Today it is difficult to imagine a person who would not listen to music or watch TV. Sound as such we hear from special devices (speakers), which are sometimes called speakers. Their types today can be counted quite a lot. Speaking about the main characteristics of such devices, first you need to figure out what acoustics are. This concept can apply not only to playback devices, since it has a broader interpretation.
Acoustics (sound, speaker system, playback device ): what is it in a general sense?
Initially, the term “acoustics”, until speakers and amplifiers were invented, was positioned exclusively as a set of certain parameters that described the propagation, reflection, or absorption of sound in a certain space (open, closed) and environment.
In other words, from the point of view of physics, acoustics is, roughly speaking, the behavior of sound in certain conditions.
Today, with respect to computer systems or playback devices, acoustics are commonly referred to as amplification and reproduction systems.
The main types of speakers
As for the classification of such systems, none of them can work independently. The acoustics are connected to a preliminary or main amplifier, which transmits the signal to the speakers either directly or through additional devices (equalizers, crossovers, etc.).
According to the principles of operation and connection, almost all acoustic systems can be divided into two large classes - active and passive. Passive speakers are connected directly to the amplifier, due to which the sound signal is transmitted using its own electrical circuit. Active acoustics is a system that is connected not only to the amplifier, but also to the mains. This is necessary for the operation of built-in preamplifiers (for example, located in a subwoofer).
In subclasses you can find such types of systems as:
- floor;
- Ceiling
- central signaling;
- bass reflex;
- bipolar;
- acoustic labyrinth systems;
- speakers with built-in passive emitters;
- contrapertural, etc.
Separately distinguish columns of open and closed type.
Home acoustics
If we talk about which systems are used at home, for the most part it is either passive acoustics with a direct connection to amplifiers, or active home theater systems connected to DVD- or Blu-ray-players.
As the simplest example of passive speakers (loudspeakers), one can recall, if anyone remembers, the Radiotehnika S series models, which simply connected to the amplifier without using power. They were able to produce only a stereo signal or something like a pseudo-quad when connecting not two, but four speakers.
Active home theater systems mainly use the Dolby Surround and Digital Audio standards, and may vary in the number of additional speakers (5 + 1, 7 + 1). In this designation, the unit corresponds to the subwoofer, and the first digits indicate the number of speakers (several front, rear and side).
But all home systems can reproduce sound in the range from 16-20 Hz to 18-20 kHz (less often - up to 22-24 kHz, which the human ear almost does not perceive), and they consist of three types of speakers - low-, medium- and high-frequency with different variations in quantity. Each speaker (diffuser) receives a signal of a strictly defined frequency (sometimes crossovers are used to separate the main signal), which makes it possible to achieve such a sound that the frequencies do not mix (do not overlap).
Computer acoustics
Computer speakers are somewhat reminiscent of home speakers. But in this case, both the simplest speakers with limited sound ranges can be used, as well as entire professional systems like those used in home theaters.
True, it all depends on the sound card. It affects reproduction in a paramount way.
Professional systems
But professional acoustics is already serious. It is mainly used in recording studios or at concerts. These include studio or concert monitors, guitar “combos” and entire sound portals. For the most part, such systems are controlled either on the devices themselves (almost all of them are equipped with preamps), or through a central mixing console, on which the instruments are reduced in volume or panorama, not to mention the use of additional effects for processing the primary signal.
In terms of concert portals, Marshall and JBL can be called giants. But what’s interesting: these manufacturers still prefer to use tube amplifiers instead of semiconductor amplifiers, since they have more power and provide a warmer analog sound.
If you recall the biggest in history of rock concert of 1991 Monsters Of Rock in Moscow, which took place on the airfield in Tushino, the exposed power of the sound portals amounted to about 600 kW in total. The performances of EST, The Black Crowes, Pantera, Metallica and AC / DC could be heard even in the subway three kilometers from the field. You can imagine what was happening in front of the stage.
As for monitors, any artist will tell you that they serve to hear the overall sound on stage without delay. The main portal is in front, and the performer only perceives the reflected signal, because of which it may simply not fall into time.
But guitarists with the advent of "combos" were much luckier. The fact is that professional acoustics of this type allows you to independently adjust the sound quality or additional effects when connected to guitar processors or “lotions”, and it is such a signal that will be transmitted to the main amplifiers with output to the portal or to the input of a recording studio device. And almost all the world leaders in the manufacture of guitar instruments produce their own models.
Total
Thus, acoustics is not only a description of physical processes or just columns. In the case of sound reproduction and processing systems, one can speak of complex complexes that provide not only sound, but also make it possible to control all processes, including processing or amplification of the audio signal.