Text Book of IT-125 Principles of Electricity and Electronics
DAE 1st Year Instrumentation Technology
CHAPTER # 16
LOUD SPEAKERS, HEADPHONES AND
EARPIECE
16.1 Define loudspeakers, headphones and earpiece:
16.1.1 LOUDSPEAKERS:
A loudspeaker is a transducer which convert analog electrical signal into audio
signal (20 Hz to 20000 Hz). Three of their important properties are:
1. The frequency response which should be uniform over the audio frequency
range.
2. The impedance which must be known for matching purposes.
3. The power rating which should not be exceeded or damage may occur.
Loudspeaker Symbol
Figure.16.1
16.1.2 HEADPHONES:
Headphones are a pair of small loudspeaker drivers worn on or around the head
over a user's ears. They are electroacoustic transducers, which convert an
electrical signal to a corresponding sound. A headphones is a transducer which
convert analog electrical signal into audio signal (20 Hz to 20000 Hz). Three of
their important properties are:
1. The frequency response which should be uniform over the audio frequency
range.
2. The impedance which must be known for matching purposes.
3. The power rating which should not be exceeded or damage may occur.
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Headphones Symbol
Figure.16.2
16.1.3 EARPIECE:
An earpiece is speaker placed inside or held near to the ear. It is a transducer
which convert analog electrical signal into audio signal (20 Hz to 20000 Hz).
Three of their important properties are:
1. The frequency response which should be uniform over the audio frequency
range.
2. The impedance which must be known for matching purposes.
3. The power rating which should not be exceeded or damage may occur.
Earpiece Symbol
Figure.16.3
16.2 Enlist types of loudspeakers:
Loudspeakers can be categorized with reference to their working principle as:
Moving coil type loudspeaker
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crystal type loudspeaker
16.3 Describe the function of a moving coil type loudspeaker:
16.3.1 FUNCTION OF A MOVING COIL TYPE LOUDSPEAKER:
The moving coil loudspeaker uses the magnetic effect generated by a flowing
current as the basis of its operation.
When a current flows in a wire, a magnetic field appears around it. When the
wire is wound into a coil, the effect is increased.
If the coil is placed into a steady magnetic field created by a fixed magnet, then
the two magnetic fields will interact. Opposite poles attract and like poles repel.
This means that the current flowing in the coil can cause the coil to be attracted
or repelled from the fixed magnetic field - the degree of the force being
proportional to the current flowing. If the coil is attached to a large diaphragm,
then the sound waves will be more effectively transferred to the air.
16.3.2 CONSTRUCTION OF A MOVING COIL TYPE LOUDSPEAKER:
The construction of moving coil loudspeakers is shown in figure.
Figure.16.4
1. Magnet:
The magnet provides the fixed magnetic field against which the field from the
coil operates. The magnet is typically made from ferrite or powerful
neodymium.
2. Chassis / frame:
The moving coil loudspeaker is generally built on a circular frame -
occasionally these may also be elliptical. The frame forms the basis for the
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loudspeaker and provides its structure, although it does not perform any active
part in the operation.
3. Diaphragm or cone:
At the front of the moving coil loudspeaker there is a cone or diaphragm. This
transfers the vibrations of the moving coil to the air, presenting a large surface
area. The loudspeaker diaphragm can be made of fabric, plastic, paper, or
lightweight metal. The outer part of the diaphragm is fixed to the rim of the
frame - the extremity of the diaphragm often having some undulations to enable
the main part to vibrate easily.
4. Diaphragm undulations:
The diaphragm undulations enable the main part of the diaphragm to move
freely and in a linear fashion.
5. Dust cap (dome):
This part of the moving coil loudspeaker protects the voice coil from dust and
dirt.
6. Voice coil & former:
The moving coil is the key element of the loudspeaker. It takes the current from
the audio amplifier and the current flowing generates a magnetic field which
interacts with at from the permanent magnet and this creates a force which
moves the coil and hence the diaphragm to which it mechanically attached
creating the sound waves.
Figure.16.5
7. Spider (suspension):
This is a flexible, corrugated support that holds the voice coil in place, while
allowing it to move freely. It is not present on some lower end loudspeakers,
but provides a very useful support ensuing the coil is properly centered.
Normally the space around the coil is limited to enable the maximum efficiency
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to be maintained and the coil needs to be free from touching the adjacent
magnet. If it does touch, it causes a rasping sound to be heard as the loudspeaker
coil moves in and out.
As the speech or voice coil is essentially a coil of wire it has, like an inductor
an impedance value. This value for most loudspeakers is between 4 and 16Ω
and is called the “nominal impedance” value of the speaker measured at 0Hz,
or DC.
