Abstract
SOUNDS can be divided broadly into two classes: (a) transients, with which one is mainly concerned in speech, and to a lesser extent in music; (b) continuous sounds, which pertain chiefly to instrumental music and singing. Since a transient can be represented by an infinite frequency spectrum, the ideal apparatus should be capable of reproducing the entire range from zero to infinity. Fortunately for designers, the sensitivity of the ear is limited to the range 25–20,000 cycles (according to the individual). The widest range adequately covered by a single reproducer is from 50 to 7000 cycles, but this can be extended to 12,000 cycles by an additional reproducer. The range covered by the ordinary domestic loud speaker of the moving coil variety is roughly from 40 to 5000 cycles.
Article PDF
References
Journal Frank. Inst., Sept. 1923; p. 413, 1926; and Jan. 1927: Trans. Am. I.E.E., vol. 43, p. 388, and p. 397, 1924.
"Loud Speakers" Iliffe and Sons, 1927.
Wireless World, March 30, April 13, Sept. 21, 1927; Jan. 21, 28, May 6, 13, July 29, Aug. 12, 19, 1931.
Bell Tech. Jour., January 1928.
Proc. Roy. Soc., A 122, p. 604; 1929.
Phil. Mag., p. 1011, Suppl., June 1929; vol. 11, p. 1, Jan. 1931; p. 1137, June 1931.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MCLACHLAN, N. Modern Apparatus for the Reproduction of Speech and Music. Nature 128, 517–519 (1931). https://doi.org/10.1038/128517a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/128517a0