[bclark8923]

What's the difference between actively and passively filtered DACs?

 

[MindsMirror]

They are just two different types of circuits used to make the DAC output filter. Passive filters use passive components, resistors, capacitors, and inductors. Active filters uses op-amps, as well as resistors and capacitors. There is plenty of information on analog filters available, you could start with the Wikipedia pages, or you can find some good Youtube videos that explain them. If you don't know what a DAC output filter is for, the Wikipedia page for that is called "reconstruction filter."
 
To an engineer there are important trade-offs to consider when choosing your filter type which will ultimately affect the constraints and performance of the design. To a consumer, it doesn't really matter how the engineer achieved the end result, hence why they don't normally list the filter type on the product spec sheet.