Passive subwoofer in modern speaker systems. What is the difference between an active subwoofer and a passive one?

When purchasing car speakers, the question of choosing a subwoofer – passive or active – often arises. To briefly answer the question at the very beginning of the article, how an active subwoofer differs from a passive one, we need to give a definition. We are talking about a special low-frequency speaker that expands the bass frequency range and makes it richer and deeper.

A passive speaker connects to an amplifier and produces higher quality sound. Active is an all-inclusive system with built-in amplifier. At the same time, convenience and savings affect sound quality.

Features of choice: which subwoofer is better

There is no clear answer which subwoofer is better: active or passive. It all depends on the specific situation of choosing between these proposals. A passive system will cost more. It will be more hassle to install and will require the purchase of an amplifier. But with proper installation, Hi-Fi class sound awaits you. With this formulation of the question, which is better, there is no point.

True, in order to get professional sound in a car, in addition to high-quality acoustics, you will need a car radio with a sound processor. This device takes into account the features of the interior shape of the cabin. So, with all the advantages “at the output”, a passive subwoofer has two major disadvantages - high cost and installation complexity.

You can connect the active sub yourself immediately after purchase. Moreover, with some preparation for the issue, you can purchase a very high-quality speaker. When choosing specific brands, it is quite difficult to say which is better and choose between an active and passive subwoofer.

Manufacturers come up with various tricks that level out differences in sound quality, while the active version has a number of advantages (in such models the question of which is better is not relevant):

compact sizes;
no need to purchase additional equipment;
ease of installation.

The principles described will help you understand the differences and differences, and choose which subwoofer is best for you. If desired, you can make a passive subwoofer into the car yourself by adapting the housing to the car’s interior. In this case, the difference in ease of connection and price will not greatly affect your media system. But such installations are for passionate people and professionals.

So, active and passive subwoofer: we figured out what the difference is. Now let's look at the question of what is different, the choice of functions and qualities of the system, let's look at it in more detail.

What does the choice promise?

As they say, every case is personalized. If the car owner has paid close attention to the issue, then they know perfectly well what the difference is. The purchase is related to certain factors: price, personal, installation features in the car. In general, we can recommend taking the active version from a good manufacturer.

This will protect you from a number of problems. If you want a sound no worse than the Maybach, then go for the passive model, but provided that you have a good quality stereo system in your purchase plans. Putting this all together is not that easy.

It is quite difficult to complete such a system, since, by definition, the passive versions are intended for home theaters. Models with a bass reflex are designed only for large rooms.

They are not intended for cars. Thus, the smaller your salon, the more you need to lean towards a good quality active model. This option is also suitable for those users who do not place excessive demands on car acoustics and are looking for the best option for their car.

Conclusion: between rationality and functions

As a result, the difference between an active subwoofer and a passive one is its purpose. The first version is more suitable for regular class cars. The second is exclusive cars with a large interior or versions for those people who love good acoustics and are a master at it.

A high-quality model with a built-in amplifier solves most of the problems in organizing good sound. In most cases, the sound improvement will not be felt in a small car interior, so you can choose a system with average parameters.

The passive version is purchased mainly by connoisseurs of high-quality sound who prefer modern music. Since the sub makes the bass richer. Choose this option if this is the difference you are interested in. Now you have a clear idea of what is better: an active or passive subwoofer. You can also watch a video on how to connect speakers to the system.

What is a subwoofer? Essentially, a passive subwoofer is a speaker that is connected to a computer or speaker system. It is capable of reproducing low-frequency sounds (from five to two hundred Hz). There are passive and active subwoofers. This affects their ability to transmit sound.

For a good audio system sound, one large speaker is enough, which can be placed under the table for convenience. By choosing the most suitable location for placing the subwoofer, you can try to dampen standing low-frequency waves that appear in a closed small room. Most often, a passive subwoofer is used in home theaters for watching movies with special effects and listening to music. He conveys well

It happens that subwoofer systems do not fit well with the equipment connected to them due to a mismatch between their phase and amplitude-frequency characteristics. To overcome such sound defects, some subwoofers have the ability to adjust the phase and upper frequency.

