Understanding Speaker Components | TruAudio
Sound is a type of energy that travels through the air, or any other medium, as a vibration of pressure waves. When these pressure waves reach our ears, they cause the eardrum to vibrate, which in turn sends signals to the brain that are interpreted as sound. Speakers are devices that convert electrical energy into sound. Using components to bring natural sounding waves to your ears, a good speaker's best qualities bring clear, concise, natural sound to the human ear. Understanding these components can be a huge benefit when it comes time to purchase, build, or integrate speakers into your life! Below you will read about the different components that make up a speaker, and why they are each individually important.
Cone: When an audio signal is sent to the speaker, it vibrates the cone, which then produces sound waves. The size and shape of the cone, as well as the material it is made from, all play a role in determining the quality of sound that is produced.
Tweeter: The tweeter is a small speaker that is responsible for producing high-frequency sounds. The tweeter creates sound by using a small electromagnet to vibrate a thin metal sheet. The tweeter is responsible for reproducing treble tones, such as cymbals and bird calls. Without a tweeter, music would sound flat and lifeless, and it plays an important role in making music and other audio sound natural.
Woofer: The woofer is the part of a speaker that produces low-frequency sound waves, typically below around 500 Hz. These sound waves are generated by a cone-shaped diaphragm that is attached to a coil of wire. When an electrical signal is applied to the coil, it creates a magnetic field that causes the diaphragm to vibrate. The size of the diaphragm, the number of turns in the coil, and the strength of the magnetic field all affect the frequency response of the woofer.
Magnet: The magnet on a speaker is responsible for converting electrical energy into sound. When an electrical signal is sent to the speaker, it produces a magnetic field. This field interacts with the permanent magnet on the speaker, causing it to vibrate. The vibration of the magnet sets up a corresponding vibration in the air, which is what we hear as sound.
Crossover Board: The crossover on a speaker is responsible for directing the sound to the appropriate place. It ensures that low frequencies go to the woofer and high frequencies go to the tweeter. This is because each type of speaker is better equipped to handle certain frequencies. The crossover contains inductors and capacitors that work together to create a filter. The low-frequency sound waves are able to pass through the inductor, but the high-frequency sound waves are blocked. This allows the sound to be directed to the correct place without interference.
Basket: The basket is the skeleton shell of the speaker cone, usually made of metal to keep everything in place! The basket component on a speaker helps to ensure that sound is produced in a clear and concise manner. By keeping the various parts of the speaker in place, the basket ensures that sound is not distorted as it travels from the component to the listener.
Voice coil: The voice coil is one of the most important components of a speaker. It consists of a coil of wire that is wrapped around a cylinder. When sound waves hit the voice coil, it vibrates. This causes the coil to move back and forth, which creates sound waves. The voice coil is what allows speakers to create sound. A good quality voice coil will produce clear sound without distortion.
These components primarily make up the integral parts of a speaker! Speakers can seem complicated, but by breaking them down into their components, it becomes easier to understand how technology is able to mimic the science of sound! If you want to learn more about speakers, and what speakers are right for you, check out TruAudio.com!