Plasma Loudspeakers - The Operating Principles of Loudspeakers - Part 8
LearningIn this chapter we'll discuss a not-so-widely spread category of transducers based on very amazing principles. They can make some people dream because they are freed from the mechanical stages of tra…
Piezoelectric Loudspeakers - The Operating Principles of Loudspeakers - Part 7
LearningAnother family of transducers, often put down by audiophiles, is that making use of the piezoelectric phenomenon. Sturdy and not particularly expensive, these transducers have found a place in many s…
Electrostatic Loudspeakers - The Operating Principles of Loudspeakers - Part 6
LearningAfter our previous discussion of electrodynamic speakers, we'll now move on to describing different categories of speaker transducers, starting with the equivalent of the condenser mic in the speaker…
The Enemy of the Good is Volume - How to keep excessive stage levels from ruining your band’s sound
LearningMany factors can negatively impact your band’s sound, from lack of rehearsal to bad acoustics to feedback to malfunctioning gear to burnt-out sound engineers. But perhaps the most consistent impedime…
Unique Electrodynamic Speaker Designs - The Operating Principles of Loudspeakers - Part 5
LearningIn the last article of this series dedicated to electrodynamic speakers we'll talk about some unique and interesting designs. The biggest difference with these two examples compared to previous speak…
Ribbon Speakers - The Operating Principles of Loudspeakers - Part 4
LearningIn the previous article we discussed compression drivers and acoustic horns. Today we'll focus on a technology whose patent was issued in the 1920s and widely used for microphones. However, its usabi…
Drive it Home - The Operating Principles of Loudspeakers - Part 3
LearningTo finish with this overview of the most widely used type of speaker, we'll discuss electrodynamic cone models. To improve the performance in the high frequencies, the cone is usually replaced with a…
Of Suspensions and Magnets - The Operating Principles of Loudspeakers - Part 2
LearningWe started this series by describing the cone diaphragm of an electrodynamic speaker. It obviously plays an important role in the final quality of a speaker, as the radiating element, but it's far fr…
Good Vibrations: How Speaker Cones Work - The Operating Principles of Loudspeakers - Part 1
LearningSound is possible thanks to transduction, in other words, the transformation from one form of energy into another one.
The Ears Have It! (part 3) - Frequency and sound issues with in-ear monitor systems
LearningIn the final installment of this three-part article, we’ll look at a few other key issues to consider when contemplating switching over to an in-ear monitor system.
The Ears Have It! (part 2) - The challenges of adjusting to an in-ear monitor system
LearningIn part 1, we talked about how in-ear monitors can benefit performing musicians, this time around, we'll look at some of the issues you'll face using an in-ear system.
The Ears Have It! (part 1) - Improve your band’s onstage sound with in-ear monitors
LearningBands frequently run their stage monitors super loud in order to better hear themselves singing. But in the process, they're not only increasing stage volume to unbearable levels, they're also sabota…
Distortion - Speaker specifications explained - Part 6
LearningIn this final installment regarding speaker specs, I'll address distortion. It's interesting to understand why it's a spec that's seldom specified by speaker manufacturers, unlike with amps, which al…
Sensitivity and Efficiency - Speaker specifications explained - Part 5
LearningKnowing how much power a speaker can handle doesn't tell you anything about how much SPL it can deliver.
Power Handling - Speaker specifications explained - Part 4
LearningThe notion of power is always highlighted by manufacturers and users alike. It seems to have a sort of exceptional seduction power, to the point that its actual importance gets diluted in the mental …
