Active Vs. Passive

All drivers are passive. If you do not use a passive crossover, you have an active speaker system, whether or not the amps are on board and whether or not the amps were furnished by the speaker manufacturer.

As an example, I would say that all single driver systems are active since they have nothing inserted between the driver and the amp, sometimes not even binding posts.

Budt - Agree completely and would add that horns provide the greatest dynamics and highest efficiency allowing for the use of tiny amplifiers. Insofar as amplifier watts cost money and more money gets you more watts or more quality, it makes sense that better efficiency allows for the purchase of more quality when less quantity is required. Passive crossovers absorb a lot of power, thereby reducing your efficiency and causing you to allocate your amplifier dollars toward more power rather than better sound.

Active speakers, when properly matched, have many advantages. You don't know what you are missing.