Advantages and disadvantages of active speakers and passive speakers

Advantages and disadvantages of active speakers and passive speakers

1. What is an active speaker? What is a passive speaker?

Active speakers: Active speakers are also called "active speakers". It usually refers to speakers with power amplifiers, such as multimedia computer speakers, active subwoofer speakers, and some new home theater active speakers.

Passive speaker: Passive speaker is also called "passive speaker". Passive speakers are ordinary speakers that we usually use without power amplifier circuits inside. Although passive speakers do not have amplifiers, they often have crossover networks and impedance compensation circuits.

Second, the advantages and disadvantages of active speakers

Active speakers, that is to say, there is a set of circuits with power amplifiers inside the speakers. For example, most of the speakers used on computers are active speakers. It can be used directly by connecting it to the sound card of the computer, without going through a special power amplifier. So what are the pros and cons of active speakers?

advantage:

1. Self-contained power amplifier, no need to connect to the post-stage amplifier, the whole system is simple and clear, easy to use. Just connect a computer, Blu-ray/audio player, DAP, etc. to play. You don't need to consider professional issues such as power size and impedance matching, just plug and play

2. In addition to the built-in amplifier, the active speaker also has an electronic frequency division system and a decoding system, which can systematically restore the original appearance of the sound, with less distortion and a stable sound floor, which will not be affected by wires, power amplifiers and other factors. Something has changed.

3. The space is more flexible. Because of the built-in amplification system and electronic frequency divider, you don't need to place power amplifiers and other equipment, making your space more concise.

shortcoming:

1. Since each speaker has an independent amplifier and electronic distributor, each speaker needs an independent power supply. In other words, if you want to form a 5.1.2 or 7.1.4 speaker system, you must have 8 or 12 independent power supplies make it work, and the requirements for the stability of the power supply are relatively high. Of course, if it is only for desktop use, the 2.0 system only needs 2 power supplies.

2. You need to turn on the power of each speaker separately. Some active speakers even need to adjust the volume of each speaker. It is a little troublesome to adjust the volume with multiple speakers, but not all active speakers need this, so Be mindful when choosing.

Audio is an indispensable home appliance in our life to improve the quality of life, but how much do you know about it?

Third, the advantages and disadvantages of passive speakers

Passive speakers, also known as passive speakers, do not have any amplifier circuits inside, but there are frequency division networks and impedance compensation circuits. It cannot be plug-and-play, and it needs a post-amplifier or a combined power amplifier to promote it. The whole system is relatively more complicated. In addition to bookshelf speakers, passive speakers also have various types such as floor-standing speakers and satellite speakers.

advantage:

1. More flexibility in sound tuning. Because it needs to be connected to an amplifier to drive, the sound of passive speakers will be greatly affected by equipment and wires. In turn, this also means that the sound tuning can be much more flexible, and signal lines can be used , amplifier characteristics to complement, or enhance speaker performance.

2. You only need to connect the speaker cable, although you need to connect the amplifier, but relatively, the passive speaker does not need to connect an additional power cable, just connect the signal cable to the amplifier, and the latter can be used to directly drive the sound.

3. Diversified play methods such as bi-amp drive and bi-wire crossover. Some passive speakers can support bi-amp drive (Bi-Amp) and bi-wire crossover (Bi-Wire) wiring to improve the performance of the speaker.

shortcoming:

1. It needs to be driven by a post-stage. There are too many types of passive speakers, with different specifications, designs and materials. If there is a common disadvantage, it needs to be connected to an amplifier to drive, and additional equipment and space are required.

2. The system is relatively complicated, unlike the plug-and-play "active speaker", you need to have more professional knowledge reserves to make a match that suits you.

3. It takes up more space, and the volume will be relatively larger, which is not suitable for some scenarios, such as computer desktops.