16.4 State the working of a crystal type loudspeaker:
Rochelle-salt crystals have the property of becoming physically distorted when
a voltage is applied across two of their surfaces. This property is the basis of
the crystal type of speaker driver, illustrated in Fig.
Figure.16.6
The crystal is clamped between two electrodes across which the audio
frequency output voltage is applied. The crystal is also mechanically connected
to a diaphragm. The deformations of the crystal caused by the audio frequency
signal across the electrodes cause the diaphragm to vibrate and thus to produce
sound output.
16.5 Describe the efficiency of a loudspeaker:
Loudspeaker efficiency is defined as the sound power output divided by the
electrical power input.
Speaker efficiency, also known as speaker sensitivity, is a measure of a
speaker's decibel output at a specified amount of amplifier power. For example,
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a speaker's efficiency is typically measured with a microphone placed one meter
from the speaker. As one watt of power is delivered to the speaker, the
microphone measures the resulting volume though a decibel level meter. The
output level that results is the speaker's efficiency rating.
Speakers range in efficiency or sensitivity from about 85dB (very inefficient)
up to 105dB (very efficient). To compare, a speaker with an 85 dB efficiency
rating will take twice the amplifier power to reach the same volume as a speaker
with 88 dB efficiency. Similarly, a speaker with an 88 dB efficiency rating will
require ten times more power than a speaker with a 98 dB efficiency rating to
play at the same volume. If you're starting with a 100 watt/channel receiver,
you would need 1000 watts (!) of power to double the perceived volume level.
However, for high performance High Fidelity (Hi-Fi) type audio systems, the
frequency response of the sound is split up into different smaller sub-
frequencies thereby improving both the loudspeakers efficiency and overall
sound quality as follows:
Generalized Frequency Ranges:
Descriptive Unit Frequency Range
Sub-Woofer 10Hz to 100Hz
Bass 20Hz to 3kHz
Mid-Range 1kHz to 10kHz
Tweeter 3kHz to 30kHz
In multi speaker enclosures which have a separate Woofer, Tweeter and Mid-
range speakers housed together within a single enclosure, a passive or active
“crossover” network is used to ensure that the audio signal is accurately split
and reproduced by all the different sub-speakers.
This crossover network consists of Resistors, Inductors, Capacitors, RLC type
passive filters or op-amp active filters whose crossover or cut-off frequency
point is finely tuned to that of the individual loudspeakers characteristics and
an example of a multi-speaker “Hi-fi” type design is given below.
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Figure.16.7
16.6 List the types of headphones:
Moving coil type headphone
magnetic type headphones
16.7 Explain the characteristics of moving coil type headphone:
A moving-coil dynamic headphone is defined by its moving-coil driver. It acts
as a transducer, converting audio signals (electrical energy) into sound waves
(mechanical wave energy) with electromagnetism. These HPs produce sound
via conductive coils that move diaphragms in reaction to audio signals.
High quality headphones as used for listening to stereo are moving-coil
(dynamic) types with, in a typical case, a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20
kHz and an impedance of 8Ω per earphone.
Figure.16.8
16.8 State the operation of a magnetic type headphone:
MAGNETIC TYPE HEADPHONES:
Headphones for general use, e.g. mono listening, work on a different principle;
they have a higher impedance, e.g. 1 kΩ per ear-phone, and a smaller frequency
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Text Book of IT-125 Principles of Electricity and Electronics
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response, e.g. 30 Hz to 15 kHz. Their action can be explained from Figure.
Current passes through the coils of an electromagnet and attracts the iron
diaphragm more, or less, depending on the value of the cur-rent. As a result the
diaphragm vibrates and produces sound.
Figure.16.9
16.9 Describe the construction and working of a telephone
handset receiver:
TELEPHONE HANDSET RECEIVER:
The construction of the latest telephone handset receiver, called the ‘rocking
armature’ type, is shown in Figure.
Figure.16.10
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(An armature is a piece of iron which is made to move by an electromagnet.)
The coils are wound in opposite directions on the two S poles of the magnet so
that if the current goes round one in a clockwise direction, it goes round the
other anticlockwise. Current in one direction therefore makes one S pole
stronger and the other weaker so causing the iron armature to rock on its pivot
towards the stronger S pole. When the current reverses, the S pole which was
the stronger before will now be the weaker and the armature rocks the other
way. These movements of the armature are passed on to the aluminum
diaphragm, making it vibrate and produce sound of the same frequency as the
a.c. speech current in the coil.
16.10 State the types, principle and uses of earpiece:
Types of earpiece:
Moving-coil type earpiece
Crystal type earpiece
Earpieces like that are used in deaf aids and transistor radios. The magnetic type
works on the moving-coil principle and has an impedance of 8 Ω.The crystal
type depends on the reverse piezoelectric effect and has an impedance of several
mega ohms.
