4.3: Passive vs. Active

Understanding Sound From Ear to Engineer · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY-SA 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Passive vs. Active

    Mixers can be categorized as passive or active:

    • Passive mixers use only resistors and lack built-in amplification. They simply combine signals but cannot increase gain, requiring an external preamp or amplifier.
    • Active mixers incorporate powered circuits and amplifiers, offering gain control, EQ, and signal shaping. Virtually all professional consoles are active, as they provide greater flexibility and control.

    This page titled 4.3: Passive vs. Active was last modified on Fri, 01 May 2026 02:54:50 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Geoffrey Dunbar.