Passive Speakers

Traditional passive loudspeakers are the tried and true workhorses of the audio world. Paired with an appropriate power amplifier, passive speakers keep your event going solid all night long! Direct Pro Audio carries a broad range of passive speakers for every size and application.

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10" 2-Way Speakers	12" 2-Way Speakers	15" Two Way Speakers
3-Way Speakers	8" Two Way Speakers	Ground Stack Speakers

How do I choose the right amplifier power for my speaker system?

Ideally you should pick an amplifier that can deliver power equal to twice the speaker's continuous IEC power rating (sometimes called Program or Music power). This means that a speaker with a nominal impedance of 8 ohms and a continuous IEC power rating of 350 watts will require an amplifier that can produce 700 watts into an 8 ohm load. For a stereo pair of speakers, the amplifier should be rated at 700 watts per channel into 8 ohms. If budget restraints or legacy equipment force you to use an amplifier with less power, extreme care should be taken to see that the amplifier is not driven into clipping. It may surprise you to learn that low power can result in damage to your speaker or system.

Speaker and Amplifier Wiring Tips

1. To prevent possible short circuits, wrap or otherwise insulate exposed loudspeaker cable or cable connectors.
2. Do not use connectors that might accidentally tie conductors together when making or breaking the connection (for example, a standard, 1/4-inch stereo phone plug). Use a Neutrik Speakon® instead.
3. Never use connectors that could be plugged into AC power sockets. Accidental AC input will be an electrifying experience for your equipment.
4. Avoid using connectors with low current-carrying capacity, such as XLRs.
5. Avoid amplifier load impedances lower then 4 OHM. For example, wiring three 8 OHM speakers together in a parallel circuit will yeild a 2 OHM impedance. Long speaker cable lengths or high gauge wire will drop the impeadance even lower, sometimes close to a dead short (that's bad).