Active or passive subwoofer? is one of the questions that often interests car owners interested in supplementing their speaker system subwoofer. This question is both complex and easy, but to answer it, it’s worth understanding what an active and what a passive subwoofer is, and what the pros and cons of each of them are. Only after this will every car owner who asks a similar question be able to answer it. In this article we will try to help resolve this issue.

The main difference between an active and passive subwoofer:

Passive subwoofer– subwoofer speaker + speaker housing

Active subwoofer– subwoofer speaker + speaker housing + amplifier

Comparative Features

That is, active subwoofer is a passive subwoofer with a power amplifier, which is located inside or outside the housing. And if in the case of an active subwoofer the developer has already taken care of us, then for a passive subwoofer we will have to buy an amplifier separately. At the same time, sometimes there are kits on sale that consist of a passive subwoofer, a separate power amplifier selected by the manufacturer, as well as a set of wires for connection.

For both active and passive subwoofers (a separate subwoofer speaker can also be called a passive subwoofer, except that it comes without a housing), cabinet designs are used - a closed box (a completely sealed volume for the speaker) and a bass reflex box (the box has an outlet port or slot). Also, passive subwoofers often use a Bandpass box design (the box is divided into two volumes and provides a more complex configuration of drop-off ports), which is very rarely used in active subwoofers. At the same time, active subwoofers often have compact designs (the smallest design volume is achieved), which, of course, are not used in passive subwoofers.

Installation of both passive and active subwoofers (not taking into account the compact design) is carried out in the trunk of a car, regardless of the body. Compact active subwoofers are usually installed on the back of the rear seats or under the car seat.

And now about the most important thing - the advantages and disadvantages of active and passive subwoofers. Let's consider three main arguments that are of greater interest to car owners - cost, compactness of installation and possible end result.

Active or passive / Cost comparison of equipment and installation

As a rule, the cost of active subwoofers is slightly higher than passive ones, due to the presence of a built-in power amplifier. But due to the fact that for a passive subwoofer it is necessary to purchase a separate power amplifier and also install it, the cost of equipment and installation of a passive subwoofer is higher than that of an active subwoofer.

Active or passive / Installation compactness comparison

Manufacturers are trying to make the housing for an active subwoofer as compact as possible, even taking into account the space for the amplifier. This is not to mention active subwoofers in a compact design, which do not take up any significant volume at all. free space. That is passive subwoofers take up more free space (although not always), especially since some space is also required for installing a power amplifier.

Active or passive / Comparison of the final result

For the most part, an active subwoofer is used as an addition to the main sound stage. That is, it introduces some low-frequency component, but there is no noticeable accentuation on it. At the same time, the passive system allows you to achieve the sound of a subwoofer required characteristics– quality, power, depth of bass. And although there are very good active systems, they are all very expensive, which negates the above advantages of such subwoofers.

Our examples of subwoofer installations

Naturally, we are talking about a certain average situation, which occurs in most cases. After all, if you wish, you can always turn the whole argument in the opposite direction: consider the most expensive active subwoofer in relation to the cheapest passive subwoofer and its amplifier; take as an example the most bulky active subwoofer against the most compact passive one; evaluate the sound quality of the lowest-power passive subwoofer and the most powerful active subwoofer, etc.

Final choice

Here, as elsewhere, the car enthusiast needs to decide what he needs and what he is willing to sacrifice, since there is no ideal option. If you need it as cheaply as possible, then here is a cabinet-mounted active subwoofer, if maximum compactness of the installation is required - a compact active subwoofer, if quality and power are required - a passive subwoofer.

But still, it’s worth paying attention to this: a subwoofer is, first of all, a low-frequency component of the speaker system. But a high-quality component cannot be cheap and compact, so if you want to achieve high-quality sound in a car, it is better to consider the option of purchasing and installing a passive subwoofer.

Subwoofer is a special additional column, which reproduces low frequencies. Regular speakers contain speakers responsible for mids and . Even if your speakers are hung on the walls or on the table, it is still better to place the subwoofer on the floor, this will improve the sound of low frequencies. But when buying powerful subwoofer, it is important to make sure that your love for beauty is shared by your neighbors below.

