What Are Powered Speakers?

Powered speakers, also known as self-powered speakers and active speakers, are loudspeakers that have built-in amplifiers.

Do powered speakers need to be plugged in?

With an active speaker it needs to be plugged into AC power, so you'll need to make sure that it's close enough to a wall outlet, unless you want extension cords running all over your living room.

Are powered or passive speakers better?

Passive Speakers Have More Space For Bigger Drivers

Because powered speakers have an amplifier inside, it means they typically have smaller drivers (the part of a speaker that produces sound). Bigger drivers generally create clearer, better balanced sound, and allow the speaker to get louder.