Most of you may already be familiar with loudspeakers. There are many types of speakers in the market under different brands. When you’re purchasing a speaker,
But what Are the advantages of passive radiator design?
Passive radiator design is most suitable for small sound systems. A passive radiator system resonates the low frequency as the manufacturer tunes with the inner pressure of the speaker cabinet. Since it’s passive, the efficiency of the speaker is higher.
What Are The Benefits of Passive Radiator Design?
Passive radiator design is most suitable for small sound systems. A passive radiator system resonates the low frequency as the manufacturer tunes with the inner pressure of the speaker cabinet. Since it’s passive, the efficiency of the speaker is higher.
When we consider the active driver, it moves in higher amplitude when increasing the loudness. As a result, the chance of sound being distorted is getting higher. If a passive radiator is installed with the speaker cabinet, a portion of the movement of the active driver is isolated by the passive radiator driver. It allows the user to experience more loudness without distorting while enhancing the bass response.
It’s required a speaker driver of considerable size and is able to move in higher amplitude to produce a low frequency at a higher sound pressure level. For a small-scale sound device, practically, it’s not possible to include a large speaker driver.
Related Readings:
Top 12 NearField Studio Monitors On Any Budget
FarField, MidField & NearField Monitors – Their Uses, Pros & Cons
How Do I know If My Studio Monitor Is Blown? (How To Fix & Avoid That)
Is Playing Music Loud Bad For Studio Monitors?
Monitors Vs. Studio Headphones: Which Are Better For Mixing & Mastering?
Do You Need Music Amplifier For Studio Monitors or Studio Headphones?
Are Passive Radiators Better Than Ports?
The passive radiator is an effective solution for a speaker to increase efficiency, produce higher loudness without distorting. It may drop off the high-frequency response of the speaker. Reflex port speakers are not as efficient as passive radiators, but it’s economical.
If a speaker is tuned with a port properly, then it’s nothing to be worried about the frequency response.
Let’s take a look at reflex port technology. This is also a very similar concept to the passive radiator. As we already mentioned, a passive radiator is tuned to enhance the low-frequency response according to the manufacturer’s requirement.
But how is it tuned?
The air volume in the speaker cabinet is the key. By comparing the masses of the air inside and the passive radiator, it’s tuned. In reflex port speakers, the air pressure and the length and the diameter of the port will decide the tune. This technology is fine for speakers of considerable size. The reason is that the port or the hole with a long tail may require some width or a length to achieve the expected enhancement. It’s a bit harder but less expensive than a passive radiator.
Image source – Wikipedia
When it’s compared to both technologies, a passive radiator is an effective solution for a speaker to increase the efficiency, produce higher loudness without distorting. It may drop off the high-frequency response of the speaker. Reflex port speakers are not as efficient as passive radiators, but it’s economical. If a speaker is tuned with a port properly, then it’s nothing to be worried about the frequency response.
When a reflex port speaker functions at a considerable high loudness, the air circulation noise through the port may be heard and added some harmonics to the sound.
Therefore that’s not possible to state as “this one is better than this one.” Both are different technologies and appropriate for different situations, especially when comparing the budget, size of the speaker.
Anyway, the passive radiator offers more control than a reflex port speaker.
Are passive radiators good?
Most of the domestic and pro speaker manufacturers are using passive radiator technology on their products. Genelec HTS4B Home Theatre Subwoofer, Mackie HRmk2 professional studio monitor series, Amphion One, and Two series, Focal Shape series are a few of them.
If you observe the frequency response, power consumption, and sensitivity of these speakers, you will see what a passive radiator does.
Let’s compare the power consumption and maximum SPL of Focal Alpha 65 (Reflex port design) and Focal Shape 65 (passive radiator design).
Both speakers consist of two drivers to produce lower and higher frequencies. The overall power consumption of the speakers is 110W. Maximum SPL is the most interesting parameter to compare and identify. It’s 106dB for Alpha 65 and 109dB for Shape 65.
Just an increment of 3dB. Right?. “Is this a small increment?”. If you have an understanding of how the Sound Pressure Level varies, you will get the idea in a few seconds. I’ll explain.
There’s a mathematically and practically proven theory in point-source sound system as “Doubling the acoustical power of the source will increase the Sound Pressure Level in 3dB.”