A passive subwoofer is quite simple. Its housing contains one or more low-frequency “heads” that are connected to an external amplifier. Passive subwoofers come in two types. The first type of device differs in that it stereo amplifier a signal is supplied simultaneously to speakers of all frequencies. Thus, the speakers must reproduce all frequencies, including those unusual for them, and the sound is unclear. The second type of passive subwoofer is equipped with an additional electronic crossover filter that sorts the frequencies so that each speaker receives only the signal corresponding to it.

An active subwoofer contains everything at once: it has both a crossover filter and its own amplifier. You can find various line inputs and outputs, as well as crossover frequency controls and signal level settings for various frequencies. A powered subwoofer is often the preferred option as it gives good sound thanks to expansion dynamic range speaker system.

Which subwoofer to choose

If you want to connect everything and have the audio system work well right away, without additional settings or other actions, then choose an active subwoofer. Standard settings In the vast majority of cases, such devices satisfy the sound of heavy or dance music; bass frequencies are deeply transmitted. Plus, a powered subwoofer already has an amplifier, so you don't have to worry about it.

But if you can do a really good job of tuning your audio system (and are willing to figure it out), then a passive subwoofer may well be your choice. An expensive and high-quality audio system with a professional passive subwoofer allows you to adjust the sound much more fully than with an active subwoofer. Despite the fact that it can be quite painstaking and difficult, and you need to feel the sound of the music in order to cope, still, true lovers good sound This option is often chosen.

To summarize, we can say that precise and very high-quality tuning of a passive subwoofer allows you to get a much more spacious and dense sound than a speaker system with an active subwoofer. But the latter option sounds good right from the start and is noticeably better than a cheap passive subwoofer.

Currently everything more people pays attention to car acoustics. Gained great popularity different types subwoofers. However, not everyone can afford such luxury. The way out of this situation is to make your own passive subwoofer.

Instructions

First you need to think about making a box for your future subwoofer. To do this you need to select a form. Please note that making a cylindrical box is much more difficult than making a square one. Chipboard is suitable for the job. It is best to fasten this material together using self-tapping screws. After that, use a jigsaw to make a round hole in the front of the box. You will need to install a speaker in it. Also make a hole on the back side. It is necessary for the output of wires.

Next, start finishing the inside of the body. To do this, lay sound insulation sheets in several layers. The box should not vibrate extraneous sounds. Interior decoration must be taken extremely seriously.

After the box is ready, you can move on to it internal filling. The speaker must be positioned correctly, otherwise you will not get the expected effect. It is recommended to lay a good seal around the edges of the round hole. The fact is that the speaker will constantly vibrate. It's unlikely that you want to hear creaks and knocks when playing music. Place the speaker into the housing and screw it tightly onto the self-tapping screws.

Next, place cotton wool in the body. She must fill it completely. Vata promotes good sound. Now all that remains is to finish the outside of the body. For this you can use the most different materials. Carpet is very popular. Cover the subwoofer with this material. Use regular Moment glue. Connect the wires to the amplifier and check the functionality of your homemade subwoofer.

Video on the topic

Tip 3: What is the difference between an active and passive pickup

Every guitarist knows what a pickup is, but not everyone is aware that there are two types: active and passive. What is the difference?

The pickup is so called based on the principle of its operation. It picks up sound from the strings and transmits it to the amplifier, almost like a microphone. However, the microphone can amplify other, completely unnecessary sounds, while the pickup is aimed only at the strings. After all, without pickups we would never hear our fans at a rock concert.

Passive pickup

This type of pickup is common to see on electric and bass guitars. It converts the vibrations of the strings into an electrical signal and sends it to the amplifier. The fact is that such pickups send a weak, unprocessed, “raw” signal to the output. The shorter the cable that carries there is a sound, the more intelligible and louder it will be. However, there are also advantages: you connect the cable and you can play right away.

Active pickup

The principle of operation of such a pickup is similar to the first. The only difference is that it amplifies the signal in the housing itself, sending a strong, processed sound to the output. And nothing depends on the length of the cable here. Such pickups require a battery to be installed, from which the current will flow to the preamplifier.

An active subwoofer is responsible for high-quality sound of low tones in speech and musical compositions. This is a complex speaker system. Only 1 device is enough, because the human ear will not recognize where low sounds are coming from. It doesn't matter where the device is located.

