What is the difference between active speakers and passive speakers?

What is the difference between active speakers and passive speakers?

What is the difference between active speakers and passive speakers?
What are active speakers and passive speakers?
   Many people are ignorant when they see the introduction of active and passive speakers when choosing speakers.Don't quite understand the fundamental difference between the two. And the scope of application of these two speakers.
Passive speaker
   Passive speakers means that there is no driving source inside the speakers, only the cabinet structure and speakers. There is only a simple treble and bass crossover inside. This kind of speaker is called a passive speaker, which is what we call a big box. This kind of speaker needs to be driven by an amplifier, and only the power output by the amplifier can drive the speaker.
   
    Let's take a look at the internal structure of the passive speaker on the left.
   
    Passive speaker composition: wooden cabinet, treble and bass unit speaker, crossover, internal sound-absorbing cotton, and speaker terminal. To drive a passive speaker, you need to use a speaker cable to connect the speaker terminal to the output terminal of the power amplifier. The volume level is controlled by the power amplifier. The choice of sound source and the adjustment of high and low frequencies are all done by the power amplifier. The speaker is only responsible for sound. When discussing speakers, there is no special note, generally speaking, they are passive speakers. That is, passive speakers can be matched with different types of power amplifiers of different brands. Able to make more flexible collocation.
Active speakers
    Active speakers, as the name suggests, the box contains a power drive unit. There is a driving source. That is, on the basis of passive speakers, the power supply, power amplifier circuit, tuning circuit, and even decoding circuit are all put into the speaker. Active speakers can be simply understood as an integrated body of passive speakers and power amplifiers.

  On the right is the internal structure of the active speaker
Comparison of passive speakers and active speakers
   Passive speakers can be matched with different power amplifiers, and can be combined freely to match the music style you want. The disadvantage is that the power amplifier is large in size and takes up more space.

   The active speaker has a compact structure and integrates a power amplifier circuit, so users do not need to purchase an additional power amplifier. Save the power amplifier space. The disadvantage is that the music style of active speakers is determined by the power amplifier circuit integrated by the manufacturer, and the sound style is not adjustable. Here is the sound style is not adjusting the high and low sounds, but the overall sound style of the active speaker. It is fixed according to the tuning style of the manufacturer. More suitable for users who don't like tossing.

   In terms of sound quality, it is difficult to compare the sound quality of active speakers and passive speakers. The sound quality of passive speakers depends more on what kind of power amplifier you use. Most active speakers are professionally adjusted by manufacturers. The difference in sound quality between the two depends on the money you invest.



   Through the figure we can see that the active speaker includes a wooden cabinet, a high and low speaker unit, internal sound-absorbing cotton, internal power supply and power amplifier board, and internal tuning circuit. Similarly, on the external interface, active speakers are quite different from passive speakers. Since the active speaker integrates the power amplifier circuit, the external input is usually 3.5mm audio port, red and black lotus socket, coaxial or optical fiber interface. The signal received by the active speaker is a low-power and low-voltage analog signal. For example, our mobile phones can be directly connected to active speakers through a 3.5mm paired recording cable, and you can enjoy stunning sound effects. For example, the computer audio output port, or the lotus interface of the set-top box, can be directly connected to the active speaker.

   The advantage of the active speaker is that it eliminates the power amplifier, which takes up more space, and the active speaker integrates the power amplifier circuit. This saves a lot of space in space. In addition to the wooden cabinet, the active speaker also has alloy cabinets and other materials, and the overall design is more compact. Because active speakers occupy the cabinet space and the cabinet space is limited, the traditional power amplifier power supply and circuits cannot be integrated, so most active speakers are now class D power amplifier circuits. There are also a few class AB active speakers that integrate transformers and radiators into the active speakers. About the sound quality and effects of Class AB and Class D amplifiers, we will give you a detailed explanation later. No introduction in this issue.