High-quality acoustics today is not only an indicator of financial well-being, but also a convincing sign of intelligibility in technology and the presence of good taste. The music market every year offers more and more new and improved models, and it is sometimes very difficult to find something suitable for yourself.
Of course, to listen to your favorite music you can use the “grandfather gramophone”, but it is unlikely that it will give the volume, clarity and palette of sound that high-quality acoustics can convey. Which systems are ideal for home and which for cars?
How it all began
The first sound and playback devices appeared at the end of the 19th century. They worked not from electricity, but mechanically. A vivid example of this was the Edison phonograph (1877), which recorded sound using the movement of a needle paired with a membrane. The movement took place on a drum covered with wax or foil. Then the needle moved along the already drawn path. So the sound was reproduced.
The phonograph was replaced by a phonograph. The principle of operation remained the same, only a varnished disc was used instead of a drum. Gramophones, and then gramophones gradually spread around the world.
Breakthrough
The issue of using electricity for sound reproduction remained open. As early as 1824, Ernst Siemens (creator of the same company) proposed a description of the apparatus, where a special coil with a winding moves under the influence of an electric current, and its vibrations reproduce sound. However, the invention remained in theory until 1915. So far, these developments have not been picked up by the engineers of the company Bell (the inventor of the phone). Soon, city streets were decorated with horn loudspeakers. But their range was low.
A real breakthrough in acoustics was the electrodynamic emitter from the American company General Electric. In it, the diaphragm worked in a range significantly higher than its frequency. The device was used for Radiola Model 104 loudspeakers and Radiola 28 radios. In 1927, sound quality improved due to the introduction of a permanent magnet into the loudspeaker head design. Since then, a lot of changes have occurred in the speaker systems, but the principle of operation has remained the same.
Emitter
Modern speakers are designed to reproduce sound and consist of acoustic design and built-in speaker. By the number of speakers, single-band and multi-band devices are distinguished. Creating a radiator that clearly reproduces sounds of different frequencies is quite difficult, so single-band systems are not widespread.
In multiband devices, audio frequencies are divided into several ranges overlapping. Each range has its own dynamic head. Such a device explains high-quality acoustics.
Speaker Classification
All speakers are divided into active and passive (for connecting to an amplifier), shelf and floor (in size), budget, Hi-Fi, High-End-class (cost).
The passive acoustics device includes an emitter and a crossover, an external amplifier. Active supplemented by a built-in power amplifier. The built-in amplifier saves money, because there is no need to purchase a separate installation. However, if the speaker system is installed at a certain height, the maintenance of the amplifier is difficult. In powerful acoustic systems, amplifiers are installed in each device, and this requires two power supplies. Accordingly, the cost of the device increases.
Taking into account all the subtleties of the device, the use of active speakers is advisable for personal computers, in studio monitors and sounding discos and small concert venues.
All-weather acoustics systems fall into a separate category. They work in extreme conditions, with sudden changes in temperature. As well as systems of the Lifestyle class, combining exclusive design and high-quality sound.
Acoustic design
The design of the speaker systems is represented by several options. It can be a closed or open box. The latter includes acoustic screens or shields, as well as the so-called “active building”. Maybe the design of Jensen-Onken, and a shout, and Push-pull, and a system with a maze. In addition, an “acoustic lens” or Helmholtz resonator can be used.
Material
In choosing a speaker system, in addition to technical characteristics, the material from which the device is made is also important. Because it also affects the sound quality and the cost of the system. The speaker housing is usually made of wood, plastic and metal. In other words, the “body” of the column must be rigid in order to absorb / reflect sound waves of a certain power, frequency.
For budget options use plastic. Speakers of various shapes are quite practical, often used for personal computers. However, plastic has one minus. It rattles from high sound pressure (volume). Although there are speaker models whose case is made of multilayer plastic, more resistant to high sound power.
Lightness, good density and rigidity are possessed by metal cases of acoustic speakers, or rather, they are made of aluminum alloys. Aluminum itself reduces resonance and improves sound transmission. The “volatile metal” is protected from oxidation by a special colorless film. Such devices can be used as all-weather.
But the highest quality acoustics has a wooden case. Ideally, a tree is chosen before being cut down, then the period is kept until it dries naturally. The manufacturing and processing itself is almost entirely manual. Material is not always available, therefore, they often use multilayer plywood, MDF, particleboard. The material has excellent characteristics: it does not carry overtones, absorbs sound vibrations, has mechanical rigidity, etc. Separation and absorption of moisture prevent staining or veneering.
Some manufacturers use non-standard materials. For example, Waterfall creates glass speaker enclosures.
Speakers for home
Choosing a speaker system can enter into a stupor of everyone. And the point is not even in quality and price, but in the variety of manufacturers and models. High-quality acoustics for the home is selected according to the following algorithm:
- To begin with, it is worth deciding what appearance and size the acoustics system should have. Appearance depends on personal taste, and the dimensions should correspond to the room where the device will be located.
- Bearing in mind the dimensions of the speakers, one should also consider their acoustic properties of the case and speaker. Sometimes medium-sized systems are very powerful, which is unsuitable for a small room.
- High-quality acoustics has a wooden case, but you should give a chance to other materials. Their properties can also "enrich" the sound.
- The technical passport also matters . It sets out in detail important indicators: loudspeaker sensitivity (ideally from 90 dB), frequency range (20 Hz – 20 kHz), number of bands (two or three), speaker resistance (4.6-8 ohms) and electric power (for home) 50-100 watts).
- And finally, checking the selected system. In this case, the amplifier should not have a multi-band equalizer, but only a tone control. Sometimes sales consultants are tricky in using an amplifier.
- Music is also important for high-quality acoustics. The sound source must be a CD / DVD player, and the brand disc (CD-format). High-quality music to test acoustics should sound equally good at different volume levels.
Speakers for cars
High-quality acoustics in the car - no less sensitive issue. There are many producers and advertisements, but how to choose the right one? Of course, it is right to rely on your own musical preferences: the natural strength of sound or the dominance of bass. But still there are general technical parameters.
- It is worth paying attention to the speakers. Preferably a rubber rather than a fabric coating.
- Installation In the front of the car, a diluted acoustics with alkaline tweeters (tweeters) is installed. They provide a soft, even sound. Behind the cabin is also installed acoustics (17-20 cm). Front speakers reproduce high and medium frequencies, rear - low frequencies.
- For the speakers you need a podium, and on the door - noise isolators.
- The last moment is high-quality music for checking acoustics. High bitrate has a CD format. Therefore, it is preferable for testing the system. In MP3 and MPEG formats, compression is applied, as a result, quality is lost.
About manufacturers
Among the companies involved in the creation of acoustic systems, one can distinguish several conscientious and time-tested. Yamaha, Microlab, Cabasse, JMLab, Piega. The German company Bell-Audio is known for the use of two-layer monolithic plastic in the manufacture of cases. They are even superior in density and rigidity to wood. Another top-notch speaker manufacturer is Gemme Audio. For its models, it uses chipboard and powerful emitters.
High-quality car acoustics are produced by firms: Focal, Infinity, hertz, Morel, Magnat, as well as the “luminaries” of Panasonic, Pioneer, Kenwood.
Do it yourself
If the budget options are not satisfactory in quality, and there is not enough money for expensive acoustics, you can try to develop and assemble the device yourself. How to make high-quality acoustics?
Pretty hard. It takes not only time and ingenuity, but also knowledge of certain programs. For example, by calculating the acoustic design, the position of the speakers on the front panel of the case and their combination for a two-, three-way system. It may take months to produce one column.