Principle of earpiece:
Moving coli earpieces or earphone or ear buds works on the same principle as
moving coil loudspeaker i.e. of electromagnetic instruction
The main part of earpieces are shown in figure.
Figure.16.1
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Back case: holds everything together. The wires run up through a hole at
the bottom.
Front case: This is the part that faces into your ear. Sometimes it's covered
with a little fabric pouch to keep it clean.
Seal: This rubbery circle clips the front case to the back case, holding the
two together.
Wires: Carry signals from the stereo to the speaker.
Magnet: The permanent magnet at the back of the speaker. This is the
heaviest part of an ear bud and makes up the vast majority of its weight.
Coil: This becomes an electromagnet when electricity flows through it.
Transparent plastic cone: This makes the sound when it moves.
Uses of earpiece:
An earpiece is the part of a device that is placed against or inserted into the
outer opening of the ear. Telephone receivers, hearing aids, stethoscopes, MP3
players, phones and many more devices all make the use of the earpiece.
EXERCISE # 16
PART-A
Encircle the correct answer.
1. A loudspeaker is a transducer which convert electrical signal into
(a) Light (b) Sound
(c) Heat (d) Air
2. The audio frequency range is
(a) 20 Hz to 20 kHz (b) 200 Hz to 20 kHz
(c) 20 Sec. to 200 Sec. (d) 20 mA to 20 A
3. One of the important property of headphone is
(a) Size (b) colour
(c) Impedance (d) wiring
4. Moving coil type loudspeaker works on
(a) Faraday’s law (b) Ohm law
(c) Newton law (d) joule’ law
5. Crystal loudspeaker works on
(a) Thomason effect (b) seebeck effect
(c) crystal effect (d) piezoelectric effect
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6. Crystal loudspeaker works on
(a) Thomason effect (b) seebeck effect
(c) Crystal effect (d) piezoelectric effect
7. The human ear responses to vibrations ranging from
(a) 20 KHz – 20 MHz (b) 2 KHz – 20 MHz
(c) 20 Hz – 20 KHz (d) 2 Hz – 2 KHz
8. The Speaker efficiency is also known as speaker’
(a) quality (b) deficiency
(c) sensitivity (d) accuracy
9. Loudspeaker efficiency is defined as the sound power output divided by
(a) the electrical power input (b) the chemical power input
(c) the heat power input (d) the inductive power input
10. The efficiency of a loudspeaker can be improved by
(a) Signal matching (b) impedance matching
(c) color matching (d) size matching
11. The coil of the moving coil headphone becomes
(a) permanent magnet (b) S-type magent
(c) N-type magnet (d) electromagnet
12. The armature of telephone receiver is a piece of
(a) magnet (b) plastic
(c) iron (d) coil
13. The diaphragm of telephone receiver is a made of
(a) rubber (b) aluminum
(c) paper (d) Teflon
14. The nominal impedance of a loudspeaker is measured at
(a) 0 Hz (b) 20 kHz
(c) 200 Hz (d) 20 Hz
15. Which one of the following is not the important property of loudspeaker
(a) impedance (b) frequency response
(c) power rating (d) diaphragm size
ANSWER KEY.
1. b 2. a 3. c 4. a 5. d
6. d 7. c 8. c 9. a 10. b
11. d 12. c 13. b 14. a 15. d
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PART-B
Give the short answer of the following questions:
1. Define a loudspeaker.
2. Define headphones.
3. Define earpiece.
4. Write three main properties of loudspeaker.
5. How does a loudspeaker work?
6. What is loudspeaker impedance?
7. What is frequency response?
8. Enlist the parts of moving coil loudspeaker.
9. Draw the diagram of moving coil loudspeaker.
10. State the working of a crystal type loudspeaker.
11. Draw the diagram of crystal type loudspeaker.
12. Define the efficiency of a loudspeaker.
13. Enlist the types of headphones.
14. State the characteristics of moving coil headphones.
15. State the working of magnetic headphone.
16. Draw the diagram of magnetic type headphones.
17. Write the working of telephone handset receiver.
18. Draw the simple construction of telephone handset receiver.
19. State the working of earpiece.
20. Write the uses of earpiece.
PART-C
Give the detailed answer of the following questions:
1. Describe the function of a moving coil type loudspeaker in detail.
2. Explain the working of a crystal type loudspeaker.
3. Describe the efficiency of a loudspeaker with an example.
4. Explain the characteristics of moving coil type headphone.
5. Describe the construction and working of a telephone handset receiver.
6. Describe the types, principle and uses of earpiece.
PART-D
Solve The Problems:
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