The Thiele and Small parameters relate the speakers to this mass spring system. Or in other words, the mass hanging from the end of a spring. These parameters are named after a pair of professors who pioneered the electric-acoustic modeling of speaker enclosures.īasically, a speaker can be described as a sort of damped harmonic oscillator. The mathematics behind this transformation can be described by a set of physical specifications known as the Thiele and Small parameters. Speakers are electrical, mechanical, and acoustic devices, meaning they transduce electrical energy into mechanical vibration, which in turn creates air pressure waves (sound).
In this log we will discuss our research into the theory of speaker design. Our goal is to make the best speaker possible while allowing for portability, and keeping cost at a reasonable level.īefore going on to the actual prototyping and experimenting, it will be helpful to explain some of the theory behind speakers and subwoofer enclosures. There are tradeoffs to consider in both steps, including loudness, bass response, size, weight, cost, and many more.
#MINIATURE SPEAKER ENCLOSURE DESIGN DRIVER#
There are two main steps in building a speaker that sounds good: choosing the right driver and designing an optimal enclosure.