Active vs. Passive Speakers: Pros, Cons, and Best Uses

What are active speakers?

Active speakers have an amplifier and power supply built in. They will have either a battery or a power cord that needs to be plugged in to power the amplifier. When you connect your device – a TV, mobile phone, tablet, or laptop – to active speakers, the built-in amplifier will pump up your jams, letting you listen to music from your favourite streaming service or other source. Soundbars are a specialised type of active speaker that features HDMI functionality – which makes them easy to connect to a TV – as well as additional sound control. 

 

What are passive speakers?

Passive speakers are external speakers that require a separate amplifier to produce sound. Unlike active speakers, passive speakers do not have an amplifier built into them. This means you can’t just plug them into the plug socket and your device – you’ll need extra components. This makes portability more difficult, making passive speakers better suited to a permanent installation. An advantage of passive speakers is that they make it easier to customise a system, because each speaker and the amplifier are separate. 

Active vs. passive speakers: pros and cons

There are pros and cons to both active and passive speakers.  

 

The pros of active speakers include being easier to set up. Active speakers can be set up by plugging in the power and connecting them to a TV using a single HDMI cable, preferably in the ARC or eARC input. Many active speakers even have Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity built in, so the only cable needed is the power cable. If you’re choosing to use a battery-powered speaker (or set of speakers), you don’t even need to plug them in. 

 

When it comes to the cons of active speakers, here are some to keep in mind. Active speakers can be more expensive than installing the same number of passive speakers, because you’re not paying for just the speakers but for the amplifiers and power supplies in every speaker or set of speakers. And if you want to customise or change any part of your setup, you’ll have to pay to replace the speakers and integrated amplifier as a unit. 

 

The pros of passive speakers include flexibility and customisation. You purchase the speakers and amplifier separately and you can choose the combination that best suits your listening environment and needs. If you primarily want them to listen to music in Dolby Atmos – or just in stereo – you can choose from a small bookshelf system or a large, room-rattling beast that would be right at home in a nightclub. And if you want to make changes, you only need to replace individual pieces. You’ll also have a wider variety of speaker sizes and specifications to choose from. Similarly, amplifiers come in many sizes and power ratings, and with a variety of features. 

 

The cons of passive speakers include much less portability. If you want to move your device to a different room, you’ll need to move the speakers and the amplifier and reconnect them. A compact set of active speakers can be much easier to move. And while you can buy a set of passive speakers and an amplifier as a bundle, assembling a custom setup by selecting separate speakers and an amplifier can require more advanced knowledge of audio equipment and might be more expensive. 

Active vs passive speakers in different scenarios

One of the most common types of active speaker is a soundbar. Soundbars are a quick and easy way to get full, rich sound from your TV. Because they integrate speakers and amplifier in a single unit, they can fit in smaller viewing spaces, such as bedrooms. You can even get compact soundbars enabled with Dolby Atmos. Larger soundbars, some of which feature satellite speakers for surround sound or enhanced Dolby Atmos effects, can put you inside a multidimensional space that fills your lounge. You can even use a premium soundbar connected to your TV to create an immersive home cinema experience that’s simple to set up and doesn’t require a lot of space. 

 

If you want a bit more portability, a set of active speakers can be a great way to enhance the audio of your tablet or laptop, giving you an easy-to-use system in any room of your home. If you choose an active speaker with battery power, you can take the system out to the garden, the beach, or a picnic so that the music never has to stop. If you’re at a music festival, you can use active speakers to watch movies or groove to your favourite tunes when you head back to your tent for the night. And if you’re a DJ, you can hook up your active speakers to your laptop to get the crowd moving, no matter where your gig is. 

 

Passive speakers can be used anywhere you have the desire, space, and budget for a dedicated, customised setup. If you are building a dedicated home cinema space, a separate amplifier and dedicated speakers providing surround sound and immersive Dolby Atmos spatial audio will let you bring the cinema experience home. If you’re creating a dedicated music space, using passive speakers and an amplifier can help you get the best performance for your space and your preferred type of music. And if you want to upgrade your system with better speakers or amplifiers, you can swap in new pieces anytime your budget allows. Your home cinema or music room can continue to grow with new devices as your needs evolve. 

Active vs passive speakers: Which is right for you?

You can get a great audio experience, complete with Dolby Atmos if desired, using either active or passive speakers. Consider how you’re going to use your setup, how much space you have, your budget, and how much customisability you want. With a bit of planning, you’ll be singing the praises of whatever you choose. 

 

 

Comparing active and passive speakers use cases
Use case	Active speakers	Passive speakers
Dedicated home cinema room	✘  Some people do use premium soundbars in their home cinema with good results, but the systems offer less customisability	✔  Passive speakers allow the most customisability in sound and allow upgrades or additions later, and lack of portability is not an issue in this use case
Lounge	✔  Active speakers can provide room-filling sound without physically dominating the room	✔  Passive speakers can fit well into a larger lounge, though might not be advisable if there will be children or pets in the room
Family room	✔  In a room that sees heavy use, with children and pets moving in and out, the compact form factor of active speakers minimises wires and potential for accidents	✘  Passive speakers, with their extra wires and external amplifiers, present tripping and pulling hazards and something for pets to chew on
Home office music and video	✔  Active speakers can fit compactly in a home office and enhance music, TV, and films on your computer	✘  Take up more space and have less portability
Travel	✔  For beach, picnic, backpacking, or road trip, some active speakers offer battery power so you can enjoy your entertainment wherever you go	✘  You can travel only as far as your power cord

 

FAQ

Which is more expensive, active or passive speakers? 

Both active and passive speakers are available at a range of price points. Active speakers can be more expensive than passive speakers of similar size, but part of that cost covers the amplifier and power supply hardware they contain. To use passive speakers, you’ll need to buy a separate amplifier. 

 

Which is better for Dolby Atmos: active or passive speakers? 

Content in Dolby Atmos can be enjoyed on active or passive speakers. Check that the speakers you’re considering – along with the amplifier, if you’re using passive speakers – can deliver content in Dolby Atmos. 

 

Are active or passive speakers better for watching films? 

Soundbars are a type of active speaker and can enhance the experience of watching films and shows on your TV. They’re convenient to set up, and take up minimal space, making them a great choice for many users. But a dedicated home cinema that uses passive speakers and a separate amplifier can really bring home the cinemagoing experience if you have the space and budget for it. 

 

Which is better for listening to music: active or passive speakers? 

Active speakers match the capabilities of the amplifier and speakers to optimise the quality of your music listening, so you will get a good experience with ease of use. If you use passive speakers and an amplifier, you’ll need to take care to ensure the components will work well together. However, the ability to customise and fine-tune such systems often make them the choice of audiophiles. 

 

Can you mix active and passive speakers? 

Yes, you can. It does require a bit of audio knowledge and an amplifier to build a system that incorporates both active and passive speakers. 

 

How can you to connect active and passive speakers? 

In a mixed setup, the main left and right speakers typically would be active, and sometimes the centre and subwoofer too. These would be connected to the preamp outputs on your AV receiver (a device that combines an amplifier and controls to route audio and video signals). The preamp outputs send out an unamplified signal that the active speaker will amplify using its internal amplifier. Connect the passive speakers to amplified outputs. Take care to read all instructions for your equipment and connect your speakers correctly to ensure proper functioning and to avoid any damage.