12 Best Bookshelf Speakers (2024): Active, Passive, and Hi-Fi

Active (aka “powered”) speakers bash not necessitate a abstracted amplifier oregon receiver. Instead, they person built-in amplification (which powers the speakers and makes the dependable large capable to play done them). These amps are often customized for their circumstantial drivers and cabinetry, which tin present show benefits. Modern powered speakers whitethorn person different perks, similar afloat wireless designs (apart from powerfulness cables) and wireless streaming from your telephone via Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth. They’ll typically supply carnal connections for CD players, turntables, subwoofers, and TVs.

Passive speakers are wired speakers that necessitate a abstracted amplifier oregon receiver and talker cables for playback. This creates much steps since you’ll request to find an amplifier with matching specifications (more connected this below). The payment is that passive speakers are much versatile and dependable, letting you premix and lucifer them successful aggregate systems and configurations. When treated properly, passive speakers tin past for decades.

Impedance is simply a specification measured successful ohms referring to a speaker’s absorption to electrical existent flow. Most passive speakers person a nominal impedance standing (essentially the mean impedance) of 4, 6, oregon 8 ohms; the little the fig the little absorption to electrical current. You tin deliberation of it similar plumbing pipes: the wider the pipe, the little absorption to unit you get and the much flow, oregon electrical current, you’ll need. The upshot is that 4-ohm speakers are the hardest to drive, requiring the astir power. Much is made astir impedance successful audiophile circles, but astir bully amplifiers and receivers are rated for some 4-ohm to 8-ohm talker pairs, with due wattage ratings to match. For 6-ohm speakers, you’ll mostly privation an amplifier with a 6-ohm oregon 4-ohm impedance standing and capable powerfulness to lucifer the speaker’s requirements (available successful the manual oregon website).

Speaker powerfulness requirements: Passive speakers see specifications for their minimum and maximum powerfulness requirements, measured successful watts. Without getting excessively heavy into the weeds astir amplification types and powerfulness efficiency, a bully regularisation of thumb is to prime an amplifier with a wattage standing per transmission that intimately matches your speaker’s powerfulness requirements for its nominal impedance rating. If you’re having occupation uncovering the close match, you’ll mostly privation an amplifier that meets your speaker’s minimum powerfulness requirements for its nominal impedance rating.

Tethered transportation options: Most modern amplifiers and progressive speakers connection aggregate wired connections similar analog input (RCA oregon 3.5 mm), integer optical input for CD players oregon TVs, and a subwoofer output for connecting a powered subwoofer. Many caller systems link to TVs implicit HDMI ARC too, letting you power basics similar powerfulness and measurement with your TV remote. They whitethorn besides connection a phono input for turntables, though galore of our favourite turntables travel with a built-in phono preamp (or you tin acquisition a separate phono preamp arsenic needed).

Wireless transportation options: Nearly each progressive speakers—and galore modern amplifiers—support Bluetooth. Wi-Fi connectivity is besides progressively standard, letting you entree services similar Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, AirPlay, and Google Cast. Wi-Fi is mostly preferred implicit Bluetooth for its improved dependable prime and conveniences similar uninterrupted streaming and expanded wireless range.