Types and features of subwoofers

A standard small subwoofer has a cut-off frequency range of 40 to 20 Hz. The product is manufactured with a sound emitter. The diameter of the flat membrane in the center is about 30-50 cm. Such a subwoofer is considered home, but sometimes it can be up to 1 m (stage). Compact active subwoofer - a good option, if you need to mount the device discreetly in the car so that it does not take up much space.

There are also differences in the designs of the devices. For example, a closed subwoofer is sealed. Its design is durable and sounds are virtually undistorted. Among the disadvantages - the larger the speaker, the more power membrane movements.

A bass reflex subwoofer is well suited for home use. The sound will be bright and rich.

Operation is based on the reverse movement of air flows through the bass reflex during the vibration of the membrane.

The bandpass subwoofer is considered the most expensive option due to its technical excellence. This design is a mix of devices with a bass reflex and a closed one. The disadvantage is the large size of the device.

A good option for a car is devices like FreeAir. It is a closed subwoofer with an air chamber. The speakers give good sound when installed in the trunk and use the interior vehicle to create deep bass.

Active

An active subwoofer for a car is an acoustic system that contains a powerful built-in amplifier, a separating filter and several speakers. This means that such a structure is a single block.

The sound quality is more effective than the passive option, according to most users. Although it depends on the settings. And connecting an active sub is much easier.

Passive

Considering what a passive subwoofer is, we can say the following: it is a design in which there are 1 or more low-frequency speakers that are assembled into a single housing. The material used is wood and plywood.

In order for the device to reproduce vibrations, you need to connect it to an amplifier.

Comparison

If you need to understand how an active subwoofer differs from a passive one, pay attention to the following criteria:

• Price. Active costs more. Due to the fact that it has a built-in amplifier, there are more expensive parts.
• Installation. The difference is that the passive version is more difficult to connect: you need to additionally install an amplifier and filters. And the active one will save space, because the parts are already built-in.
• Sound quality. Active ones have better sound quality, but it depends on the settings. In practice, if you properly install a passive sub, the sound can be much more effective. In addition, you can choose the settings yourself depending on your own perception.
• Settings. Active ones have more capabilities, but if powerful outdoor amplifiers are used, then this feature is not important. In addition, the possibility of connecting a bass regulator is taken into account.

When choosing which subwoofer is best, you need to consider the advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of passive include: low cost, the ability to customize the sound according to your own needs.

But for this you need to select an amplifier, filters and dynamic heads.

Passive subwoofers can have different designs - bandpass, bass reflex or classic box.

Active ones will not be able to use different cases due to additional electronics. But their advantages include built-in filters and amplifiers. The system can be connected to a car radio without other devices. But because of this, either electronics or dynamics have to be placed in one case.

Installation in the car

Many people are interested in how to properly connect an active subwoofer on their own. Even a beginner can handle this.

Installing an active subwoofer in a car is as follows:

1. During installation, use signal and power wires. The positive cable must be connected to “+” on the battery. It must have a large diameter.
2. Install a fuse short circuits and overloads. It is recommended to leave the part in the engine compartment, as close to the battery as possible. If needed, there will be free access to it.
3. Secure the negative cable to the vehicle body. For this, a nearby point is used. You will get a “-” connection between the weight of the body and the GND of the device.
4. If the car radio has separate connectors, then the connection with the active device is more convenient. It is required to lay a coaxial type wire in the screen with the required connector. The cable is fixed on one side with the SubOut output on the car radio, and on the other with Lineln on the subwoofer.

This connection scheme is the most common. It can also be used after equipment repair.

There are several ways to connect to a stereo amplifier:

1. The subwoofer is connected to the outputs to which the speaker systems are already connected. There will be parallel work in the low frequency range.
2. You can connect the subwoofer to the receiver, and the acoustics to the outputs on the subwoofer itself. In front of them are high-pass filters, which will eliminate wheezing, noise, etc. But you need to take into account that with this connection method, the load on the speaker system increases, so it may break.

Manual setting

Exist special programs, which can . They are called tone generators. This option is simple and convenient.

You need to consider the size of the interior, the power of the amplifier and the direction of the music when creating a wooden box for the subwoofer.