Types of subwoofers

There are two types of subwoofers: active and passive. Questions arise about how they differ from passive ones, what functions they perform in acoustic systems?

An active subwoofer has a built-in subwoofer that makes it capable of removing low-frequency load from the amplifier. In addition, an active subwoofer has an active crossover, which allows you to filter high frequencies and helps coordinate the operation of the subwoofer with a wideband acoustic system. Quite often it has additional customization options to suit the application. It has a tone and volume control.

Unlike an active subwoofer, a passive subwoofer does not have an amplifier. It is subordinate to the device to which it is connected: to a computer, speaker system. Therefore, it is connected as a supplement to the main stereo speakers. It can also be connected to a separate power amplifier. The main disadvantage of a passive subwoofer is that it creates additional load on stereo channels, which reduces the volume and dynamics of the audio system. But, the higher the sensitivity of the subwoofer, the less it loads the amplifier.

The design features of a passive subwoofer make it difficult to place in the room. It should be moved until a good bass sound is found. that a subwoofer has can be divided into three types: deep (from twenty to forty Hz), medium (from forty to eighty Hz), and high (from eighty to one hundred and sixty Hz) bass. The sound a subwoofer produces depends on the area of the diffuser. The power and organic quality of the bass depends on this.

Subwoofer designs

Based on their design, passive subwoofers are divided into: horn, bass reflex and bandpass. They have their own advantages and disadvantages. The horn subwoofer is located on the wall of the sealed box. Closed types of subwoofers can have large, bulky sizes, despite the fact that they have the ability to reproduce rich, deep bass.

Bass reflex speakers have a speaker that is located in the housing. Most often there is a hole on one side. These types of subwoofers produce lower-pitched bass than closed speakers because the cone travel is increased. They are more suitable for large rooms due to their high volume.

The next type that a passive subwoofer can have is a bandpass subwoofer. It is a bandpass filter that combines the properties of the two types described above. This is manifested in the fact that the subwoofer consists of two parts: a closed box and a bass reflex. Therefore, the sound pressure increases, but the frequency range becomes smaller.

For home use, closed-type or bass-reflex subwoofers are more suitable. When choosing them, you should pay attention to the following. The subwoofer amplifier must exceed one and a half times the power of the speaker system. Compliance with this condition will ensure sound quality.

Many people wonder, in search of high-quality music sound, what is the difference between active and passive subwoofers. Which one is better to choose? Let's look at the features, advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

What does active subwoofer mean?

For high-quality music sound you need a subwoofer. These devices can be divided into two groups: active and passive.

In order to understand the difference between an active and passive subwoofer, you need to understand what each of them represents.

You should not choose a speaker system based only on power - some manufacturers deliberately underestimate or overestimate it.
The optimal speaker size for high-quality sound is 12 inches (30 cm).
You should only choose products from trusted manufacturers.
Knowing the size and height of the voice coil, you can easily check the real power of the speaker.
A car amplifier should be less powerful than a subwoofer.
It is worth choosing an aluminum box and a rubber top suspension.
Depending on the location of the subwoofer in the car, it is worth taking an additional amplifier. If the speaker system is located in the trunk, then the sound may be somewhat distorted.

The difference between an active subwoofer and a passive one

The difference between an active subwoofer and a passive one is obvious, since both devices perform different functions. A subwoofer is a low-frequency speaker designed to reproduce a wide range of frequencies, working in conjunction with any type of speaker system.
Knowing how an active subwoofer differs from a passive one, you can safely make your choice in favor of one speaker or another.

Types of subwoofers

For a subwoofer to work, three elements need to interact. This is the housing itself, the subwoofer and the amplifier.
Depending on this layout, subwoofers are divided into two types:

Active subwoofer;

Main differences between subwoofers

A passive subwoofer is a low-frequency speaker enclosed in a special acoustic housing. For it to work, you must connect to an external amplifier.
It can also be connected using an electronic frequency separation filter. This arrangement allows you to achieve deeper bass and significantly expand the frequency spectrum.

