best speaker enclosure design for small speakers

More than the other parameters on a datasheet, clarity may be the feature that is best observed by testing speaker samples and actually hearing each speaker’s performance. poor mechanical enclosure design (see front and back volume sections below)Įven though a speaker is loud or has a wide frequency range, it may still not produce optimal sound. Poor audio quality can be due to distortion of the speaker itself – often called THD (total harmonic distortion). Levels of <5% THD are preferred. Additional causes of distortion are (1) improper or insecure mounting (2) being overdriven, which can lead to damage (3) unwanted vibration of the acoustic mesh (if applicable) (4) sound port or front volume is too large. acoustic short circuit (see front volume design section below)ģ. Loudness and volume are also called SPL (sound pressure level). In general, speakers that are larger and have higher power ratings will produce more SPL. A speaker’s performance may not be loud enough due to several factors, includingĢ. It’s ideal to maximize the allotted space in your device to ensure that the best possible sound can be achieved. Based on the industrial design, a round, oval, or rectangular speaker can be selected. Rectangular speakers tend to be used in designs that are limited in space, especially PCB space.Ĭhallenges: The difficulties with properly designing in a speaker are often mechanical and not electrical in nature.

The “micro-speakers” referred to in this article are ≤ 13x18mm and commonly used in mobile phones. The size for all three speaker dimensions is often the first determining criteria. The smallest speakers currently on the market are approximately 13mmØ or 8x12mm. The Problem: I need a small speaker in my device, but I don’t know where to start.Ĭomponents such as buzzers or piezoelectric speakers (piezos) can produce loud sounds, but with a very limited frequency range. For playing voice, music, or a variety of tones, a speaker (or loudspeaker) should be selected. Note that there are other small “speaker” components used for near-ear or in-ear applications (e.g., phones, headsets) which include receivers and balanced armatures. These types of components are supported by Seltech, but not being considered here.

Best speaker enclosure design for small speakers