In a speaker, you need a magnet, whether a permanent or a temporary one. The magnet helps to create vibration in the speaker and produce sound.
Everyone must have a speaker in their homes. I remember being a curious kid roaming around in my house, opening up my toys or other electronics. I always wondered why they put magnets in these speakers and toys. Well, I got my answers.
Have you ever opened up a speaker and got curious why there is a magnet in there? What do they do and their significance in speakers? This article will feed your curiosity and tell you why speakers have magnets? What phenomena are used? And how do they work? Before buying a new speaker, you should know these concepts.
Why Do Speaker Have Magnets
The speaker you use to magnify the sound and enjoy your loud music uses electromagnetic induction to amplify the sound. For this purpose, speakers use magnets. Now, if you wonder what electromagnetic induction is? Electromagnetic induction is a phenomenon in which a conductor is introduced in a magnetic field to create a current. To make the sound amplify and use this phenomenon, the speaker’s structure also plays a vital role. They are designed in a way that makes everything work in harmony.
Structure of Speaker
The speaker has the main essential parts that are cone, coil, and magnet, that’s why the structure of speaker matters, whether it’s a top rated bookshelf speaker or a cheap Bluetooth speaker.. The cone is the focal point of the speaker, which amplifies the sound. The bigger the cone surface area is, the greater the sound will be. The whole function of a magnet is to make the diaphragm of the cone vibrate. As we know that sound is produced by vibration. Right? Once the cone vibrates the speaker’s work. Behind the cone is a coil; the coil is connected to the cone, and then comes the magnet. That’s the whole simple structure of the speakers.
How Are Magnets Used In Speakers
Let’s discuss how the magnets are brought into work by speakers. The speakers are provided with an electric current that passes through the coil. The current through the coil flows in an alternating direction. When the current passes through the coil due to its continuous alternating direction, it produces an electric current. The permanent magnet is placed in between the coil while the coil is attached to the cone.
Now, the coil and permanent magnet poles both produce a field around themselves and experience interaction. When the current flows from the positive to the coil’s negative end, the magnet and coil poles are opposite and experience attraction. However, when the current is reversed in the coil, the poles are inverted as well, which causes repulsion.
This attraction and repulsion fluctuation make the diaphragm move back and forth. The back and forth motion of the cone creates vibration, and the vibration is the cause of sound production, and that’s how with the electric current and the magnetic field of a permanent magnet, the speakers work.
Different Types Of Magnets
Different speakers use different permanent magnets. The nature of the magnets results in different tones. That’s why different magnets are used to achieve the desired results in the speaker’s sound and tone production. The variety of magnets used in speakers are as follow:
Neodymium
Neodymium is a permanent magnet made up of a rare earth element. It is known for its strongest magnetic power. That’s why Neodymium magnets are widely chosen for the speakers to have a good frequency of sound. Due to its great magnetic power, you can even use a small size of it in your speaker to give the perfect results. Besides quality sound, the speaker will also be light and compact too. With a Neodymium magnet in your speaker, you will find excellent tone quality and frequency response. Moreover, the only flaw you will find in this magnet is that it breaks easily.
Alnico
Alnico magnets were the most common and original magnets used in the speaker. It is an alloy of aluminum (al), nickel (ni), cobalt (co). And got its name out of the initials of its material. Alnico magnets are strongest in terms of durability. They are the toughest magnets, but they get demagnetized easily. The Alnico magnet is known for its classical tone production. However, it is comparatively expensive than other magnets.
Ferrite Magnets
Ferrite is a ceramic magnet with strong magnetic power. Which makes it a competition for Neodymium magnets. Ferrite magnets are cheaper in cost and are resistant to corrosion that is why they are used in speakers intended to be used in marine life. This magnet does not lose its magnetization even at high temperatures. All in all, the ferrite magnet has all good qualities that is why it is also used widely. The only drawback that you find in ferrite magnet is that it is heavy in weight so it is no match for a light and compact speaker. The speakers will be bulky and heavy in size with a ferrite magnet.
FAQs
Which type of magnet is widely used in speakers?
Speakers use Neodymium magnets which are made up of neodymium. It is a widely used permanent magnet known for its strong magnetic powers. It can be easily magnetized and demagnetized. Small in size but highly effective in work.
Can a speaker work without a magnet?
Yes, a speaker can work without a magnet. We have certain speakers in the market designed without a permanent magnet. They use double coils. One of them is attached to the cone and provided with the directed electric supply, while the other coil is mounted in a fixed position and works like a magnet.
Does a bigger magnet mean a better speaker?
The bigger magnet does not specifically mean a better speaker. Although the forces will be stronger and will produce a louder voice, you can also achieve that with a smaller magnet as well. Primarily, the strength of the magnets matters, not size. A small magnet with strong magnetic power can be a better speaker as well.
What happens if you put a magnet on a speaker?
The magnet attracts the things near it and aligns their particles in its magnetic field. If we place a stronger magnet near the speaker, it will disturb the magnetic field’s alignment inside the speaker and distort the sound. That’s why do not bring a strong magnet near your speaker.
Summarizing It Up
In short, the magnet is an essential part of the speaker. It makes all the mechanics work in a speaker. For the physics of sound, all sounds are due to vibration, and to make it possible in a speaker, you need a magnet, whether a permanent magnet or a temporary magnet.
