The present invention relates to an active sound absorber (3) for an exhaust system (1) of an internal combustion engine, preferably of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (7), a connecting pipe (8) for the acoustic and fluidic connecting of the housing (7) with the exhaust system (1), an active membrane (10) which in the housing (7) separates a front volume (12), fluidically connected with the connecting pipe (8), from a back volume (13), and an actuator (11) for vibration stimulation of the active membrane (10).A risk of damage by condensate in the back volume (13) can be reduced by at least one condensation line (14), which fluidically connects the back volume (13) with the front volume (12), in which vapor contained in the exhaust gas condenses, and which directs the condensate which occurs to the front volume (12).