What is an active speaker
In today's digital age, audio equipment has become an important part of home entertainment, music production and public broadcasting. Among them, active speakers have received widespread attention due to their convenience and high performance. This article will introduce in detail the definition, working principle, advantages and disadvantages of active speakers, and popular products on the market to help you fully understand this device.
1. Definition of active speakers

Active Speaker is a speaker system with a built-in power amplifier. Unlike passive speakers, active speakers do not require external amplifier equipment and can be directly connected to audio sources (such as mobile phones, computers, CD players, etc.). Its core feature is to integrate the power amplifier module inside the speaker, which simplifies equipment connection and wiring.
2. Working principle of active speakers
Active speakers achieve sound playback through the following steps:
| steps | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Signal input | The audio source device transmits signals to the speaker through audio cables (such as RCA, XLR) or wirelessly (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi). |
| 2. Signal processing | The built-in power amplifier amplifies and divides the signal to drive the tweeter and woofer respectively. |
| 3. Sound output | The processed signal is converted into sound through the speaker unit to achieve high-fidelity playback. |
3. Advantages and Disadvantages of Active Speakers
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| • No additional amplifier required, saving space and cost | • Difficulty in repair (integrated design) |
| • Plug and play, easy to operate | • Thermal performance may be limited |
| • Factory preset adjustment for more stable sound quality | • Weak scalability (e.g. power amplifier cannot be replaced) |
4. Active speakers vs passive speakers
| Comparative item | Active speakers | Passive speakers |
|---|---|---|
| Do you need an amplifier? | Built-in, no external connections required | Need to be configured separately |
| Applicable scenarios | Home, multimedia, recording studio | Large-scale performances, customized systems |
| price range | 300-5,000 yuan (mainstream consumer level) | Starting from 1,000 yuan (additional amplifier cost needs to be calculated) |
5. Recommendations for popular active speakers in 2023
| Brand model | Features | reference price |
|---|---|---|
| Bose Companion 20 | Desktop-level Hi-Fi, TrueSpace technology | 2499 yuan |
| JBL 305P MkII | Studio-grade monitoring, 5-inch woofer | 1299 yuan/piece |
| Edifier S2000MKIII | Wireless dual-mode, titanium diaphragm tweeter + 5.5-inch mid-bass | 1980 yuan |
6. Things to note when purchasing active speakers
1.Usage scenarios: Home theaters need to pay attention to surround sound support, and music production gives priority to the frequency response range (such as 20Hz-20kHz).
2.Connection method: Bluetooth version 5.0 or above can reduce latency, and optical fiber input is suitable for high-definition audio transmission.
3.Power matching: For a room of 10-20 square meters, it is recommended to choose a power of more than 50W to avoid insufficient volume.
4.special features: Some products support smart functions such as APP tuning (such as Sonos) and multi-room synchronization.
Conclusion
Active speakers are becoming a mainstream choice for modern audio systems due to their all-in-one design and ease of use. Whether it is daily entertainment or professional creation, choosing the right active speakers can significantly improve the listening experience. It is recommended that consumers make informed purchasing decisions based on actual needs and budgets and refer to the comparative data provided in this article.
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