We can think of it as a "wooden box + speaker". The advantage of this is that the sound can reach the best state and will not be disturbed by the external environment. Since the sound card of the playback device does not have a power amplifier and only outputs sound analog signals, a dedicated power amplifier should be connected when using this kind of speakers. There are many styles of passive speakers, such as floor, bookshelf, satellite and so on.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of active speakers and passive speakers?

Advantages and disadvantages of active speakers

Advantage 1: No need for post-stage, simple system

There is no need to connect the rear driver, you can play songs as long as the audio is input. It is most suitable for friends who want a simpler sound system. Only the "player" and the "speaker" can form a complete system.

Advantage 2: Save space

Since there is no need to connect an amplifier, it can save a lot of space for placing equipment, which is quite suitable for CAS systems or desktop audio systems that are quite popular in recent years.

Advantage 3: Complete package, "guaranteed" sound quality

Since it already has a complete drive circuit and is equipped with decoding and partial sound, plus the digital interface input, the sound of active speakers will be more "stable", unlike passive speakers that are more affected by wires and amplifiers.

Disadvantage 1: Speakers need to adjust the volume independently

The output of some active speakers needs to be adjusted independently for the left and right channel speakers, so it will be a little troublesome to adjust the volume. However, if your preamp has a volume adjustment function, there is no such annoyance.

Disadvantage 2: Need to connect power cord and signal line

Although the active speakers have one less amplifier connected, in addition to the signal line, each speaker needs to be connected with an additional power cord for power supply. If the speakers are placed far apart, the wiring will be more troublesome.

Advantages and disadvantages of passive speakers

Advantage 1: More flexibility in tuning

Due to the need to connect to an amplifier to drive, the sound of passive speakers will be greatly affected by equipment and cables. In turn, this also means that the sound tuning can be much more flexible, and the characteristics of signal cables and amplifiers can be used to supplement or enhance the speakers. Performance.

Advantage 2: Only need to connect the speaker cable

Although it needs to be connected to an amplifier, on the other hand, passive speakers do not need to be connected to an additional power cord. You only need to connect the signal line to the amplifier, and the latter can be used to directly drive the sound.

Advantage 3: Diversified gameplay such as bi-amp driving, two-wire splitting, etc.

Some passive speakers can support bi-amp drive (Bi-Amp) and bi-wire (Bi-Wire) wiring to improve the performance of the speaker.

Disadvantages: need to be promoted by a later stage

There are too many types of passive speakers, with different specifications, designs, and materials. If you want to talk about a common shortcoming, it needs to be driven by an amplifier, which requires additional equipment and space.

Do you now know how to identify active speakers and passive speakers? If the above content feels too long, then remember this simplest principle of identification-built-in power amplifier circuit, power and signal input can work, it is an active speaker; there is no internal power amplifier circuit, you need to connect an external power amplifier. Work is a passive speaker. It's that simple!
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