An active speaker, or active monitor, is an audio system that integrates the crossover and power amplifiers within the cabinet itself.

Unlike a passive speaker that receives an already amplified signal, the process in an active speaker is more controlled:

1. The audio signal enters the speaker at line level (low-level signal, coming from a mixing console or interface).

2. It is received by an active crossover, which divides the sound into different frequency ranges (e.g., bass, mid-range, and treble). 3. Each separate frequency band is sent to its own power amplifier. 4. Finally, each amplifier directly powers its corresponding speaker (the bass amplifier powers the woofer, the treble amplifier powers the tweeter, etc.). This method, often called bi-amplification (in two-way systems) or tri-amplification (three-way), ensures that each speaker receives an optimized signal and ideal power, resulting in a cleaner, more precise, and efficient sound. Since everything is designed by the same manufacturer to work together, compatibility between components is maximized.