I addressed that question in my review of the Legacy Audio Whisper DSW, a speaker that is configurable as either passive or active x-over. You can find that review at Dagogo.com
My final conclusion was that with the same speakers in either configuration I was able to make either passive or active outperform, entirely dependent upon the ancillary electronics and cabling. As close to a perfectly uniform comparison as possible showed that active is slightly superior. However, change the electronics and cables, and the results are shaken up once again.
As much as some people might think that an active speaker system is inherently superior, I did not find that to be the case in my comparisons.
My final conclusion was that with the same speakers in either configuration I was able to make either passive or active outperform, entirely dependent upon the ancillary electronics and cabling. As close to a perfectly uniform comparison as possible showed that active is slightly superior. However, change the electronics and cables, and the results are shaken up once again.
As much as some people might think that an active speaker system is inherently superior, I did not find that to be the case in my comparisons.