“What does that mean?” If we play some music with one speaker at some level of loudness and measure the SPL, then add another speaker with the same loudness, placed together, and measure the SPL again, the increment of the SPL will be 3dB.
By applying this concept and comparing the Alpha 65 and Shape 65, you’ll realize that the Shape 65 can produce a loudness of 2 Alpha 65 speakers by consuming the same power.
When comparing the prices of both two speakers, Shape 65 is much more expensive than Alpha 65.
Here are a few main factors to be considered before you buy:
- Frequency response
The accuracy of converting to the acoustic energy of the frequencies and the amplitudes of the input electrical signal. - Maximum SPL
The maximum sound pressure level that a speaker can produce without distortion, is measured at a 1m distance from a speaker. - Sensitivity
The sound pressure level that a speaker produces at a 1m distance by consuming 1W of power. - Power consumption
The energy that a speaker consumes within 1sec. - Efficiency
The ratio between acoustical energy produced by the speaker within a unit time period and the input signal power as a percentage.
Therefore it’s very important to manage these factors during the manufacturing of a speaker. As most of you know, a speaker working as a transducer converts an electrical signal into an acoustical signal with the help of a magnet and a voice coil (Faraday’s Law of induction). During this process, the speaker cones moving forward and backward to transfer the energy to the air particles around the speaker.
As a result, air pressure is built up inside the speaker cabinet, which is unavoidable. The concepts of reflex port and passive radiator comes into play at this point.
The reflex port uses a hole like a cylinder in the cabinet to manage and enhance the low-frequency response with the pressure buildup inside the cabinet. This is the most commonly seen technology in most speakers. Passive radiators are a bit different. There are no holes in passive radiators, but a tuned air volume and a diaphragm with a suspension system similar to a speaker cone without a voice coil or any electrical or magnetic component are included.
It moves with the pressure inside the cabinet and converts the inside pressure into sound while enhancing the bass response. Why the bass response? Since the high frequencies take less time to complete a cycle of simple harmonic motion, air particles will move faster than a low frequency.
Therefore the energy will be damped within a few cycles inside the speaker cabinet and containing not enough energy to move the passive reflector. In the bass or low-frequency region, a small amount of movement of the active driver can move the passive reflector with a considerable amplitude. Therefore it’s a very effective approach to enhance the low-frequency response of a small speaker system.
Conclusion
We can state that both speaker technologies are very useful in different situations. Reflex port design is economical, and the Passive radiator design is efficient.
Readings that you may like:
DAW Related:
Best DAWs For Musicians Available (With FREE DAWs)
What’s The Most CPU Efficient DAW? – 5 DAWs Compared
How To Make Music Without Using A DAW?
Pro Tools Guide: How To Use AutoTune & Pitch Correction?
Ableton Review: Is It Worth The Money? (Cons & Pros)
Logic Pro X Review: Is It Worth It? (Cons & Pros)
How To Use Auto-tune & Pitch Correction In Cubase?
How To Fix Ableton Crackling, Crashing & Freezing? Step By Step
Plugin Related:
What Are Audio Plugins? Different Types of Plugins Explained
What Are The Best Tools To Develop VST Plugins & How Are They Made?
Cost of Developing Audio VST Plugin: Several Factors (With Table)
VST, VST, AU and AAX – What’s The Difference? Plugin Formats Explained
Complete Guide To Noise Gate – What It Is, What It Does & How To Use It?
How To Clip My Drums? Here Is How & Audio Teasers (Before/After)
Complete Guide To Limiter: How To Use It (+ Best Plugins & Analog Limiters)
Mixing With Reverb: How To Add Life To Your Mixes
Linear Phase vs Minimum Phase EQ – Full Guide
Difference Between LUFS, RMS & True Peak Loudness Meters
How And When To Use Algorithmic And Convolution Reverb In Your Mix?
Difference Between Active EQ, Passive EQ and Dynamic EQ
Headphones & Studio Monitors:
Do headphones get worse with age?
Monitors vs Studio Headphones For Mixing & Mastering
Top 10 Room Calibration & Headphones/Speakers Correction Plugins
Are Noise-Canceling Headphones Good For Music Production?
