Plasma arc loudspeaker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A plasma arc loudspeaker or plasma-dynamic loudspeaker is a loudspeaker that creates sound by varying air pressure through a corona discharge or electric arc. It is an evolution of William Duddell's "singing arc" of 1900 and modern research into spacecraft propulsion in the form of the ion thruster.
It is claimed to be an advance on traditional loudspeaker designs because the driver has very little mass, and so low inertia, reducing distortion. Because of their inability to move large volumes of air, they are limited to reproducing only very high frequencies, and are therefore used only as tweeters. To date, these claims of reduced distortion have not been substantiated.
The operation of the speaker requires a continuous supply of helium gas; with the attendant problems of handling heavy cylinders, and the by-product production of ozone can reach hazardous levels in closed rooms. Due to their high cost, limited range, and limited utility, they are rarely used in modern loudspeaker equipment, and are instead considered a novelty, perhaps with desirable aesthetic characteristics.
[edit] External links
- "The Audio Circuit" In the upper right all brands which manufacture(d) ionic loudspeakers.
- "Plasma-Dynamic Speaker"
- A loudspeaker with a plasma ion tweeter
- William Du Bois Duddell and the "Singing Arc"
- The Plasma Speaker Homepage
- History