The following filters are used:

• LPF. Trims high frequencies. Standardly located on the amplifier. Open the regulator and turn it with a screwdriver until the frequency is 60 Hz.
• Subsonic. Responsible for cutting infrasound. Located on the rear of the amplifier. You need to turn the screwdriver so that it is 5 Hz less than the frequency of the bass reflex port.
• Adjusting the Gain level. This is the input sensitivity of the device. Located on the amplifier. First you need to set the control to minimum and turn on the sound with a gradual increase in volume. Continue until the first defects appear. Then turn the knob back until a clear sound appears. Now you need to turn the regulator clockwise until defects appear. Then move back a few divisions.

How to turn active into passive

An active device can be turned into a passive device, and you don’t even need to spend money. This increases trunk space.

For example, there is an active version of the Kicx ICQ 300BA subwoofer and a Blaupunkt GTA-475 amplifier with 4 channels. The latter is connected to 4 speakers. But those located in the rear doors are not used. A subwoofer can be connected to 2 channels. This option is used when they want to replace the built-in amplifier with a more powerful one.

The process is as follows:

1. Disassemble the subwoofer.
2. Remove partitions. After removing the amplifier, there is quite a lot of space left.
3. Cut out the back wall from a plywood sheet. Attach it with Moment glue and self-tapping screws. Seal the joints inside with sealant. The thickness of the plywood sheet should be 1.2 cm.
4. The holes must be coated with sealant. Contacts - secure.
5. When everything is dry, you need to connect the devices. That is, channels 3 and 4 will be under a subwoofer.

The sound of bass becomes better, as users note, unpleasant defects disappear.

When choosing a subwoofer, pay attention to the manufacturer, build quality, price, installation, and customization options. These have proven themselves well best manufacturers, like Sony, Alpine, Pioneer, Helix, JBL, Kicx, Yamaha.

Concerning last company, then the devices are quite expensive, but the sound is good. Electronic circuits are the standard of quality.

Pioneer also has extensive experience in developing such products. You can purchase subs for both home and professional use. A striking example is the Pioneer TS W304R. The top subwoofers also include Alpine SBE 1244BR. The manufacturer is a French company.

• Pioneer TS-WX210A. It is distinguished by increased sensitivity and the ability to remotely control. The disadvantage is that it can only be attached to the floor.
• Alpine PWE-V80. The only drawback is that the settings are carried out from the remote control.
• JBL Basspro SL. It has an economical amplifier with low cooling requirements. But you need to take into account that the connectors are located inconveniently.
• Eton USB 10. Small in height and low power.

Among the best active subwoofers are the following models: Kicx ICQ 300BA, Pioneer TS-WX206, Alpine SWE-815.

When creating a personal speaker system for your car, it is enough important point is choosing the right subwoofer. Today different manufacturers They offer many models, but in this article we will talk about how active and passive subwoofers differ, what are their disadvantages and advantages.

So, what is the difference between an active subwoofer and a passive one?

Unfortunately, not all car owners can give a clear answer to this question.

What does passive subwoofer mean?

A passive subwoofer is one or more low-frequency speakers that are placed in a housing made of wood, plywood or MDF. In order for it to reproduce sounds, an external amplifier is needed, and a sound separation filter, which leaves only low frequencies.

What does active subwoofer mean?

An active subwoofer is an acoustic system that has a built-in amplifier, a crossover filter and, of course, one or more speakers. This system is somewhat easier to connect, and according to popular opinion, it sounds slightly better than a passive subwoofer. But as practice shows, everything depends on general settings speaker system.

Active and passive subwoofer: what's the difference?

In order to understand which subwoofer is better, passive or active, let's compare the main indicators that, one way or another, all car owners pay attention to:

• Cost – active subwoofers are more expensive, which is not surprising because they contain a lot more expensive electronics;
• Ease of installation - since passive subwoofers require an external amplifier, frequency filter, etc., they are somewhat more difficult to install. In addition, active systems already have a built-in amplifier, and this can significantly save space;
• Sound quality - it would seem obvious that an active subwoofer should sound better, but in reality everything is somewhat more complicated. After all, in order for a speaker system to sound good, it must be configured correctly. And as practice shows, a well-tuned passive subwoofer can sound better than an active one;
• Ease of setup - on the one hand, active subwoofers have more options for setup, however, if you have a good external amplifier, this advantage disappears.

Advantages and disadvantages of passive subwoofers

As already mentioned, a passive subwoofer is essentially just a speaker equipped with a special speaker that emphasizes low frequencies. Accordingly, such an element of the acoustic system will cost relatively inexpensively.