Can Headphones Break in Cold Weather?
Why do headphones & cables get sticky?
Can Wearing Headphones Cause Hair Loss?
How Do I know If My Studio Monitor Is Blown?
Side Effects Of Sleeping With Your Headphones On
Do You Need Music Amplifier For Studio Monitors or Studio Headphones?
Do Headphones or Earphones Damage Your Brain?
Can Headphones or Earphones cause Deafness or Toothache?
FarField, MidField & NearField Monitors – Their Uses, Pros & Cons
MIDI & Synths:
Should I Buy A MIDI Keyboard Or Synth? (Are Synths Worth It Anymore?)
Why Is Audio Gear So Expensive? (Especially Synths)
Top 12 Synth Brands – Analog, Digital & Modular Synth Manufacturers
11 Tips How To Choose MIDI Keyboard
Should I Buy MIDI Controller Or Keyboard? Cons, Pros & Tips
Guitar/Amp Focused:
Can I Put Nylon Strings on a Steel-string Guitar?
Do Electric Guitars Sound Good Unplugged?
Buying Your First Guitar: 2 Things To Know
Are Tube Amps Worth It? (Tube vs Solid-State Amps)
How Often Does A Guitar Need a Setup?
Can I Play Classical Guitar On A Steel-String Guitar?
How often guitar necks need reset?
Can You Play Two Guitars Through One Amp?
Can a 6 String Bass Be Tuned Like A Guitar?
Can I leave My Guitar Tuned Down a Step? Yes, But Is It Safe?
Should I Learn 4, 5 Or 6 String Bass Guitar & Why?
How To Know If your Guitar Amp Is Broken?
How To Fix Distorted Bass Guitar Sound?
Do Fender Guitars Appreciate In Value?
Should You Put Stickers On A Bass Guitar?
How Acoustic And Electric Guitars Are Made?
Is Electric Guitar Too Loud for an Apartment?
Does a Preamp Improve Sound Quality?
If I Learn Acoustic Guitar Can I Play Electric Guitar?
How Many Hours A Day Should You Practice Bass Guitar?
Do I need an AMP/DAC To Run Bookshelf Speakers?
How to Record Electric Guitar Into Logic Pro X?
Do headphones get worse with age?
Recommended Gear:
Top 12 NearField Studio Monitors On Any Budget
Top 10 Midfield Studio Monitors For Home Recording
Best Biggest Studio Monitors (FarField Monitors)
Top 10 Guitar Pickups for Low Tunings
Top 10 Analog Compressors For Mixing & Mastering (On Any Budget)
Top 12 USB Audio Interfaces Under 150$, 200$, 300$ 400$ (Any Budget)
Top 12 Hardware Equalizers (Analog EQs For Mixing & Mastering)
Top 6 Analog Hardware Limiters
Top 6 Solid State Bass Amps (On Any Budget)
Top 6 Ribbon Mics On Any Budget (For Vocals, Drums & Guitars)
Top 6 Cheap Dynamic Mics For Vocals Under 50$, 100$, 200$ & 300$
Top 6 Chorus Guitar Pedals (On Any Budget)
6 Best 61-Key MIDI Keyboards (On Any Budget)
9 Best 49-Key MIDI Keyboards Under 100$ & 200$
Top 5 Best 25 Key MIDI Keyboards (On Any Budget)
Top 12 Acoustic Drums (Best Kits/Sets On Any Budget)
Plugin Roundups:
Genre Focused:
Top 10 EDM Plugins (And 10 Best FREE Plugins For EDM)
Top 10 Plugins For TRAP Beats (And 5 Best FREE Trap Plugins)
20 Best Plugins For Rock Musicians (+ 6 FREE Plugins)
Top 14 Trance Plugins (Uplifting, Tech, Progressive, Vocal, Dream, Hard)
Top 10 GOA & PsyTrance Plugins (Best Psychedelic Trance Tools)
Top 7 Plugins For Dubstep (With 10 Best FREE Effects & Synths)
Top 20 Synthwave Plugins (+ 11 Best FREE Plugins)
Top 15 Plugins For Techno, House, Electro, Tech House, UK Garage
Top 6 Plugins For Latin Music (And 4 FREE Tools)
Top 12 Plugins For Hip-Hop (+ Best Kontakt Libraries)
