Speaker Types

Speaker types include passive and powered. 

Passive speakers are traditional speakers which use speaker cables and receive power from a receiver or amplifier.  These represent most of the high performance speakers on the market and offering highest flexibility and in most cases performance. 

Powered speakers have built-in amplifiers and include subtypes of Analog-input, Digital, and Network. Powered speakers have a power cord to power their built-in amplifier.  

Analog-input powered speakers use an analog interconnect driven by a preamplifier or the analog output of a computer or phone.  

Digital powered speakers have built-in DACs sourced by an attached Toslink, Coax or AES/EBU digital cable. 

Network powered speakers have built-in DACs sourced by network connections over wifi or physical ethernet cable. Some network speakers have performance in the league of high end passive speakers. 

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