Why does high volume damage speakers. And why are TVs designed with the option to go so high if it damages them
In: Technology
Speakers can be damaged by physical over exertion or heat related melting or changing shape.
The electricity from the amplifier goes into a thin wire wound in to a cylinder shape. This is an electro magnet, called a voice coil. If too much power is applied, the thin wire will heat up. This can break the wire, thereby breaking the circuit. It can also cause the cylinder to warp, which means that it no longer fits correctly in the small gap it has to fit in.
The voice coil pushes and pulls a surface that in turn moves the air.
If the surface moves too far it can tear.
TVs can go loud enough to break them selves because the program you are listening to might be quiet and the TV allows you to turn it up enough to compensate.
If you leave the volume set high but then play a louder program, it may be loud enough to damage the speaker.
Usually the user hears unpleasant distortion and turns the volume down.
It is possible for manufacturers to build systems that aim to protect the speakers. Eg, limit the voltage that goes to the speaker
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