Top 7 Plugins For Game & Film Scoring (+ 6 Best Kontakt Libraries)
Top 10 R&B And Pop Music Plugins & KONTAKT Libraries
30 Best Free Plugins For DnB, EDM, IDM & Experimental Music
EQ Plugins
Top 12 Free EQ Plugins For Precise Mixing & Mastering
Top 9 Mid/Side EQ Plugins For Mixing & Mastering (+ 2 Free Tools)
Top 7 Graphic EQ Plugins (With 3 Best Free EQs)
Top 7 EQ Plugins For Mastering In | And Best FREE Mastering EQs
Top 6 Passive EQ Plugins (Klevgrand, SPL, UAD, Waves, IK Multimedia)
Top 11 Plugins For Making Metal (Best Guitars, Drums & Effects)
Metering:
Top 5 Audio Metering Plugins (LUFS, RMS, LRA, True Peak)
Top 6 Spectrum Analyzer Plugins – Spectral Analysis Tools
Top 6 Oscilloscope Plugins To See The Waveforms
Top 5 Key Detection Plugins & Software (+ Best FREE App)
Kontakt Libraries
20 Best Kontakt Libraries For All Categories (Synths, Drums, Vocals)
Top 7 Drum Libraries For KONTAKT (And 4 Freebies)
Top 7 Trap Music Kontakt Libraries (And Best Lo-Fi Kontakt Library)
Top 7 Metal & Rock Kontakt Libraries (Best Guitars & Drums)
Top 10 Guitar Libraries For Kontakt (Acoustic, Electric, Bass & Freebies)
Top 7 Trailer Scoring Plugins & Kontakt Libraries
20 Best Free KONTAKT Libraries For Various Instruments
Top 9 Piano Kontakt Sample Libraries (And 5 Best Free Pianos)
Top 10 Percussion KONTAKT Libraries (And 3 Freebies)
Top 7 Kontakt Libraries For Horror & Thriller Scoring (No VSTs)
Audio Restoration, Calibration & Utility:
Top 6 Noise Reduction Plugins (And 3 Best Free Tools)
6 Best Audio Restoration Plugins & Software
Top 7 Phase Alignment Plugins To Fix Your Bass & Drums
Top 10 Room Calibration & Headphones/Speakers Correction Plugins
Instrument Plugins:
Top 6 Vocoder Plugins (Effects & Synths + FREE Vocoder)
11 Best Rhodes VST Plugins (AND 5 Free Rhodes Plugins)
Top 12 Randomizer Plugins Including FREE Plugins
Top 6 Kick Drum Plugins (Best Kick Designer Tools)
Top 12 Woodwind Plugins (And KONTAKT Libraries)
Top 10 Double Bass Plugins (Best Upright Basses)
Top 5 Strings VST Plugins (AND 4 Best Free Instruments)
Top 6 Sampler Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Plugins)
Top 6 Classical Guitar Plugins & Kontakt Libraries (And FREE Guitars)
Top 12 Sub Plugins (Best 808 & Bass Tools For Massive Low End)
Top 10 Plugins On PluginBoutique (And 7 Best Free Plugins)
Top 11 Plugins On Plugin Alliance
Top 7 Acoustic Guitar Plugins (And 4 Best Kontakt Libraries)
9 Best Bass Guitar Plugins (And 2 Best Freebies)
Top 6 Electric Guitar Plugins (Best PAID & FREE Picks)
Top 10 Arpeggiator VST Plugins (Best Synths, MIDI Effects & Tools)
Top 10 Modular Synth Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Plugins)
Top 6 Choir Plugins & Sample Libraries (And 3 Best Free Plugins)
11 Best Percussion & Drum VST Plugins (And FREE Plugins)
Top 8 Piano Plugins (Best Sounding Pianos & 5 FREE Piano Plugins)
Top 6 Organ Plugins Ever Made (And 3 Best Free Organs)
Top 14 VST Plugins For Beginners (And 9 FREE Plugins)
Top 9 Drum Machine Plugins (And Groovebox Plugins)
4 Best Banjo Plugins (Best Banjo Instruments)
The 5 Best Ukulele Plugins & Kontakt Libraries
Top 13 Synth Plugins (And 5 Best FREE Synths Plugins)
Top 13 Sequencer Plugins (Synth, MIDI & Step Sequencers)
