Re: Moved to Active/Self-Powered or stay passively powered?
There's no 'right' answer between powered and passive speakers. It all depends on how you want to operate.
Advantages of powered speakers:
•No amp rack to deal with.
•Built in bi-amp operation.
•Easily can break apart the system for smaller shows
•Amps sized properly for the speaker making it harder to make a stupid connection and blowing the whole thing up
•For monitor speakers, adjustments can be made right at the box.
Advantages for passive speakers
•All amp controls are at the amp rack. No need to go to each speaker to see the level settings
•No need to run power to each speaker, just speaker cable.
•Power distribution is easier. Just need all of the power at the rack, not distributed to each speaker. This matters with larger systems.
•Replacement amps can be easier to deploy than full replacement of a box.
•For monitor speakers, there are no adjustments on the box that the artist can dick up.
