Not everyone can understand speaker systems (AC), so today we will look at active and passive speakers, highlight the pros and cons, and do the work on choosing the type you want, let's go!
Content
What's the Difference?
Activity or passivity in the name means whether additional amplifiers are used in the devices. It is logical: in active - yes, in passive - no. A simple person can not distinguish the difference in sound between them, so any budget option is suitable for use at home.
The difference of these types of columns:
| Active speakers | Passive speakers |
| High-quality and powerful built-in amplifier | No hardware module |
| Need grounding on outlets | Do not require grounding at outlets (95% of cases) |
| They have a relationship between the amplifier and the speaker, which allows you to adjust the power supplied to them by signals | Sensitive to the signal power of the amplifier, do not provide feedback to the modules |
| Do not engage in quality without a high-performance sound card | Use their capabilities “to the full” when connecting to an average audio system performance |
Amplifier
Sound quality depends on the difference in output power of the sound devices. Because of this, expensive speakers may be of poor quality compared to the built-in speakers of a laptop. Non-matching of parameters is dangerous in relation to devices, they can be damaged due to a large volume of sound.
To improve the sound quality of the system, different types of amplifiers are used. Active speakers use a built-in amplifier. They are of poor quality in budget options, but are suitable for the average person to use at home. This does not mean that the sound will be bad, the audio amplifier in such devices is selected correctly, and copes with the task.
For passive use additional devices, in particular a remote amplifier. There is a positive point here. You can independently choose a high-quality and expensive amplifier that will meet all the requirements. Cheap options can damage your system. It is necessary to select indicators slightly exceeding the maximum for the audio system. It will be more expensive, but reliability and subsequent operation will please for many years.
Active speakers (AK)
Active speakers are a speaker system equipped with built-in power boost modules. This allows you to use them without devices connected additionally. The amplifier used in the speakers can act as a subwoofer.
2 types of Active speakers:
- With a low frequency of intermodulation distortion;
- With a larger dynamic range.
Their advantage over passive ones is high-quality sound with less power consumption of all equipment.
They have a fast and efficient signal exchange between speakers thanks to amplifiers.
If you use them in a personal computer, you need a high-performance sound card. This provides support for the entire audio system as a whole. A cheap active speaker does not require this; an average audio card is also suitable for it. They are operated by simple users who do not pursue the timbre and intelligibility of every little thing. This does not mean that the sound will not be high-quality - it will be simple.
Passive speakers (PC)
Passive speakers do not have built-in amplification modules. In the professional field, they are used more often, since they select amplifiers on their own. They have a built-in amplifier, responsible only for the supply of sound. It is not valid, but if absolutely necessary, it is operated with a heavy load on the speakers.
There are only 3 types of amplifiers:
- preliminary - collects signals from sound sources;
- Powerful - interacts with the preliminary, thereby increasing the combined sound into a single whole;
- combined - combines the previous 2 types into one, fulfilling both goals.
Combined has a lower cost before the first two options. If you are a professional pursuing quality, it is worth taking a look at buying a preliminary and high-power amplifier. They will cost more in price, but the speed of data processing will be faster.
Passive speakers require an average sound card. If additional devices are used, high performance is recommended. It is able to fully reveal the potential of the system.
What to choose?
We disassembled 2 types of columns, but now the task: which one to choose? If you are an ordinary user who needs to watch a movie and listen to music - choose an active speaker system. It allows you to play the sound that is designed specifically for you. The sound will be high-quality, but the chapels are immune to distinction. The key will not be detected as much as possible, compared with the expensive option.
If you are a sound engineer or musician, both are suitable for you. However, it will be better to choose good active speakers, since they will still be cheaper than passive ones, which will have to be purchased with an amplifier.
Some kind of idiotic conclusions for quite amateurs. If you really need high-quality music, then a normal music lover will never choose active speakers - this crap is only for budget and with a big stretch of average, in terms of the quality of music perception or some purely professional activity. But for the real pleasure of listening to a really high-quality audiophile sound, only good passive speakers are suitable, with carefully selected and played subconnected components
This article is good because you can poke fun at it! Above every line!
Somewhat strange article. In general, I agree with Anton. Sincerely, Dmitry.
The author is an absolute layman in radio engineering. This is not an insult, but that beginners do not take what is said for the truth. The so-called active speaker, this is when the power amplifier is connected by a short wire to the speaker, due to the low resistance between the speaker and the amplifier, the damping of the speaker diffuser is improved, and this reduces distortion at low frequencies. For medium and high frequencies this is not critical. The disadvantage is the presence of a network background due to the low voltage of the input signal. Need cable shielding. The significance of grounding the outlet is not clear. And why ground the outlet if the "0" network is the earth. When connecting a "passive" amplifier with a power amplifier, cable shielding is not necessary, but there is no diffuser damping with the output impedance of the power amplifier. The resistance of the diffuser coil is commensurate with the resistance of the connecting cable. In general, the question is very serious and a small article will not work.