What is an Active System?

Simple: it's the opposite of a passive system.

In a passive hi-fi system the job of dividing up music's high, middle and low frequencies so that they end up at the appropriate drive units in the loudspeaker is performed by an electrical filter network in the speaker. The power amplifier sends the loudspeaker a signal that contains all the high, middle and low frequencies and the speaker's crossover network sorts them out. This works but it's not ideal for systems that aim to deliver cutting-edge performance. [There are sound technical reasons for this but we'll refrain from boring you with them.]

We believe that the best way to do the job is to intercept the musical signal as it leaves the preamplifier and use a powered [active] crossover (an electronic filtering network) to separate the highs from the mids and the lows. This, naturally, means that we need to use more power amplifiers: one for each band of frequencies. And more loudspeaker cables, of course: one from each amplifier to its dedicated loudspeaker driver connection.

This is, of course, more expensive than any passive system arrangement but we are convinced - as are many satisfied customers - that the results justify the additional expenditure. Active systems typically sound more precise, clear and controlled than passive systems. The result is music that sounds more like music and less like a hi-fi system. In part this is because active systems inherently produce less distortion than passive systems. [Sorry, for being technical but it's a fact!]

We have, throughout our history, always ensured that our systems can be easily and cost-effectively upgraded to active operation.

Finally, for what it's worth, bi-wiring and bi-amping do not, whatever the hi-fi press or any other manufacturer might tell you, provide similar performance to a [properly designed] active system. Any of our franchised dealers will be more than happy to demonstrate this to you.

In practical terms . . .

In a system using two-way loudspeakers, such as the SL2, upgrading to active operation means using two stereo power amplifiers or four mono amplifiers, a Snaxo 242 crossover and a power supply. In a system using NBL or DBL loudspeakers, we need three stereo amplifiers or six mono amplifiers, a Snaxo 362 crossover and power supply.