But this is far from the only advantage of passive subwoofers. With their help, you can assemble a system in which all components will best satisfy your ideas about the right sound. After all, in order to get optimal sound, you need to assemble a set of a suitable amplifier, the necessary frequency filters, and a set of speakers in suitable housings.

Also quite important is that, unlike active ones, passive subwoofers use different types of enclosures, namely standard boxes, bass reflexes, and bandpass. In active systems, possibilities for use different types cases are complicated by the need to place additional electronics in them.

Advantages and disadvantages of active subwoofers

Of course, the main advantage of subwoofers active type is that a speaker, amplifier and filter are combined in one housing. This makes it as simple as possible to connect them to car radios, and provides a certain quality of sound with a minimum of settings.

Unfortunately, this is their main drawback. Due to the need to place both the speaker and electronics in one housing, certain compromises have to be made. In particular, this applies to insufficiently powerful amplifiers, which naturally affects the power, sound pressure and responsiveness of the system.

Of course, there are models in which all the components allow you to get the maximum high quality sound. But, unfortunately, their cost is quite high.

In order to reduce the cost of active subwoofers, manufacturers often try to reduce the cost of components as much as possible, which makes the sound of most of them somewhat rough. This also affects their reliability.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the power of active-type subwoofers. The fact is that to ensure sales, manufacturing companies often attract their own potential buyers a combination of small dimensions and high power. But in fact, truly good sound from a powerful amplifier is impossible without a speaker of the appropriate size, namely 10, 12 or more inches.

What is better for a car owner to choose?

The differences between an active subwoofer and a passive one are quite obvious, and based on them, car owners make their choice in favor of one option or another.

People who want to slightly improve their installed speaker system, as a rule, purchase inexpensive and compact models active subwoofers. They are quite easy to install, but you should understand that a truly powerful amplifier cannot be placed in a compact case high class. Accordingly, such a subwoofer will improve the sound somewhat, but will not provide truly powerful and punchy bass.

If a car owner is disappointed in the sound of an active subwoofer, and the return period has expired, then the question naturally arises - “is it possible to turn an active subwoofer into a passive one?” Of course, in practice this is possible, but it is worth understanding one simple point. Most active systems have slightly poorer speaker performance compared to passive subwoofers.

Also, before choosing a subwoofer, it makes sense to check whether your radio has a built-in amplifier. Today, many cars are initially equipped not only with a car radio, but also with amplification equipment. In this case, there is little point in purchasing an active subwoofer, unless you want to get very powerful sound, at a power of 250 watts.

A fairly important point is that active subwoofers have factory settings that are designed for the most popular styles, in particular various dance music, etc. Therefore, if you consider yourself a sound gourmet, then they may not be enough.

Let's summarize. In order to clearly understand which subwoofer to choose - active or passive, you need to clearly formulate your requirements for the car's acoustic system. In particular, you need to define the following parameters:

• The presence of a built-in amplifier of the required power in the radio;
• Free space in the car to place a subwoofer;
• Planned budget;
• Free time that you are willing to spend on setting up the speaker system;
• Requirements for the sound of the car's acoustic system (would you like to add some bass, or are you planning to participate in car audio competitions).

As you can see, choosing which type of subwoofer suits you best is not as easy as it seems. Indeed, in addition to the above factors influencing the choice of model, much depends on musical preferences, etc.

Users who are thinking about purchasing a subwoofer have a variety of goals. Someone wants to improve the sound of an existing speaker system. Someone wants to get in a car a unique feeling of body vibrations from juicy, powerful bass. Another part of consumers wants to create a crystal clear, completely authentic sound environment concert hall. An active or passive subwoofer has certain advantages and disadvantages and can solve certain problems.

To better understand how an active subwoofer differs from a passive one, you should start by getting to know the structure of a simpler product. The housing in which a large diameter speaker is placed, frequency filters are classic design. This is how you can describe a passive subwoofer.

There are several options for this type of equipment. The most common design is a sealed housing with a speaker. This is called a closed passive subwoofer.

Another type of device is a housing with a path for air circulation, called a bass reflex. Such subs have a stable increase in volume from the supplied power, which closed systems cannot boast of.

There is one design option in which a passive subwoofer can differ sharply from an active one. The latter uses it extremely rarely. The bandpass system is a two-zone emitter. The sealed segment of the housing in which the speaker is located is connected to the area of ​​ducts for air passage.

