Audionaut
Major Contributor
Yes, it’s pretty confusing when you’re trying to get into the topic, because the term is used for a wide variety of setups. Let me break it down for you:
In common parlance, “active” often simply means: The speaker has a built-in amplifier and can be connected directly to a source. Technically speaking, however, this is only a very rough description, because there are several fundamentally different concepts that all fall under this term, which is why you (and others) are confused.
The simplest—and actually least convincing—variant is the so-called source-satellite principle. In this setup, only one speaker has a built-in power amplifier that drives both speakers. A classic passive crossover, with all its drawbacks, is still located between the individual drivers. Electrically, the system is essentially a normal passive speaker in which the amplifier has simply been integrated into the enclosure. The signal path remains identical to that of a conventional passive system, and the typical drawbacks of passive crossovers—energy loss, reduced control over the individual drivers, and limited optimization options—persist. Strictly speaking, therefore, it is more of a passive speaker with a built-in amplifier than a true active system.
In my view, systems marketed as “active” in this configuration are nothing but false advertising and a rip-off for consumers.
A significantly more sophisticated concept and TRUE active speakers are those with an electronic crossover. Here, the signal is split into the individual frequency ranges at line level—that is, before the amplifiers. Each driver then receives its own amplifier channel. For a long time, this was the classic design of professional active monitors and many PA systems. The frequency division was carried out entirely analog via electronic filters. This principle already offered significant advantages over passive crossovers: the power amplifiers drive the respective drivers directly, component losses are eliminated, and crossover frequencies as well as filter characteristics can be defined more precisely. For many years, this analog active technology was the standard in studio monitors. It still exists today; examples include HEDD Core, PSI (just tested by Amir), and ATC, but there are others as well.
My first active speakers were the Grundig XSM 3000 with a Grundig 6500 Preceiver. A great system that I fondly look back on.
Today, in modern active speakers, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) typically handles frequency division and signal processing. The input signal is digitally filtered, equalized, and time-aligned. Only then is it sent to the individual amplifiers, each of which powers a driver. These are often compact Class-D power amplifiers that are integrated directly into the speaker. This design enables additional functions such as precise phase corrections, delay adjustments, protection limits, room corrections, or complex equalization of the drivers and the enclosure. The downside is latency, although modern systems now offer adjustment options for very low latency.
However, the electronics do not necessarily have to be located inside the speaker itself. Especially in the high-end hi-fi sector and in professional PA systems, it is very common for the active components to be housed in separate devices. In this case, the electronic or digital crossover—often implemented as a DSP controller—is located in an external processor or preamplifier. From there, multiple power amplifier channels are driven, which in turn are directly connected to the individual drivers of the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker itself then no longer contains any crossover and is, technically speaking, a “bare” chassis system.
This design is found, for example, in many large sound reinforcement systems, in professional studio monitor systems with external controllers, and in high-end active hi-fi systems. The advantage is that the electronics and amplifiers can be sized and maintained independently of the speaker enclosure. In addition, powerful power amplifiers and complex DSP functions are easier to implement than if everything had to be housed in a compact speaker enclosure.
I still have this setup here, and it was my “modular system” for a long time because, if you build a lot yourself, this is the fastest way to swap things out. For those who just want a good active speaker in their living room long-term and have to consider the WAF, integrated designs with plate amplifiers, like the Hypex Plates, are the best choice.
The term “active speaker” thus encompasses many technical levels, all of which are called “active”—but are completely different. It can refer to a simple speaker with a built-in amplifier (which is total nonsense and, in my opinion, not an active system), an analog active-separated system with separate power amplifiers per driver, or a modern DSP-based multi-channel system with fully digital signal processing—regardless of whether the electronics are integrated into the speaker or operated as external active electronics.
Ultimately, however, there is only one crucial factor when it comes to TRUE active speakers: the crossover occurs before the amplifiers, and each driver is powered by its own amplifier channel; otherwise, in my opinion, it is not an active system, but rather a misrepresentation.
Sigberg, the creator of the thread, uses, for example, the latest iteration of the modern active speaker principle, namely DSP-controlled Hypex Ncore digital modules.
I hope that gave you a brief overview.
. Genelec S45YA. As I understand YLE (Finnish broadcast Corp) requested an active monitor, it was in the science of the time. Norwegian Broadcast Corporation chose to cooperate with SEAS and Adyton (see picture 3). BBC made the LS3/5a, silly people.
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