Passive subwoofer vs. Active subwoofer
- Thread starter SweetRolls
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kfa888
Addicted Member
My kit sub came with an amp with mounting options of either internal or external. So where I decided to locate the amp determines if it's active or passive. If it's bolted to the top of the sub it's passive but if it's one inch inside it's active. Simple?
Passive, with the option of mounting the amp to it. The differentiator here is the amp is not part of the cab so you could drive it with any amp (as sub is passive) but with a built in amp thats not easy to do without reconfiguring it.
Just like an "active" speakers. If the AMP is part of the cabinet design it is active. If not it is not.
But I'm assuming you are just pulling my chain.
SweetRolls
New Member
Words that I must live by. I've wasted far too much money on cheap speakers while expecting great sound quality out of them! Right now, I forced my brain to not be tempted one bit by those Dayton AIRs.
The smartest route for me at this point is to save up a decent chunk of money and buy some KEF speakers, along with a quality subwoofer meant for music. Thank you all for your help, I appreciate it 100%.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Here is a picture of the inputs and outputs of the Marcato outdoor sub. Since no one seems to like my term of "true passive" I'll call it a "parasitic passive" to distinguish it from a sub with a dedicated amp. The Marcato couldn't have a self contained amp as it's designed to endure wet weather. It has no dedicated amp either inboard or outboard and for years depended on an old Marantz receiver for it's power.
It connects straight to the receiver's output and shares the receiver's power with satellite speakers. Back in the day we never used the term "passive speaker" because it was assumed to be as speakers with internal amps were rare as hen's teeth. The term passive was reserved for gear that required no power like a passive preamp or a passive crossover whereas active meant the device required a power source.
It connects straight to the receiver's output and shares the receiver's power with satellite speakers. Back in the day we never used the term "passive speaker" because it was assumed to be as speakers with internal amps were rare as hen's teeth. The term passive was reserved for gear that required no power like a passive preamp or a passive crossover whereas active meant the device required a power source.
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Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
I know many of you don't remember the 70's. Back then had I described someone's speakers as passive it would have been taken as criticism. 
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
and that was back in the day
kfa888
Addicted Member
I know many of you don't remember the 70's. Back then had I described someone's speakers as passive it would have been taken as criticism.
Realistic made active speakers a LONG time ago. I have a set.