A speaker is an electro-acoustic transducer that converts electrical audio signals into audible sound waves. Its parameters are: (1) a driver type (dynamic moving-coil, planar magnetic, electrostatic, ribbon, or balanced armature) determining the transduction mechanism, (2) a diaphragm specification defining the radiating surface area, mass, and compliance, (3) a magnet or polarizing system providing the field necessary for conversion, (4) an enclosure or baffle design controlling acoustic loading and resonance, and (5) a frequency response range specifying the span of audible frequencies the speaker can reproduce within tolerance. The speaker persists as a manufactured physical artifact; its functional persistence depends on material durability of the diaphragm, magnet strength retention, and voice coil integrity. Operating lifespan is measured in hours of continuous use before mechanical fatigue or thermal degradation impairs performance. [formal: speaker | substrate: matter | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.43]
Accepted ontology entry
speaker
A speaker is an electro-acoustic transducer that converts electrical audio signals into audible sound waves. Its parameters are: (1) a driver type (dynamic moving-coil, planar magnetic, electrostatic, ribbon, or balanced armature) determin…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A speaker is a device that converts electrical audio signals into audible sound waves for reproduction. It is a human-made construct, designed and manufactured to serve the function of sound reproduction in homes, public address systems, recording studios, and countless other applications.
Names and aliases
- speakeren · CANONICAL
- loudspeakeren · ALIAS
Relations from this entry
- transducerINSTANCE_OF →
Speaker is a specific kind of transducer: it converts electrical audio signals into acoustic sound waves via electro-acoustic transduction. The accepted definition of transducer covers electro-acoustic energy conversion; a competent speaker would call a speaker a transducer.
- cmrsb393a00miollhxpcc7bkzDEPENDS_ON →
Removal test (Laws 2b/8b): remove the electrical audio signal and the speaker has no energy to transduce - it stops operating as a speaker. Not identity (the speaker is a device, the signal is a transient it consumes) and not purpose. Same accepted family as crossover DEPENDS_ON signal.
Relations to this entry
- subwoofer← INSTANCE_OF
A subwoofer is a specific kind of speaker: an electro-acoustic transducer whose driver, enclosure, and amplifier channel are dedicated to the low-frequency band. A competent speaker would call a subwoofer 'a kind of speaker.' 'loudspeaker' is not filed, so speaker is the nearest available kind - a single-rung specific->general (Law 9/11e), not a leap.
Record identity
- Created
- Sep 13, 2026, 2:29 PM UTC
- Content hash
- b288534089b975146a573616c608faf12c01316f9635ea12e8e02d3207b145ca