I had no idea about this. I have full range speakers that I require an amplifier to use.The Speakon cables come from the amplifier. So should I have a crossover there somewhere?
Cheers
Gareth
I had no idea about this. I have full range speakers that I require an amplifier to use.The Speakon cables come from the amplifier. So should I have a crossover there somewhere?
Cheers
Gareth
Last edited by Gareth; 17-03-2010 at 11:13 PM. Reason: Grrrr Fat Fingers!
Since it was me that started this whole thing (agghh.. what have I done!?? ), I hope you don't mind me answering this
You can have a speaker that's incorrectly called "active" but is really used in a passive powered arrangement - this would have a single amp bolted on the back with an output to a passive crossover, which feeds each driver.
You could also have a passive speaker that contains a crossover to split between a compression horn and a driver, but that is fed from an amp rack with an active crossover in, so would be both active and passive!
Yes, it's confusing!!!
To keep it simple, the words active and passive have nothing to do with whether the amp is bolted to the speaker or not - the correct terms are powered or un-powered.
Active/Passive just refers to whether the signal filtering (i.e. use of crossovers) is done pre-amp or post-amp.
There will already be a passive crossover inside the speakers - or I beleive the piezo will perform this dury, if the speaker contains these rather than compression drivers.
Either way, you don't need any additional electronics when just dealing with full range cabs.
Although, it is possible and is used in real top end applications - you can use seperate amps for the bass driver and the compressipon driver and therefore have complete control over the gain on each and the crossover point, but this is usually well beyond the realm of DJ sound systems.
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Thanks Danno.
We live & learn!
So what would you call this then Dan?......looks like an 'Active' system to me, 2 way Electronic Active crossover done pre-amp, separate dedicated amplifiers for high and low drivers....it's active, no question!
* Lightweight and rugged polypropylene cabinet designed for life on the road
* Studio monitor sound quality in an active loudspeaker
* Servo-controlled 12" neodymium woofer delivers extremely deep, punchy bass in a compact design
* High-output 1.75" titanium tweeter for supreme high frequency clarity
* Class-D 300W low frequency amplifier for strong performance and fast recovery
* 100W high frequency amp for clear treble tones with no distortion
* Multi-cell horn throat aperture for extra-wide dispersion
* Built-in protection circuitry, including a limiter and sliding high-pass filter
* Phase-accurate 24dB Linkwitz-Riley electronic crossover
*XLR input and pass-thru connectors
*Active Electronic time alignment, phase correction, and EQ for studio-quality sound
* Can be flown, pole-mounted, or placed on stage in a vertical or wedge position
...oh by the way it's a Mackie SRM450
----------www.partyshopdisco.co.uk - www.weddingdiscodorset.co.uk
-----Outstanding Wedding Disco Entertainment for Dorset & Somerset
-----------------------01305 775579 - 07876 136663
Just like to say that I too was confused about this issue until this discussion.
It seems that it's possible to have a powered speaker system that is 'active' or 'passive' just depends on weather it has an electronic or passive crossover. I think for clarity I'm going to call a speaker with an amp(s) built in Powered from now on, it's less confusing for others than going into the active/passive thing.
Last edited by Tony Scott; 18-03-2010 at 07:01 AM.
----------www.partyshopdisco.co.uk - www.weddingdiscodorset.co.uk
-----Outstanding Wedding Disco Entertainment for Dorset & Somerset
-----------------------01305 775579 - 07876 136663
It seems you've shifted your opinion slightly, to describe an active 'system', rather than an active 'speaker' - in which case, I agree.
However, I stand by my understanding that an active speaker is a speaker which contains an amplifier within it - rather than externally.
If this isn't the case, then I ask again :
Lucky you, cos I still am!
That would still be the way I'd describe it, even though it may be technically inaccurate.
There's no wonder I'm confused when you realise that on Friday night, I take out a stack of Class D's and an amp and use a passive rig. On Saturday night, I use the same kit, this time with an active crossover and second amp, and voila I've now got an active system, but with all the same boxes!
Come on lads, surely you can't have it both ways?