Introduction
You've been listening to music for years, but have you ever really thought about how a speaker actually creates sound? The speaker cone is the heart of the speaker and provides essential conversion so that you're able to hear all those songs that you love.
Speaker Dynamics
A speaker is actually a simple device when broken down. Essentially, there is a series of drivers each of which contains a magnet, an oscillating electromagnetic coil and a cone, usually composed of composite, metal or paper. Individual drivers are used for different frequency ranges. A tweeter is used for high frequencies, a woofer for low frequencies and a mid-range driver for those frequencies between the highs and lows. Additional drivers can be used to further break down frequencies and enhance the sound.
Sound
An amplified signal sent from a stereo amplifier drives the speaker. The AC signal, which contains the audio information of your CD or other recording, causes the electromagnetic coil to oscillate back and forth. An alternating current (AC) is one that constantly changes directions. As current reverses directions, the polarity of the electromagnetic coil also reverses, which causes it to alternate between repelling and attracting to the stationary magnet. This constant repel and attract cycle drives the oscillation of the coil. As the coil oscillates, it vibrates the speaker cone, which in turn vibrates air molecules, sending sound to your ears. In this way, the speaker cone reproduces the distinct frequencies contained within any recording.
Tags: electromagnetic coil, speaker cone, drivers used, speaker actually, which contains