As a result of the work of such a tandem, the sub sounds very good, especially in large rooms. It produces rich, rich bass thanks to intense air vibrations.

To operate a passive subwoofer, you definitely need a good external amplifier. How more adjustments it provides signal parameters, so best quality sound picture can be achieved.

The active subwoofer is self-sufficient. It is a housing that houses not only a speaker, every inch of which provides high-quality bass, but also its own power amplifier. This scheme is convenient, compact, and is generally rated by users as quite practical.

Features, pros and cons of active subwoofers

An active home subwoofer is an almost ideal device. He has everything he needs on board. Here is an amplifier, an adjustable filter to adjust the cutoff frequency. In expensive models, it is possible to change the phase shift of the signal. Individual products may have differences in the proposed sets of inputs and outputs, and signal formats.

An active sub has the following advantages:

• easy to connect;
• does not require an external amplifier;
• features a compact design;
• if there are outputs, you can connect speakers to the device, creating a compact speaker system;
• you can buy top models with many adjustments and high power.

The active sub has good rating from consumers. Mainly due to its affordable cost and wide range of applications. An active subwoofer will perfectly complement the sound of an existing speaker system. It is easy to install in your home due to its compact size.

Minuses active system the following:

• due to the heat generated by the amplifier, the air inside the speaker chamber heats up, which can affect its electrical characteristics and worsen the sound;
• operation at critical volume levels is fraught with the risk of amplifier failure due to rising temperature in the housing.

You need to choose an active subwoofer carefully, focusing on the power of the sound system that it will complement. It is also recommended to strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding placement and cooling conditions.

Features, pros and cons of passive subwoofers

A passive subwoofer is an extremely simple design. This may mean that it is not difficult to make yourself to install in your car. U passive system there are a number of advantages:

• spaciousness of design;
• bandpass class solutions, which are rarely found in active systems;
• even a home passive sub sounds rich, delivering clean and rich bass;
• there is no overheating of the speaker and air inside the case during system operation;
• You can easily modify the characteristics of the subwoofer by adding self-made or purchased frequency filters.

But the main thing that distinguishes the product of this type, - a small price. And this attracts not only lovers of experimentation, but also music lovers who want to improve the sound of an existing speaker system. But a passive subwoofer also has disadvantages.

1. The main disadvantage is that a passive subwoofer requires an external amplifier to operate. Its power should be at least one and a half times higher than the maximum performance of the sound emitter. First of all, such a product is expensive. Secondly, installing a passive subwoofer to improve the sound of existing acoustics may require a complete replacement of the amplification equipment, since the existing one will not be able to pump the subwoofer without causing distortion.
2. Disadvantage associated with the formation of an external signal: subwoofer passive type Regular amplifiers will not work. You need to buy a device that works only in the low frequency band.
3. All sound adjustments are purely external. The amplifier controls the playback quality. The number of its adjustments is directly responsible for the richness of the bass, cutoff frequency, and other subwoofer parameters.
4. In closed subwoofers, the required increase in power supplied to the device, depending on the volume, increases exponentially. This is due to air resistance in a sealed housing.

However, these shortcomings do not in any way detract from the excellent sound of a passive subwoofer. According to the average statistical assessment, it will always show stable results, in contrast to the active one, where there is overheating and the influence of vibrations on electronic circuits.

What is better to choose

It’s not difficult to give an exact answer whether an active or passive subwoofer is worth buying if you focus on the needs of the average user (except motorists). An active sub wins by all criteria. This is a self-sufficient device with its own amplifier, the power of which is carefully selected for good performance of the installed speaker.

Today you can buy an active subwoofer with a wide variety of functional equipment. The devices may offer adjustments to the cutoff frequency and phase shift to perfectly complement the sound of a multi-speaker system.

With increasing power active amplifiers are starting to cost significantly more. However, if you don’t want to bother with installing additional filters, look for a suitable amplifier - additional investments are justified, and the cost of a subwoofer with built-in electronics fades into the background.

Motorists have their own rules. Only passive subwoofers are installed in the car. The reason is that the devices are installed in confined spaces where there is little or no air circulation. Therefore, the active sub will simply overheat and fail.

But the amplifier for a passive subwoofer can be placed in an area where it is convenient to provide the necessary temperature regime, including using forced ventilation.