Active speakers – or powered speakers – are loudspeakers with a built-in power amplifier, offering the significant advantage of requiring no additional cables, making them very convenient for transport.
These speakers are excellent for indoor use, such as in dance halls, conferences, presentations, or for live music evenings in venues. They can also be used in combination with subwoofers to enhance performance in medium-sized outdoor spaces.
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The History of Active Speakers
The first active speakers were invented in 1967 by Klein-Hummel, who created the OY: a three-way design with two channels of internal amplification. A 1964 invention – the SE401 Stereo Energizer – allowed any pair of speakers to be converted into a self-powered system, where the second speaker was powered by the first.
In 1971, the first bi-amplified studio monitor was created: the Altec 9846B.
One of the biggest proponents of active speakers was John Meyer of Meyer Sound Laboratories, who produced several models, increasingly integrating electronic components into the speakers and recognizing their potential. By the 1990s, Meyer even stopped producing passive speakers, focusing exclusively on new active products.
Thanks to advancements in electronics and technology, the quality of modern active speakers quickly improved, but their adoption was initially slow.
Meyer also hired an advertising agency to understand why active speakers were not as popular as he expected. The findings revealed that many were skeptical about the inability to monitor their performance during concerts. With active speakers, it’s not possible to see all amplifier settings from a single point.
Despite this, Meyer continued production and, in 1994, introduced the MSL-4: the first amplified speaker designed for concert tours. In subsequent years, he converted all his other products into active speakers.
Today, these speakers are widely used, but before purchasing one, it’s essential to understand how they work to determine if they suit your intended use.
How Active Speakers Work and Their Components
In general, any speaker consists of an external structure – called a cabinet – containing loudspeakers that act as transducers, converting the electrical signal from the amplifier into sound. The transducers in speakers are easily recognizable: they are dome or cone-shaped components, visible even to an untrained eye.
The cabinet, also referred to as the speaker enclosure, is the box housing the loudspeakers. Its primary purpose is to securely contain the speakers, preventing movement, particularly for the woofer, which exhibits vigorous movement.
The division of the audio signal into frequencies occurs inside the speakers, where the electronic circuit – the crossover – is located. This circuit, along with sound-absorbing material, optimizes the sound and sends it to the loudspeakers, the core components of the speakers responsible for their sound quality.
Speakers can vary in the number of ways they feature – that is, the number of frequency bands produced by the crossover – as well as in their quality, materials, and operation. Speakers can be active or passive. Let’s understand the difference.
Active vs. Passive Speakers: Differences
The differences between these two types of speakers mainly concern operation, not quality. Therefore, it would be incorrect to claim that one type is better than the other; each excels in specific environments, with both having their pros and cons.
Active speakers have a built-in amplification system that processes the input sound and converts it into output. In contrast, passive speakers require an external pre-amplification system to process and manage the input sound before sending it to the speakers. This means active speakers can be connected directly to any device – such as a musical instrument, MP3 player, or microphone – without further setup. Passive speakers, however, need an external amplification system to act as an intermediary, making their installation slightly more complex. However, the sound quality is often superior as the external amplification system allows for customized audio parameter adjustments.
The exterior structure of active speakers features a potentiometer to adjust the power of both the internal amplifier and the speakers. They also have a power socket for direct connection to the electrical grid.
Advantages and Disadvantages
One of the main advantages of active speakers is their ease of use: as mentioned, no additional connections are required, sound quality is excellent, and manual parameter adjustments are unnecessary. Another benefit is their versatility; they can be connected to countless devices, making them highly multifunctional. Lastly, their compactness and readiness to use make them very convenient for transport. Modern models even include Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity, further expanding their compatibility with devices, even without cables.