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Loudspeaker
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Loudspeaker, speaker, or speaker system is an electromechanical transducer that converts an electrical signal to sound. The term loudspeaker can refer to individual devices (otherwise known as drivers), or to complete systems consisting of a enclosure incorporating one or more drivers and additional electronic components. Loudspeakers are the most variable elements in any audio system, and are responsible for marked audible differences between sound systems. Loudspeaker performance (i.e., their accuracy in reproducing a signal without adding distortion) is significantly worse than that of other audio equipment. For example, harmonic distortion in a typical loudspeaker can be 100 to 1000 times greater than that in amplifiers. The frequency response of a loudspeaker is often referenced as being within �3 dB of perfect linearity (though many speaker designs fall outside this range), whereas an amplifier may vary less than 0.1 dB.
To reproduce a wide range of frequencies, most loudspeaker systems require more than one driver, particularly for high sound pressure level or high fidelity applications. Individual drivers are used to cover different frequency ranges. The drivers are named subwoofers, for very low frequencies; woofers, for low frequencies; mid-range speakers, for middle frequencies; tweeters, for high frequencies; and, also, the so-called supertweeters, which are basically tweeters optimized for higher frequencies than a normal tweeter.
These terms for different speaker applications/ranges can differ widely depending on the application. Home stereos use the designation "tweeter" for high frequencies whereas professional audio systems for concerts typically designate all types of high frequency drivers simply as HF or "highs". High frequency compression driver units are also called "horns" in cases where the professional loudspeaker's lower frequency drivers are front-loaded. There is also a distinct difference in terminology between that used in the U.S. versus the U.K.
A "filter network", called a crossover separates the incoming signal into different frequency bands appropriate for each driver. A loudspeaker system with 'N' separate frequency bands is described as "N-way speakers": a 2-way system will have woofer and tweeter speakers; a 3-way system is a combination of a set of woofers, mid-range speakers, and tweeters(HF drivers).
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