The thing to do with the cabling is strap power and signal leads together, with some woven cable sleeving, spiral wrap or tie-wraps. They are always going to the same place each end and won't ever have to be separated.

For live sound I'm surprised that powered speakers are so popular but they do solve a number of problems

• for the purchaser, deciding how to match power ratings between amp and speaker
• usually they have separate power amps for tweeter and bass unit and an active crossover - better crossover response
• Overload protection can simulate the thermal response of driver so it operates reliably but only when needed

I've noticed that for studio monitoring speakers (lower power, very flat and smooth response) active speakers have almost completely replaced passives - it's hard to buy passives any more.

My own PA rig uses EV SX300 passives and a TA1400 amplifier (Thomann, cheap, hasn't broken yet!) The EV's are lovely speakers. There is an active version SXA360. I say get them if you can afford them!

I've read horror stories of JBL EONs dying when driven hard.

Anahata