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General Information
ACTIVE Loudspeakers
What is Active Loudspeaker Technology?
Advantages of active speakers.
• Amplifiers are perfectly matched to the drivers.
• Active crossovers have less loss than passive crossover components.
• Short signal path between amplifier and drivers.
• Drivers are protected from overload.
• Less components means a simpler system.
• Lower cost compared to a system comprised of separate component parts.
Amplifier/driver matching.
In an active loudspeaker the designer can perfectly match the amplifier to each driver it is connected to. This way nothing is left to chance and you don't have to worry about finding the best amplifier to match your speakers. The biggest problem most audiophiles face is finding the right amplifier for their speakers. This problem is already solved with an active loudspeaker.
Electronic crossover/equalizer.
Passive crossovers are where most loudspeakers lose the music. With a passive crossover the components must be large because they are handling large signals that have already been amplified. Large components can cause distortion and phase shifts if they are not of extremely high quality. In an active loudspeaker the electronic crossover is dividing only very small signals directly from the source and so the components are small, resulting in minimal loss. Therefore they reach the dedicated amplifier for each frequency band in tact and in correct phase. The electronic crossover can also be equipped with an equalizer to smooth the frequency response of the loudspeaker. This results in a more accurate frequency response than can be achieved with a passive system.
Short signal paths.
Long cable runs between an external amplifier and a passive loudspeaker results in signal loss and a lower damping factor. The damping factor describes the precision with which the amplifier can control the movements of the drivers diaphragms. A bad damping factor means that the amplifier is not capable of controlling the diaphragms precisely. Even when using high quality amplifiers with excellent damping factors they can be compromised by the passive crossover. It is common to see a damping factor reduced to 5% of it's original value by a poor passive crossover. In an active loudspeaker system the amplifiers connected directly to the loudspeaker drivers with a very short length of cable creates the best possible conditions for the amplifier and driver to perform optimally. This is particularly noticeable in the bass which will be much tighter and cleaner.
Speaker protection.
Active loudspeakers are equipped with protection circuits in the crossover/equalizer that prevents damage to your loudspeaker from over driving. Since the designer knows exactly how much power a particular driver can withstand he can implement the appropriate protection. When done in conjunction with the crossover/equalizer it does not impair the sound quality.
Simpler System.
With an active loudspeaker you only have to add your preamplifier and source components. It can even be as simple as connecting a CD player equipped with volume control to to the active loudspeaker.
Lower System Cost.
Contrary to popular belief, compared to an equivalently specified passive loudspeaker system (speakers and amplifiers) the active loudspeaker system will cost less because there is less cost of casework, cabling, equipment racking and transport included in your overall price. The active loudspeaker includes everything.
Superior sound.
In recording studios around the world the question of active vs passive has been answered a long time ago. The use active loudspeakers is universal because of their accuracy.
Nevertheless, in the world of HiFi passive systems are still predominant because many audiophiles like to choose their own amplifier. There is no doubt that one can achieve excellent results with passive loudspeakers if the HiFi components (and the loudspeakers in particular) are of the appropriate quality. That is the main reason why ADAM offers HiFi speakers as passive (or semi active) versions, too. This allows any music lover who does not want to relinquish his own amplifier to enjoy the ADAM sound.
Active loudspeakers incorporate an electronic frequency dividing network (or crossover) that divides the frequencies and distributes them to internal power amplifier modules, each of which is connected directly to a loudspeaker driver. There are no passive crossover components between the amplifier module and the loudspeaker driver. In a passive loudspeaker the amplifiers are external to the loudspeaker and the crossover network is situated between the amplifiers and the drivers.
Advantages of active speakers.
• Amplifiers are perfectly matched to the drivers.
• Active crossovers have less loss than passive crossover components.
• Short signal path between amplifier and drivers.
• Drivers are protected from overload.
• Less components means a simpler system.
• Lower cost compared to a system comprised of separate component parts.
Amplifier/driver matching.
In an active loudspeaker the designer can perfectly match the amplifier to each driver it is connected to. This way nothing is left to chance and you don't have to worry about finding the best amplifier to match your speakers. The biggest problem most audiophiles face is finding the right amplifier for their speakers. This problem is already solved with an active loudspeaker.
Electronic crossover/equalizer.
Passive crossovers are where most loudspeakers lose the music. With a passive crossover the components must be large because they are handling large signals that have already been amplified. Large components can cause distortion and phase shifts if they are not of extremely high quality. In an active loudspeaker the electronic crossover is dividing only very small signals directly from the source and so the components are small, resulting in minimal loss. Therefore they reach the dedicated amplifier for each frequency band in tact and in correct phase. The electronic crossover can also be equipped with an equalizer to smooth the frequency response of the loudspeaker. This results in a more accurate frequency response than can be achieved with a passive system.
Short signal paths.
Long cable runs between an external amplifier and a passive loudspeaker results in signal loss and a lower damping factor. The damping factor describes the precision with which the amplifier can control the movements of the drivers diaphragms. A bad damping factor means that the amplifier is not capable of controlling the diaphragms precisely. Even when using high quality amplifiers with excellent damping factors they can be compromised by the passive crossover. It is common to see a damping factor reduced to 5% of it's original value by a poor passive crossover. In an active loudspeaker system the amplifiers connected directly to the loudspeaker drivers with a very short length of cable creates the best possible conditions for the amplifier and driver to perform optimally. This is particularly noticeable in the bass which will be much tighter and cleaner.
Speaker protection.
Active loudspeakers are equipped with protection circuits in the crossover/equalizer that prevents damage to your loudspeaker from over driving. Since the designer knows exactly how much power a particular driver can withstand he can implement the appropriate protection. When done in conjunction with the crossover/equalizer it does not impair the sound quality.
Simpler System.
With an active loudspeaker you only have to add your preamplifier and source components. It can even be as simple as connecting a CD player equipped with volume control to to the active loudspeaker.
Lower System Cost.
Contrary to popular belief, compared to an equivalently specified passive loudspeaker system (speakers and amplifiers) the active loudspeaker system will cost less because there is less cost of casework, cabling, equipment racking and transport included in your overall price. The active loudspeaker includes everything.
Superior sound.
In recording studios around the world the question of active vs passive has been answered a long time ago. The use active loudspeakers is universal because of their accuracy.
Nevertheless, in the world of HiFi passive systems are still predominant because many audiophiles like to choose their own amplifier. There is no doubt that one can achieve excellent results with passive loudspeakers if the HiFi components (and the loudspeakers in particular) are of the appropriate quality. That is the main reason why ADAM offers HiFi speakers as passive (or semi active) versions, too. This allows any music lover who does not want to relinquish his own amplifier to enjoy the ADAM sound.
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