Embarrassed to ask but, whats "going active" mean?

[Anniku989 10+ year member]

don't be afraid to ask. Most of the time when people have a legit car audio question people are more than willing to help and answer you.
I'd add but your question has pretty much been answered by audioholic.

Same as you said, most people here don't mind helping noobs out, but its just annoying when no one takes the time to search the question, when it could've been easily found

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=146726

Sticky at the top of the speakers forum...

nG

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Nobody runs subwoofers passive. The term refers to a front stage 99.9% of the time. The rest of the time is some crack pot. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

is it advisable to get 1 4 channel to power the components, or 2 2channels?
The advantage of doing 2- 2 ch. is yo ucould run one on the left and one on the right, giving the max. speration. Other than that you are basically doing the same thing. althoug your probably using more room and more power to run two.

 

[gladiator_jai 10+ year member]

Even with a 4-channel amp you can vary the power going to the speakers via your processor (if its capable) or by adjusting the apropriate gains down.
The system Im building now consists of three 4-channel amps for the front stage, the ultimate in flexibility. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

That's an additional piece of hardware right?....

like your system I think 2 2channels would be slightly better at providing flexibilty rather than a processor or electronic crossover........right?

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

Nobody runs subwoofers passive. The term refers to a front stage 99.9% of the time. The rest of the time is some crack pot. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

That is my point. Although on occasion it is done, why I am not sure

 

[type[s5] 10+ year member]

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=146726
Sticky at the top of the speakers forum...

nG

owned lol..

 

[DBDRAGGUY 10+ year member]

No, not really. Tri-amp refers to a 3 amplifier system (one for tweets, one for mids, one for subs). That term refers to a specific type of active system, a 3-way. 'Going active' is a broader term.

So going active is just the difference between a passive and an electronic x-over? What each driver is powered with doesn't matter as long as it is filtered electronically?

 

[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

Nobody runs subwoofers passive. The term refers to a front stage 99.9% of the time. The rest of the time is some crack pot. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

Actually, the term refers to a electronic device that uses an active element (diodes, transistors, etc..) 100% of the time, it has nothing to do with the speakers in your car or where they're mounted. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[grimreper912003 5,000+ posts]

When running active, what do you look for in a head unit? Sorry for the thread jack but this seems like a good place to ask.

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=146726

READ THIS THREAD.

 

nG

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

That's an additional piece of hardware right?....
like your system I think 2 2channels would be slightly better at providing flexibilty rather than a processor or electronic crossover........right?

A signal processor would be an additional piece of hardware yes. But many headunits provide the acceptable means to run an active front stage if you want to go that route.
On your second question, I dont really follow. You cant compare running two 2-channel amps to whether or not you run a processor or elec xover. Again if your head allows it, you can skip the out-board processor or xover. My head would allow this, but I still run a processor because it has more capabilities than my headunit's processor does.

So going active is just the difference between a passive and an electronic x-over? What each driver is powered with doesn't matter as long as it is filtered electronically?

Yes.

Actually, the term refers to a electronic device that uses an active element (diodes, transistors, etc..) 100% of the time, it has nothing to do with the speakers in your car or where they're mounted. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

The 'where they are mounted' wasn't my point. What is being used to filter them was. Unless you disagree with the point that subs are almost never run passive, I dont see why you are making the point you are.

 

[Anniku989 10+ year member]

he said he did search....but didn't understand it. Or at least that's what I got from the first post.

Yup, I know //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif. I'm just saying that people don't mind helping as long as you search/or there are not mass topics about the subject

 

[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

The 'where they are mounted' wasn't my point. What is being used to filter them was. Unless you disagree with the point that subs are almost never run passive, I dont see why you are making the point you are.

Did you read what I typed? I was just clarifying that the term active doesn't come from car audio at all. That was my point.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Did you read what I typed? I was just clarifying that the term active doesn't come from car audio at all. That was my point.

Then I fail to see why you made such a point, nobody here claimed it originated as a car audio term. Only discussing within the confines of car audio, as that is what this message board, and presumably this thread/question, is about.
But your clarification is duly noted.