Theory and Research

Bass-reflex technology

I wanted to improve the bass tones that would be output through the speaker in order to give a better overall sound quality. In my research into this I came across a series of articles on bass-reflex technology and how this can help.

The main principle of bass reflex is to cut a hole in the front of the speaker where a tube, known as a resonator, is placed. The air that is then moved from the vibrations behind the drivers is sent through the bass reflex port which will resonate and cause the low frequencies to be amplified.

This type of speaker design is often more efficient in terms of amplifying base frequencies compared to a sealed enclosure model.

Speaker grills

When building a speaker, a grill is often used to cover the drivers. the driver cones are fairly thin and can be prone to contact when held, which may cause dents and damage to the face. This causes interference and deterioration to the audio quality. The grill acts as a barrier between the cones to defend them.

Fabric covers

Frequently cloth fabric will also be used as a replacement for the grill or even as a part of a speaker grill. The fabric is a type of cloth that allows the transmission of sound to pass through whilst keeping dust and other contaminants from covering the drivers. As well as this it can provide certain aesthetics to the product. When using fabric on speakers it must be taut, as any slack can warp the sound waves deteriorating the sound quality.

Form

The shape of a speaker can have a different effect on the sound that it produces. A box shaped speaker works best when facing the user as the drivers are usually on one side, whereas speakers that are cylindrical are better to be placed in the centre of a room as they can produce sound 360 degrees which fills the room. For the best quality with cylindrical speakers, they are intended to be placed vertically upright.

References