How to Connect Powered Speakers to Amplifier

If we start with the microphones, now it’s time to know the end of the audio cable: How to connect powered speakers to the amplifier.

The electrical signals into which we transform the sound with the microphones and other equipment and then go out on the consoles are minimal. If that electricity were connected directly to a loudspeaker, a pure and subtle whisper would hear.

For this reason, the output of a CD player, a microphone, or a console must always pass through an amplifier before connecting it to the speakers. An always amplifier is a piece of equipment that boosts a signal, in this case, audio.

How to Connect Powered Speakers to Amplifier?

TYPES OF AMPLIFIERS

On the one hand, we have internal amplifiers that incorporate in-home music equipment. Others are standalone modules that have equalizers and even a radio tuner. They are an excellent choice for the master studio.

Then we have the power amplifier. It is equipment exclusively intended for amplification. It receives the monitoring output from the console, amplifies it, and delivers it to the speakers.

They are straightforward; they have the inputs and outputs, the two-volume controls for the left and right channels, and two lights that flash or change color if we saturate, that is when there is an excess signal. Those indicators are known as clipping.

These power speakers are best suited for production studios, although many no longer use them since the speakers or monitors come with their amplification.

There are also amplified or powered consoles. Inside they already have an amplifier, and there is no need for another, so the console output connects directly to the speakers.

Musical amplifiers are used in concerts and serve to amplify the signal of instruments such as a guitar or bass. The speakers are already built-in, so it’s just plugging in and playing.

Configuration A

If you don’t have an amplifier or powered console or active speakers, you need a microphone in between speakers.

Configuration B

If your console is powered, the output goes directly to passive speakers.

Configuration C

If the speakers are active, you connect them directly to the how-to connect powered speakers to the amplifier.

ATTENTION: NEVER connect active speakers to the output of a powered console. To find out if speakers are active, check if they can plug into the electrical current. Otherwise, they are passive.

SPEAKERS

It is the always last link in the chain. In some good places, they are also known as cornets or speakers, because they “talk,” which is the same as talking.

If the microphone transforms sound vibrations (acoustic signals) into electricity (electrical signals), the speaker does the reverse job: it transforms electricity into sound. It is easy to deduce, then that the operation of both devices is very similar.

Both are built on the principles of electromagnetism. The speaker is nothing more than a coil around a magnet that moves a membrane that generates sound waves when receiving an electric current.

The power speakers are similar to microphones both in operation and under construction. There are dynamic speakers, like the one we just explained, and other electrostatic (condenser) or piezo models that are less common.

How to Connect active speakers?

The birthday party is here, and we want the music to be heard louder. We have our sound equipment, but we ask a friend to lend us two speakers of his. With four, we will make more noise! The result is a party without music and damaged equipment. Why? Precisely because of a characteristic called impedance.

Suppose a horse can gallop with two people on its back. If we climb four, the horse will fall exhausted to the ground.

In the same way, if a music system is prepared to “gallop” with two speakers and put four on it, the equipment will not hold and melt.

If the two people who support the horse are adults, we could quickly raise four children who weigh the same as the two adults.

In sound, if we have a team that supports the “weight” of two 8-ohm speakers, equal to 16 ohms, we could place, then, four speakers of 4 ohms each, and we would have the same 16 ohms.

The speakers have two types of powers. Both express in Watts. One is the peak, the maximum power that a speaker can withstand in a moment without damaging it. The other is the nominal or RMS, which the speaker can receive for regular operation constantly.

When buying a speaker, we must be well informed about the power they support. If they hold a 150W peak, it means that they can receive that power in an instant, but not continuously.

This value closely links the power of the amplifier that we have. Musically speaking, the idea is that the power of the amplifier is higher than the speakers.

The problem with a radio where many people can touch the amplifier’s buttons is dangerous since they can burn them. Therefore, it is not convenient to buy an amplifier with more Watts than the speaker supports.

For example, when pairing a 300W amplifier with 150W speakers, the result may be from speakers damaged by excess power.

Currently, to avoid problems and confusion, the ideal is to buy active speakers that already come with their how to connect powered speakers to amplifiers.

CLASSIFICATION BY FREQUENCY

Tweeter

They are responsible for reproducing the high frequencies. They are small in size and use horns or trumpets to make the sound.

Medium

They are intermediate in size and have a frequency response between 4 and 8 kHz, depending on the model.

Woofer

They are large and handle low frequencies below 4 kHz.

Subwoofer

They respond to very low or sub-bass frequencies, below 80 Hz, those that are felt but hardly heard. They are mainly used for live concerts.

Typically, the types of speakers we’ve just seen are not found alone but grouped into loudspeakers. It is this set that we commonly refer to as a speaker.

How to connect powered speakers to an amplifier consist of a wide-range woofer speaker that also plays back mids and a tweeter. Others also incorporate the media speaker. But all these boxes have a single connection on the back to connect the signal coming from the amplifier.

Inside there is a frequency divider that separates the signal for each of the speakers independently. These filters are the crossovers.

The loudspeakers can be active or passive. The active ones have an amplifier in the same speaker, while the passive ones need an external one to work. The current ones are also known as amplified or enhanced.

MONITORS OF STUDY

They are a select type of speaker used in recording and production studios. They are bought in pairs since we always work with stereo signals.

Most boxes and speakers don’t return pure sounds; they always add some bass or treble. In contrast, good studio monitors have a flat frequency response.

That is, they do not add any equalization to the sound. Just as it is on the recorded computer, it will sound like that from the monitors. For this reason, they most recommend equipping a studio or station.

For how to connect powered speakers to the amplifier you will need the mentioned kinds of stuff

They should always place by creating a triangle with the head of the operator operating the controls at the ear.

FAQ’S

Q.1 : Can I connect power speakers to an amplifier?

Clarification of whether powered speakers can be connected to amplifiers and why you may want to do so.

Q.2 : What do I need to connect powered speakers to an amplifier?

Connecting powered speakers to amplifiers requires cables and adapters.

Q.3 : Can I connect multiple active speakers to a single amplifier?

it is possible to daisy-chain multiple active speakers to a single amplifier.

Q.4 : Can I use a subwoofer with power speakers and an amplifier?

Information on integrating a subwoofer into the setup for improved bass response. Remember, the equipment you have, so always refer to the user manuals and manufacturer’s guidelines for accurate and model-specific information.

Conclusions

In conclusion, if you want to connect power speakers to an amplifier properly, you only need to follow the necessary procedure and instructions. Understanding the differences between power speaker and passive speakers as well as the input and output ports on both your power speakers and amplifier will assist you connect the essential physical components appropriately.