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Types of Speakers (Besides Dynamic Speakers)


Electrostatic speakers are different from dynamic speakers, the speakers we've been currently discussing, in the fact that instead of moving the diaphragm via a magnetic field, they work by high-voltage electric fields. Often they are called capacitor speakers because they work very similarly to capacitors. Capacitor's work by being charged on two plates and then separated by an insulator, by doing so they are able to store electric charge. Electrostatic speakers work by changing the charge on the plates, which moves the diaphragm in between them, which vibrates the air and creates audible sound. Although they have excellent sound quality, the drawbacks are what causes these speakers to be very rare and odd to see in the real world. They use enormous amounts of voltage which causes them to be very expensive, and unless they are very big to allow the diaphragm to move more, they won't produce very low frequencies.
electrostatic speaker

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Another type of speaker is the moving-iron speaker, the first type of speaker ever invented. Instead of moving the voice coil like the dynamic speaker, it works by having a stationary voice coil and then having a moveable magnet that's able to vibrate the diaphragm. These are even less efficient than dynamic
picture of moving iron speaker

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A ribbon speaker uses a piece of metal in a magnetic field, and moves when an electrical signal is applied to it. Because it is small, it accelerates more, making it good for high frequencies. The magnets required often need to be very strong, thus these are costly as they often require transformers to increase the current.
Ribbon speaker

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