Active electronic setups (i presume it means using an electronic crossover) came about to accommodate for more tuning options and flexibility for the installer to tune the system in a fly so that the customer can get off and running. In no way it means that it will sound better than a system using "good" passives and in no way it means that it will sound bad either.

Not to say which is better, a system that is tuned meticulously using an electronic crossover can sound pretty darn good with really great staging (soundstage), imaging and tonal but ... inevitably, the tonal can be a little compressed, fake, and worst of all digital sounding. And did I say worst of all already, haha, it sound rather thin too. It's nice to listen to and to many of us will find the sound amazing when compared to an untuned system (whether active or passive). However, after awhile you may find something lacking (usually uninvolving or unlively enough) and continue to tune hoping to find another point of comfort.

What passive systems promises (if done properly) is a tonal balance that is unrivalled by active setups. Richer, livelier, fuller, thicker, tons of emotions and musicality... and I've can go on and on about it but basically, it boils down to a sound that is so lively and comfortable, we will fall in love with. Problem is, the passives that come with 90% of the component speakers are cheap cheap cheap, and crappy.

Using high-end components on the customs passives is another story altogether. The different components that make up the high-end passives have their own character that enhances the reproduction of your speaker that you never thought possible. The components are organic in nature.. i.e oil, paper ... and thus, make it very natural and musical in a whole. Most installers will not want to go this route because in the first place, these guys don't even read the manuals of the equipment they sell you and secondly, they really need to get you out from the bay so that another car can get it. Well, I think most of you will get my drift.

A combination of two can be done, with huge amounts of success. Meaning you have a "good" passive crossover in your system, while still using your electronic crossover on the amplifier or player to accommodate for the missing links. I.e. still use the high-pass on the amp for midrange/woofer in conjunction with passives.

This is getting rather length, I'll halt here.

Hey craziechild,
Nice seeing you here too. Yea, the old thinking about active being better than passives is purely and believably untrue. Hey, that QED cable of yours may eventually need to go, seriously.