Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Should a power amplifier be placed before or after a loudspeaker's crossover? That's the central topic in this week's audiophile debate: active vs. passive loudspeaker design. Which one is really better and which one is better for you? The answer may surprise you.
Plus it's easy to confuse a powered speaker or wireless speaker with an active one. Although each typically include an amplifier that's built into the speaker itself, they're differentiated by where the crossover sits in the signal path. Only when a crossover functions before amplification, is a speaker truly active.
So are you a diehard passive plus amp purist? Or are you ready to go fully active? Let us know where you stand in the comments below.
ecoustics.com has been covering hi-fi, home theater, headphones and more in consumer A/V technology since 1999. Our YouTube channel includes podcasts with industry insiders and experts, product reviews, and our Editors picks of the best products to buy right now.
Don't forget to check our website for daily updates on the latest consumer electronics, including news, reviews and recommendations on high-end audio, loudspeakers, soundbars, headphones, TVs, and more.
ecoustics.com
Thumbnail photo:
Sonus faber Olympica Nova III with McIntosh MC611 Mono Amp and C12000 Preamp (passive speaker system)
Focal Diva Mezza Utopia (active speakers)
Clip from Peter Thomas, Co-founder of PMC Speakers was from A British Audiophile podcast:
youtube.com/watch?v=frQBizH5yPQ&t=1477s
#activespeakers #loudspeakers #hifi
Should a power amplifier be placed before or after a loudspeaker's crossover? That's the central topic in this week's audiophile debate: active vs. passive loudspeaker design. Which one is really better and which one is better for you? The answer may surprise you.
Plus it's easy to confuse a powered speaker or wireless speaker with an active one. Although each typically include an amplifier that's built into the speaker itself, they're differentiated by where the crossover sits in the signal path. Only when a crossover functions before amplification, is a speaker truly active.
So are you a diehard passive plus amp purist? Or are you ready to go fully active? Let us know where you stand in the comments below.
ecoustics.com has been covering hi-fi, home theater, headphones and more in consumer A/V technology since 1999. Our YouTube channel includes podcasts with industry insiders and experts, product reviews, and our Editors picks of the best products to buy right now.
Don't forget to check our website for daily updates on the latest consumer electronics, including news, reviews and recommendations on high-end audio, loudspeakers, soundbars, headphones, TVs, and more.
ecoustics.com
Thumbnail photo:
Sonus faber Olympica Nova III with McIntosh MC611 Mono Amp and C12000 Preamp (passive speaker system)
Focal Diva Mezza Utopia (active speakers)
Clip from Peter Thomas, Co-founder of PMC Speakers was from A British Audiophile podcast:
youtube.com/watch?v=frQBizH5yPQ&t=1477s
#activespeakers #loudspeakers #hifi
