A speaker is a fascinating piece of technology that converts electrical energy into sound waves.
How Speakers Work:
A speaker is a transducer. It takes mechanical vibrations (generated by electricity) and transforms them into sound energy.
Inside a speaker, there’s a magnetic coil that vibrates, moving a membrane (usually a cone or dome). This motion generates sound waves that we hear .
Computer Speakers:
Analog speakers amplify analog electromagnetic waves into sound waves. They receive audio input from devices like computers or audio receivers.
Digital speakers process digital audio signals to produce sound .
Evolution:
Early computers had onboard speakers that produced basic tones and beeps. IBM introduced the first internal computer speaker in 1981.
Over time, onboard speakers moved to computer monitors and gained the ability to produce voices, music, and other effects.
External computer speakers, invented in 1991, offer higher quality sound and improved bass .
Rating a Speaker:
Speakers are rated based on:
Frequency response: The range of highs and lows they can reproduce.
Total harmonic distortion (THD): The distortion caused by amplification.
Watts: The available amplification power .
Why We Need Computer Speakers:
External speakers enhance sound quality, provide more volume, bass (with subwoofers), and even surround sound.
If your device (like a laptop or smartphone) has built-in speakers, external ones are optional unless you need louder sound or specific features .