The 10 Best Multi-Effect Plugins (And 3 Best Free Plugins)
Top 12 Plugin Bundles For Musicians (Synths, Mixing & Mastering)
Processing & Sound Design:
8 Best Lo-Fi Plugins (PAID & FREE)
Top 11 Plugins For Mixing Vocals (For Home Studio)
Top 12 Saturation Plugins (Best Mixing & Mastering Tools)
Top 6 Pitch Shifter Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Pitch Shifters)
Top 6 Chorus VST Plugins For Musicians (And 3 FREE Plugins)
Top 6 Limiter Plugins For Precise Mastering & Mixing
The 8 Best Filter Plugins For Precise Cuts & Boosts (+ 5 Free Filters)
6 Best Autotune Plugins To Improve & Enhance Your Vocals
Top 10 Transient Shaper Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
Top 7 Enhancer Plugins (For Bass, Drums, Vocals & Harmonics)
Top 6 Flanger Plugins (And 5 Best FREE Flanger Emulators)
Top 7 Phaser Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Phasers)
Top 10 Plugins For Mixing Drums (And 3 Best Free Plugins)
Top 7 Bitcrusher Plugins (And 4 Best FREE Bitcrushers + 3 Bonuses)
Top 6 Plugins For Voice-Over & Dialogue Cleaning (Post Production)
Top 10 Stereo Imaging Plugins (Best Old & Modern Picks)
Top 5 Multiband Limiter Plugins
Top 7 De-Esser Plugins For Better Vocals (And 4 FREE Plugins)
Top 7 Clipper Plugins (Best Limiter Alternatives)
Top 6 Chord Generator Plugins That Inspire Melodies (+ FREE Tools)
7 Best Exciter Plugins For Mixing & Mastering
Top 7 Channel Strip Plugins (And 2 Best Free Plugins)
Top 11 Distortion Plugins (And 4 Top Free Plugins)
Top 5 Comb Filter & Resonator Plugins | Melda, Kilohearts, Tritik
The 7 Best Vibrato VST Plugins | Audec, Audiority, Melda
The 7 Best Tremolo Plugins | Eventide, Melda, SoundToys, Kuassa…
The 7 Best Harmonizer Plugins | Eventide, Melda, Aegean Music
7 Best Sidechain Plugins (VST, AU, AAX) | Xfer, Cableguys..
Top 10 Noise Gate Plugins (And 6 FREE Free Gate Tools)
The 6 Best Ring Modulator VST Plugins | KiloHearts, Melda
7 Best Autopan VST Plugins | CableGuys, Melda, Waves, Soundtoys
The 6 Best Frequency Shifter VST Plugins
Top 11 Granulizer Plugins For Future Sound Design
29 Best Sound Design VST Plugins
Compressor Plugins
Top 11 Free Compressor Plugins (VCA, Vari-Mu, FET, Digital)
Top 7 Multiband Compressor Plugins (And 4 FREE Plugins)
Top 5 Diode-Bridge Compressor Plugins
Top 6 Mastering Chain Plugins: Complete VST Solutions
The 7 Best VCA Compressor Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
Top 11 Mastering Compressor Plugins (And 2 FREE Plugins)
Top 10 Opto Compressor Plugins For Transparent Sound
The 7 Best Vari-Mu Compressor Plugins (And 2 Best FREE Tools)
Reverb & Delay Plugins:
Top 12 Reverb Plugins (And 5 FREE Reverb Plugins)
The 6 Best Spring Reverb VST Plugins | AudioThing, GSi, u-he, Eventide
Top 12 Delay Plugins For Music Production In (VST, AU, AAX)
Top 10 FREE Delay Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
The 10 Best Convolution Reverb Plugins
Amps & Preamps:
Top 10 Guitar Amp Plugins (And 5 Best FREE Simulators)
Top 10 Bass Amp Plugins (And 5 Best Free Simulators)
Top 9 Preamp Plugins (For Vocals, Guitars & More!) + Free Preamps

Started as a rapper and songwriter back in 2015 then quickly and gradually developed his skills to become a beatmaker, music producer, sound designer and an audio engineer.