ABSTRACT
Thiele-Small Parameters and Enclosure Volume Calculations 108 Digital Signal Processing in Loudspeakers 113
A loudspeaker is a transducer which converts electrical energy into acoustical energy. A loudspeaker must therefore have a diaphragm of some sort which is capable of being energized in such a way that it vibrates to produce sound waves which are recognizably similar to the original sound
from which the energizing signal was derived. To ask a vibrating plastic loudspeaker cone to reproduce the sound of, say, a violin is to ask a great deal, and it is easy to take for granted how successful the best examples have become. Continuing development and refi nement of the loudspeaker has brought about a more or less steady improvement in its general performance, but it is a sobering thought that one very rarely mistakes a sound coming from a speaker for the real sound itself, and that one nevertheless has to use these relatively imperfect devices to assess the results of one’s work. Additionally, it is easy to hear signifi cant differences between one model and another. Which is right? It is important not to tailor a sound to suit a particular favorite model. There are several principles by which loudspeakers can function, and the commonly employed ones will be briefl y discussed.
