![]() ![]() passive crossover components, which split the audio signal and send each band directly to the loudspeaker drivers.In contrast to the active speaker, passive speakers feature: With an active speaker system, one will often see “active speaker” with “bi-amp” or “tri-amp” scenario, referring to active crossover and two or three separate amplifiers for the separate drivers.īart LoPiccolo, National Sales Manager for Genelec, Inc., takes the definition of active a few steps further, explaining that Genelec’s speakers are active because, “they have active electronic crossovers before the amps, they have dedicated amps for each driver, each channel has protection, and there are room response controls per driver.” Active speaker proponents like LoPiccolo believe that an active speaker system has certain advantages over a passive system due to the fact that the crossover components, amps, drivers, and speaker enclosures are all manufactured with one another in mind. ![]() In larger home theater settings, the crossover components and amps can be outside of the speaker. ![]() Incidentally, active speakers suitable for home entertainment and home theater solutions most commonly house the active crossover components and amplifiers within the speaker enclosure, but this is not always necessarily the case. So, when a speaker is referred to as an active speaker, it is nearly always referring to the crossover components, which by definition require amplifiers for each band, and separate power. Where active speakers electrical crossover components and powered amplifiers for each driver, these speakers are, themselves, “powered.” This is why active and powered are often used synonymously. Download this checklist to see if your home is a strong candidate for a FREE, professional whole-house audio evaluation. If you plan to distribute audio and video content throughout the house, you need to make sure you have the TVs and the technology to accommodate your system. The crossover components in an active speaker split the frequency band of the audio signal into smaller parts (low, high, and sometimes mid-range), which are then sent to individual speaker drivers designed to handle those frequencies. In an active speaker, the word active commonly refers to the crossover components/system. Here’s a quick breakdown: Active Speakers Hence, active is sometimes used interchangeably with powered, and passive with unpowered. When used, these terms are either in reference to speaker amplification or speaker crossover. The confusion lies in what, specifically, is being addressed with regards to the speaker. The terms passive, active, powered, and unpowered are often confused and used incorrectly, or at least interchangeably. We’ve attempted to clear up the confusion and spell out some of the strengths and weaknesses. To make life more difficult, not all vendors and experts agree on the usage of those terms. When selecting speakers, consumers may find themselves confronted with the option of active speakers vs passive speakers, powered speakers, or some combination. It is certainly one of the first features shown off when fellow audiophiles drop in for some aural sampling. This is arguably the most important decision made when purchasing and assembling the audio components for the system. Audiophiles understand the importance of speakers in a home entertainment set-up. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |