When you discuss speakers, you are bound to hear about the bass, the treble, depth of the sound, the material used, etc. If you are looking to buy a new set of speakers for your home audio system or car system, you may check the output, size, power, and a few other factors. Did you know those speakers you are looking at have magnets in them?
Well, OK, not all speakers use magnets in them, but if you look at the good loud-speakers that produce impressive sound quality, you are bound to find magnets in them. These magnets play a big role in producing that sound effect, influencing many to choose a particular set of speakers.
Speakers Explained
First, in order to understand the role of a magnet in a speaker, we need to understand the various components of a speaker. Only then can we understand where these magnets are placed and how they help.
A Typical Speaker Includes
- Cone
- Coil
- Permanent magnet
Most speakers use the permanent magnet to facilitate magnetic interactions within the speakers and their various components. When you switch on a music system or a speaker, audio is not fed into these speakers that come out amplified. It is electrical signals converted into audio that you hear loud and clear.
Though these speakers look small, they produce a lot of noise when compared to their sizes. This is possible due to some technical breakthrough and conversion of energy that takes place within those speakers.
Do you know how many car riders have knowledge of speaker magnets? If you ever sit too close to a speaker and have some metal objects on you, you will notice a magnetic field. Yes, magnets are used in speakers to help produce sounds.
Why Magnets In Speakers?
A magnet is an essential part of a good quality loudspeaker system. The magnet helps convert the electricity and audio signals into varying audio sounds. Loudspeakers require a magnetic field to convert the audio signals into sounds.
Speaker drivers convert the audio signals into diaphragm movements with the help of electromagnetism. The magnetic field created by the magnets in the speaker helps produce sounds when you plugin that system and flip the switch on.
Loudspeaker Driver
A loudspeaker driver is a vital transducer element that successfully converts the audio signals into sounds you can hear. These drivers have magnets permanently fixed in them. When an audio signal is passed through this driver, these magnets will interact with the magnetic field, which the speakers in the diaphragm create.
Conductor
A speaker’s diaphragm can either be made from a conductive material or attached to one. When you switch on the music system and electricity passes through this conductor, a coinciding magnetic field is produced, both in and around the conductor.
When voltage is passed across the conductor in a changing magnetic field, it results in electromagnetic induction. The changing magnetic field also produces a voltage across the electrical conductor.Â
Coil
A varying magnetic field is produced by sending alternative current through the conductor. This field is produced around the conductor.
By placing this coil within the proximity of a magnet, two magnetic fields are created and allowed to interact. This will cause the magnet and the conductor to attract and repel each other, thus resulting in vibrations and movements causing sound waves.
What Does The Magnet Do?
When you turn on a music system, the electric current passes through the system’s amplifier. When it passes through the amplifier, the current changes and produces a magnetic field.
If you have noticed, the panel of a speaker moves when sound comes from it. To make this panel move, an opposite magnetic field is created using magnets in the speaker. The movement of these panels is nothing but vibrations caused by both these opposing magnetic fields.
The vibrations are what produce the sounds that you hear from the speakers. The larger the magnetic field, the bigger is the sound produced. This is why some speakers are fitted with big magnets. The sound produced by the speaker is directly proportional to the size of the magnets used in them.
Kinds Of Magnets Used
So, what type of magnets is used in loudspeakers to get such good quality sounds? Does the type play a role in the sound output you hear from the speakers?
In the majority of the high-end speakers, Neodymium – a rare earth magnet is used. These are the strongest type available when it comes to permanent magnets. These are the standard magnets used in high-quality loudspeakers, headphones, and even microphones. These magnets help deliver better sound than others.
A coat of resilient plastic or nickel is used to enhance their performance further. This will reduce corrosion and increase the life of the magnets and, in turn, the device itself.
Some of the other magnets commonly in use are:
- Alnico
- Ceramic
Different magnetic materials used will impact the speakers and your music.
Are Magnets Necessary In Speakers?
So, are these magnets necessary in speakers? Yes, they are very important. It is these magnets that make or break a speaker. You rate speakers based on the sound output, and the output is directly influenced by the magnetic fields the magnets produce.
As mentioned above, two magnetic fields work together to produce sounds. Two magnets are used to create these magnetic fields. Of the two magnets, at least one of the magnets must be electromagnetic and the other can be normal.
Generally, one permanent magnet and one electromagnetic magnet are used in speakers to get the best possible outcome. These magnetic signals are then converted into audible sounds. These audible sounds are created by mechanical vibrations of the various components of the speaker.
Conclusion
A lot goes on inside a speaker to produce those impactful sounds you enjoy in your car or otherwise. The magnets have a key role in determining the quality of the speakers.
The better the magnetic fields these magnets create, the better is your sound output. Though speakers without such magnets still exist, magnets have become an integral component of any good quality speaker, especially loudspeakers.
