Loudspeaker failure modes and error correction techniques

Electronic audio reproduction has undergone significant technological advan cements over the past few decades. With the increased quality of the audio reproduction chain for consumer use (from recording up to reproduction) mai nly due to the application of digital techniques, the loudspeaker as a fina l element has become the weakest link in the audio reproduction chain. Digi tal techniques everywhere improve the handling of audio signals. But at the end of the chain it is an analog system that radiates sound. At low freque ncies electrodynaniic loudspeakers produce nonlinear distortion that defeat s the expectations of high fidelity reproduction. Digital transducers must be developed but at present no alternatives compete successfully with the e fficiency, weight and cost of the conventional loudspeakers. In site of its long life and efforts made to improve its performance the loudspeaker does fail in certain cases, which ultimately leads to loudspeaker damage. The m ost common loudspeaker failure modes, their effects on the physical nature and acoustical output and a few techniques to reduce them are discussed, wh ich enables the user to take care and hence prevent speaker damage at high power inputs. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.