First off all, you're not the first one with this question, so don't feel bad about asking about it!

The first thing to clarify is the difference between "Active filters", "Active speakers" and "Digital Filters" before we get any of you confused:
- Active filters (as opposed to passive) is made up of active electronic components (Op Amp) to build some filters. Beware as this term is sometimes mixed up with "Digital filters"
- Active speaker is a general term to describe a multiway speaker which has multiple channels of amplification and an active or digital filter to control crossovers.
- Digital filters would typical use a "Digital Signal Processor" (DSP) which will perform filters using a specialized processor, optimized for running the math equations that's required to process the audio signal.  

So hopefully a short and sweet definition which will clarify a couple of terms but in the end, is only an invitation to have you read a bit more online or on our website basic concepts of digital crossovers and digital signal processing.