The so-called “war for sound quality” has begun since mankind invented the speaker and loudspeaker, and continues to this day. The competition is for the best sound quality, and for a more powerful volume. At the same time, the highest competition can be seen among manufacturers and distributors of sound reproduction systems in built-in amplifiers. These are the so-called active speakers.
Such systems are most common. Their application can be found everywhere - from professional speakers to studio monitors, from headphones to home PC speakers. Active speaker systems to some extent replaced their passive counterparts, for which an amplifier was required separately. Using a built-in amplifier was an innovative solution. It is this feature that brought active speakers into the lead. Less problems with switching audio devices, fewer wires and pickups - these are all undoubted advantages of such an invention.
For a device such as an active speaker system, the amplifier is located inside a shielded enclosure. This implies the absence of extra wires and sockets, more convenient sound control. All these positive qualities immediately attracted musicians and music lovers who are able to appreciate the quality and convenience of such systems.
The only drawback can be called the only factor - the expensive price of such devices as active speakers, and the difficulty of repairing them (if the amplifier burned out, it was necessary to completely disassemble the case and find a specialist who would repair the equipment).
There are two types of such a system. The first is a household type that is designed exclusively for home use. The second type is professional. It is used for concerts or organizing various large-scale events. Such active speakers began to spread around the sixties of the twentieth century - just with the invention of electric guitars and the beginning of the hard rock era.
Even the very first guitar “combos” (amplifiers) were tube, and, in fact, were precisely the active element. Among many musicians, such a "tube sound" is still considered a reference. That is why even now, the main source of sound at concert venues is tube technology (guitar and bass amplifiers). Sound from them is transmitted through microphones to monitors and main portals.
Active speakers can be of different capacities, have different functionalities and, accordingly, sound differently. Systems with power up to 20-30 W are usually used at home. More powerful systems (from 100 W) are used at concerts.
As for the functionality - active speakers can be adapted to work in a variety of abnormal conditions (for example, with high humidity), have autonomous power sources, and protection against overloads. Often, such systems are equipped with a built-in reverb, equalizer, or even an effects processor.