Here is a very brief summary of the pros & cons of active vs passive crossovers. More specifics can be found around the site and from the many links provided.
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Disadvantages of Passive Crossovers
- 1) Back EMF (electro motive force) goes back into the X/O, interferes with the input signal from the amplifier.
- 2) Passive X/O buffers the amplifier from the drivers resulting in loss of damping, loss of direct amplifier control over the drivers.
- 3) Loading effects, inductors, magnetic coupling, larger Cs, and parameters less adjustable.
- 4) Passive network wastes power, lowers efficiency, requires higher wattage amplifier to compensate.
- 5) Differing impedance of various drivers and the resulting phase shifts from the X/O present a difficult load for the amplifier, especially 1st order X/Os.
- 6) X/O properties and accuracy varies with power and temperature resulting in shifting properties and inconsistant linear response.
- 7) Low order X/O reduces phase & time shifts but introduces other issues. Greater frequency sharing between drivers, and higher strain on drivers due to wider bandwidth demands increases distortion, both THD and intermodulation, induces interference patterns, amplitude irregularities, driver resonances, cone breakup, and hampers off-axis response.
- 8) High power draw in a specific frequency range, usually the bass, may cause amplifier clipping and possible damage to the woofer, midrange, or most likely, the tweeter. The amp has to deal with the combined complex impedance load and power draw.
- See : http://www.tnt-audio.com/casse/active_speakers_intro1_e.html
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Advantages of Passive X/O
- 1) Plug & Play simplicity.
- 2) One amp, one cable, done.
Disadvantages of Active X/O
- 1) Possible higher noise floor from X/O, less of an issue for digital processors.
- 2) Greater susceptibility to EMI (electromagnetic interference), and RFI (radio frequency interference).
- 3) Multiple amps & cables, more complex setup.
- See the : Tube Amp Solution.
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