There are many specifications used to define speakers, and power handling or “wattage rating” is one of the most common specs we encounter when reading into using or buying a speaker. The spec will look something like 1000 W; 350 Wrms, or 800 Wpeak. What is speaker power handling (wattage rating)? The speaker power handling…
Loudspeakers come in a wide variety of designs and are defined by a rather large amount of specifications. We can learn a lot about a speaker before ever plugging it in and/or connecting it to an amplifier by reading its specifications or datasheet. What are loudspeaker specifications? Loudspeaker specifications, shown on spec/data sheets, are pieces…
Speaker drivers and enclosures are quite complex in their design and functionality and can be measured in a wide variety of specifications and parameters. What are Thiele-Small Parameters? Thiele-Small (T/S) Parameters are a series of measurements that define the mechanical, electrical and electromechanical properties of a loudspeaker. The TSPs apply particularly to individual drivers and…
Whether we’re aware of them or not, crossover networks are used in nearly all our loudspeakers and play a major role in how we hear the speaker drivers. What is a speaker crossover network? A speaker crossover is a network of filters that separate bands of frequencies of an input audio signal and outputs each…
Speakers are these incredible devices that turn electrical audio signals into sound waves for our listening pleasure (or displeasure), and they wouldn’t be able to do so without drivers. So, it goes without saying that speaker drivers are essential to speaker design and that we should understand how they work. What are speaker drivers, and…
Seeing a speaker driver by itself seems to be a rare occurrence as the vast majority of speakers are designed into boxes known as enclosures. To fully understand how speakers work, we must understand why they are designed into such enclosures and whether enclosure design is a major factor in loudspeaker performance. Why do loudspeakers…
If you’ve ever dealt with speakers, you’ve likely heard the terms “tweeter,” “woofer,” “subwoofer,” and maybe even “full-range” and “mid-range.” With so much terminology (jargon and informal), it can be difficult to understand exactly what is meant when discussing mid-range speakers, tweeters and woofers. What are the differences between mid-range speakers, tweeters and woofers? These…
Many modern computers come with built-in speakers (think of all the laptops, tablets and smartphones that can play audio), but the sound of all these devices can be improved with higher-quality external speakers. The issue, then, is connecting these speakers to the computer. How do we connect speakers of all types to our computers? The…
When shopping for loudspeakers or laying the plans for a speaker system, the terms “active” and “passive” show up quite a bit. What are the differences between passive and active speakers? The simple difference between active and passive speakers is that active speakers require power and passive speakers don’t. This is because active models have…
Humming, hissing, buzzing, and noise, in general, can quickly ruin our audio experience with speakers. Knowing the causes of and solutions to our speaker noise issues can save us a lot of grief and frustration when it comes to getting the best results out of our audio equipment. What causes speakers to hum, buzz and…
Speakers have become commonplace in our day-to-day lives. Wherever there is electricity and electrical power, speakers can function (and often do). Why do loudspeakers need power, and how are they powered? Loudspeakers require power if they have built-in amplifiers, active transducer elements, and/or built-in wireless receivers. Speakers and monitors requiring power typically get it from…
Since the first commercial digital recordings were released in 1971, eager listeners have been listening to digital audio through their speakers. Today, nearly all the audio we listen to through our speakers is digital (even with the resurgence of analog audio vinyl records). Are speakers analog or digital devices? Though speakers are regularly connected to…
