A passive DJ subwoofer draws power from an amplifier and does not contain a built-in amp, unlike an active unit. Each speaker driver is built within a hard-wearing cabinet complete with a protective metal front grille. These speakers go hand in hand with most other passive PA systems, enhancing the overall depth and scope of their stereo capabilities.
Passive DJ Sub
Passive DJ subs are designed to improve the bass and sub-bass signals in contemporary audio. When linked with an existing passive system, the speakers will work together to deliver more accurate reproduction of the music. DJs typically play songs that have a heavy sense of rhythm, which particularly requires the drum and bass tracks of the song to sound well balanced.
This type of speaker is suited to live music events/nightclubs as part of a wider network of passive speakers. As mentioned, the sub focuses the bass frequencies in the mix, allowing audiences to hear the music exactly the way artist/DJ intended they hear it during the production stage. Bass signals travel a great distance, making a passive sub suitable for live venues and outdoor events.
Passive Bass Bins
Some may know this item as a passive bass bin, this term is generally understood by audio specialists to mean the same thing. Please note that almost all passive speakers need a connection to a power amplifier to work effectively and the same goes for a passive bass bin. There are mixer-amplifiers available in the amplifier collection which both power the speakers and provide users with dials to refine the bass, middle and treble signals to their tastes.
If a regular amp is chosen for simplicity, it is advised to include a mixer as part of your DJ set up. A mixer allows DJs to harness the full capabilities of a passive bass bin, having the freedom to mix the low-end sounds in a much more audible way. Care should be taken to avoid pushing the passive sub too far, however, as this could result in the distortion of your sound.
Bass should indeed be prevalent in the mix but this presence should not overpower the other sounds in the music itself. This can make for an uncomfortable audio playback regardless of what speakers are in use, if this begins to happen to a mix then the bass is being overloaded and should be dialled back. This occasionally happens during the use of a dual speaker passive system, with a subwoofer included in the speaker line this load is shared across a third entity for maximum clarity.