Powered speakers are the hot commodity in professional audio these days, but does that mean the time of passive speakers is over? It does not. Passive speakers still have some advantages over their powered brothers. Here are the Top 5.
Easy to Fix and Modify
Has your compression driver failed during a show? Did a power spike fry your crossover? Maybe you aren’t satisfied with current sound of your cabinet and want to try a different speaker. Well, with passive speakers, all of these things can be fixed or changed quickly and easily. Seismic Tips on our Youtube channel has detailed tutorial videos to walk you through these processes.
Lighter
Generally, passive speakers are significantly lighter than powered speakers. Not carrying around a power amp in the same cabinet will save your back. Of course, you’ll still need that amplifier somewhere but you can keep it an amp rack, where it belongs.
Cheaper
For the same reason that they are lighter, passive speakers are also cheaper. You’re not buying a power amp at the same time and in the same box. Once again, you will still need that amplifier but that is not the point here.
Speakon Connector
Using a passive speaker usually means you’re using the best audio connector on the market. Speakon connectors lock in place and require a twist to insert or remove. They can’t be accidentally pulled from the back of your speakers or amps and there will be no shorting from a loose connection.
More Volume
With passive speakers, you choose how much power to give it. You can run your speakers closer to the limit than you can with a powered system. It comes down to having more control when you can influence the individual elements independently.
Those are the Top 5 reasons to choose passive speakers. Need more? Our experts are ready to help. Call us at 877-347-6423 or check out our website.
Seismic Audio Speakers 
And very significantly, less cables to run; no power cords to the speakers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Less cables. ++++ 1
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is little difference in weight with Class D amplifiers. You can buy combined mains/signal cable- with Neutrik Powercons, so no problem there. An active speaker costs less than a passive speaker + an amp channel. And a close-coupled speaker/amp can be far better matched and be run closer to the limit for longer- even before you use the built-in DSP to optimise limiting and EQ.
LikeLike
Running passive speakers in series parallel, stacking walls of sound, reduce the impedance to get the most power from of amplifiers. More flexible array options. No built in DSP coloring, compressing, and EQ-ing your FOH sound.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I use passive monitors in my studio. The record industry was built on passive speakers and if they were good enough mix Sgt Peppers, Dark Side of the Moon, De La Soul’s 3 ft High and Rising, PE’s air It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Is Back and Dr. Dre’s The Chronic (to name just a few), they are good enough for me!
LikeLiked by 1 person