Note: it is worth considering that at higher volumes, linear sound distortion is significantly reduced, so it is advisable to listen to songs at an average sound volume.

A low-frequency subwoofer is usually complemented by a home theater system or a car speaker system. This allows you to achieve rich bass and separate sound.
An active subwoofer can significantly reduce the load on the receiver in a home theater system. When choosing a subwoofer, you need to take into account the properties of the space where it will be installed.
A subwoofer with a bass reflex has deeper bass and is designed for a larger cubic capacity of the room. In a confined space, such as a car, this type of subwoofer may begin to resonate.

Advantages and disadvantages

Each type of subwoofer has its own advantages and disadvantages, due to its design features. A passive subwoofer has deeper and richer bass compared to an active one.
This is due to many different factors:

No air overheating inside the case;
Possibility of connecting additional electronic filters (see);
The external power amplifier has a large number of settings;
Due to the absence of foreign components in the housing, the power and depth of the bass becomes more saturated;
Lower cost compared to an active subwoofer with similar technical characteristics.

Can be used as a portable device if there are outputs for additional speakers;
Various execution options.

When choosing between an active and passive subwoofer, you should decide directly where it will be used and what sound characteristics are needed.

The effect of the enclosure on the sound of the subwoofer

The subwoofer housing is the main element of the speaker system. Thanks to it, you can create directional, dull or diffuse bass.

Any type of subwoofer has its fans who will foam at the mouth to prove its exclusivity. Which subwoofer is better: active or passive - this debate continues unabated. Let's look at what's so special about the design and sound of each type.

Active or passive

Subwoofers produce bass. What then is the difference between active and passive systems:

Passive subs are distinguished by their laconic simplicity of design. A case and a speaker that connects to an external amplifier - nothing superfluous. you can look.
The design of an active subwoofer includes a housing, a speaker and an amplifier. That is, an active sub is a passive sub with a power amplifier located inside or outside the housing.

Thus, if in the active subwoofer model the developer has already taken care of the buyer, then in the case of the passive model the amplifier will have to be purchased additionally. However, you can find sets on sale that include a passive sub and a separate amplifier selected by the same manufacturer. This kit must include a set of wires.

Which sub is better

The choice of subwoofer depends on the purpose of its use. An active sub with standard settings is good for listening to dance, rhythmic and heavy music. The device perfectly transmits low frequencies, allows you to regulate them, and is also easy to set up.

However, a passive subwoofer, when properly configured, will produce a cleaner sound that is superior in sound to an active one. Of course, to achieve this result you will need to make some financial investments, invest time and effort. But for a true music lover, these barriers are not barriers. The advanced user will be rewarded with exceptional, super-clean sound. Thus, we can summarize that an active subwoofer is suitable for the average listener to listen to music, and purchasing a passive one should be recommended for advanced connoisseurs of high-quality sound.

Why does a passive sub sound better?

So, after all, connoisseurs of true correct sound will agree that a passive sub, with the right settings, will delight you with denser surround sound. Why? Thanks to:

the air inside does not overheat due to the built-in amplifier;
you can connect additional filters;
there are no unnecessary obstacles to sound in the case;
External amplifiers have more settings.

Which subwoofer to buy

If you are choosing a subwoofer and are faced with a choice dilemma, it is better to buy an active subwoofer. It's easy to install, easy to set up and sounds good. Whatever purpose you choose a sub for: listening to music or watching movies, an active sub from a good manufacturer will be able to satisfy almost all the buyer’s needs.

No need to be embarrassed by the price. A passive sub will, of course, be cheaper because it does not have an amplifier. But you will definitely have to buy it in addition, and also select a set of wires for it, which in the end will cost no less. One more point: buyers of passive subs usually know why they need a passive sub, and go to choose it.

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