Passive and Active Monitors

[Idgeit]

Can anyone tell me what the difference between Passive and Active Monitors are?

thanks,

- Idgeit

 

[Commander]

Passive monitors need an amplifier whereas active monitors don't since they have an amp inside them, one in each speaker. Because the amp is perfectly matched to the speaker and crossover in an active speaker this generally makes them a safer bet for true reference monitoring. An active speaker will also require a mains plug as well as a speaker lead, one for each speaker.

Hope this helps!

 

[Idgeit]

So would it be better for a first timer to go towards the active?

Thanks


- Idgeit

 

[grinder]

With actives the amp is matched to the speakers and there is less cabling needed.

 

[Commander]

So would it be better for a first timer to go towards the active?

Thanks

- Idgeit

There is far less chance of introducing artificial eq by using active speakers, so yes.

 

[Ethan Winer]

Idgeit,

There are many advantages of active monitors for the typical project studio, besides a simpler hookup with less pieces to carry if you ever do remotes:

Active speakers are typically bi-amped, which often yields a cleaner sound with less distortion. And bi-amping offers more ways to optimize the crossover performance because it uses active rather than passive components. Also, the power amps will be well matched to the speakers, they won't have a fan, and the wires from amp to speaker are shorter which improves damping. But to me the overwhelming advantage, as implemented in the Mackies anyway, is that the woofer cone's motion can be included within the power amp's feedback loop to reduce distortion by a significant amount.

--Ethan