Are powered speakers better than passive speakers? Are passive speakers better than active speakers? The debate between powered vs passive speakers continues. So, which is better for your sound system? Before we help you make that decision, you need to understand what is the difference between active and passive speakers. Let us explain...
So what are active and passive speakers? The simple difference between active and passive speakers is that active/powered pa speakers require power, meaning it needs to be plugged into AC electricity, and unpowered/passive pa speakers don’t. This is because active models have built-in amplifiers that need power while passive models require an external amplifier that will provide them with power.
What Are Powered Speakers (Also referred to as “Active”)
- Powered speakers require an AC power source in order to function
- Powered speakers have built-in amplifiers and oftentimes a basic mixer with EQ
- There is usually more than 1 mic or AUX input directly on the back of a powered speaker
- Powered speakers can essentially be used on their own with a music source or microphone plugged indirectly
What Are Passive Speakers (Also referred to as “Unpowered”)
- Passive speakers rely on external amplifiers
- Passive speakers do not require AC power to function
- More versatile in terms of amplifier matching
- Requires more gear and cabling- they need speaker wire run from the amplifier. They will also need a mixer where you will connect your music source or microphone prior to the amp.
Additionally, there’s also a huge range of battery-powered and portable powered PA speakers that are ideal for musicians, public speakers, and small functions.
So, which really is better, active or passive speakers? There is not exactly one clear answer and there are pros and cons of both. So the question really becomes which one is right for you and the needs of your sound system?
Powered Loudspeakers Benefits
Pros
- Default amplifier matching since it’s built into the speaker - The amplifier and speaker are designed to go together as it comes from the manufacturer
- Built-in mixer, EQ, and processing
- Built-in system protection to let you know if it’s running too loud, etc.
- Consolidated design with fewer external components making them easily portable
- Allow for wireless applications like Bluetooth connectivity
- Available with a built-in battery for a completely portable option
- Quick and easy to set up
Cons
- Heavier weight
- Typically higher in price
- Only work on their internal amplifiers
- Can be more difficult to repair
Active speakers are the best they are going to sound as it comes from the manufacturer. Since it already comes with the amplifier built-in you won’t be able to exchange components for better performance. This can be both a pro or con depending on how you look at it.
Passive Speakers Benefits
Pros
- Can be paired with your choice of different types or brands of amplifiers
- Fewer wires without the power cord making them easier to place
- Relatively easy to upgrade inside your system since you can switch out the amplifier, mixer, or processing as needed
- They’re usually lighter weight
- Lower in price
- Easier maintenance
Cons
- The user is responsible for amplifier matching
- Needs a mixer or additional processing like EQ
- A lot more components involved in your sound system
- Often uses unbalanced audio
Now that you have a basic understanding of what active speakers vs passive speakers are as well as how they work, which one is right for you? Maybe you don’t want a whole lot of cables and you don’t want a rack full of stuff - maybe a powered speaker is right for you. But maybe you want to keep your existing amplifier and just need a new speaker - maybe a passive speaker makes a little more sense. Here are some things to consider as you are deciding which is best for your sound system.
Consider powered/active speakers if…
- You want a fuss-free system with minimal wires
- You don’t care for tinkering with external amplifiers
- You listen to a lot of digital music, especially in hi-res formats
- You have limited space
Consider unpowered/passive speakers if…
- You might want to upgrade your amplifier at a later date
- You’ve already invested heavily in the rest of your system components
- You’re more restricted in your budget
- Weight is an issue
We’ve heard a lot of questions on the topic of powered or active speakers vs. passive or unpowered speakers. So if you're still a little confused here are some of our most frequently asked questions.
About Powered or Active Speakers
How do powered speakers work?
Powered speakers work because the speaker enclosure also has an amplifier and sometimes a basic mixer built all into one box.
What are powered speakers?
A powered or active speaker means that there is a power supply built into the system that actually has to be plugged into a wall outlet.
How to use powered speakers?
You can hook up a powered speaker straight to your mixer at your church or live audio and performance venue. You come right out of the line-level output, the XLR output, out of your mixer, straight into your powered speaker.
Do I need a preamp with powered speakers?
Many active speakers have built-in inputs on the actual powered speaker itself where you can plug in microphone inputs or music sources. So if you only have a limited number of sources being plugged in, you can plug that straight into your powered speaker. If you are combining a lot of microphones you’ll need a mixer where you plug in all your input sources first.
How to connect powered speakers together?
Most powered speakers have some kind of line-level audio output, XLR or quarter-inch, that outputs only the audio signal from the powered speaker. So that means you can come out of that line-level output to run to another powered speaker. You can also run it to a powered subwoofer or anywhere else you might need to get that same audio signal.
How to daisy chain powered speakers?
Yes, you can come out of the line-level output to run into, essentially, unlimited powered speakers that you need to connect to.
Can you use an active speaker as a passive one?
No, we would not recommend hooking up an amplifier to a powered speaker.
About Unpowered or Passive Speakers
How do passive speakers work?
Passive speakers don’t have the amplification built-in. It’s just a speaker, so it requires a separate mixer and amplifier to power it.
How to hook up passive speakers?
A passive speaker requires more components than a powered speaker would. It doesn’t have microphone inputs or line-level inputs. In most cases, you’ll need a mixer, an amplifier, any form of processing you might need, DSP, stabilization, etc and then cabling to run from your amplifier to your speaker in order to provide the power that it needs to work.
How to power passive speakers?
A passive speaker is only supposed to be used as a passive speaker. In order to make it operate, you have to hook it up to an amplifier.
What are passive speakers used for?
Passive speakers, just like active speakers, can be used in any number of applications. Both can be used in houses of worship, educational environments, gymnasiums, ballfields, etc. It really comes down to a number of factors to determine whether a passive or an active speaker is appropriate.
Can you use active and passive speakers together?
You cannot use active and passive speakers together on the same amplifier channel. So if you are coming out of your amplifier and running into a passive speaker, you don’t want to connect that same speaker to a powered speaker.
Are subwoofers active or passive speakers?
Subwoofers can be passive and need an amplifier, or they can be active and have an amplifier built-in. Subwoofers in either case do require some form of crossover which limits the frequencies that go to it. In an active subwoofer, that’s already built-in. In a passive subwoofer sometimes you have to make that adjustment at the amplifier. In those cases, active subwoofers can make more sense for your audio system because they require fewer connections and already have all of the internal processing built-in.
If you have questions about powered or passive speakers for your sound system, give us a call at (888)-256-4112, or email us at [email protected]. Our sound system experts are always happy to help!
