In a sound system (computer, stereo, CD, etc.) is the (just) current or voltage (and therefor current) modulated to create the output to the speakers? If the answer is both, what are some examples of each?
5 Answers
Prompted by a comment by @BruceAbbot (on a previous answer of mine that I deleted because it wasn't spot-on) I did some further researches and I found a reference that seems perfectly fit to answer your question.
In short: modern audio power amplifier generally have a very low output impedance (fraction of ohms) and act as (almost ideal) voltage sources. Therefore, using your terminology, they "modulate" the voltage across the speakers, which react absorbing the current needed for their operation, as their characteristics mandate.
The reference is Audio Power Amplifier Design Handbook, by Douglas Self (link to google books), under "Damping Factor" section. Excerpt:
Audio amplifiers, with a few very special exceptions, approximate to perfect voltage sources, i.e. they aspire to a zero output impedance across the audio band. The result is that amplifier output is unaffected by loading, so that the frequency-variable impedance of loudspeakers does not give an equally variable frequency response, and there is some control of speaker cone resonances.
The few exceptions cited are trasconductance power amplifier used for so-called current-driven loudspeakers, where the amplifier act like a current source and "modulates" the current into the loudspeaker, which reacts by generating a voltage across itself accordingly.
See also this EE.SE answer: How important is impedance matching in audio applications?
There are two main ways electronics can generate sound:
As Dave said, some speakers use variable current to create a variable electromagnet which moves the cone and produces sound (of course, you need some voltage to induce the current).
Another way is with a piezoelectric material. When you apply a voltage to certain materials they can mechanically change shape. By varying the voltage, you can produce vibrations, and thus sound. Again, these devices must consume some current, but this is can be small compared to the voltage.
In summary: All electronic sound sources must have current and voltage to operate because they convert electrical energy into sound (and heat) energy. The electrical power they consume is given by \$P = I V\$, where P is the power, I is the current, and V is the voltage. In piezo devices V may be quite high and I quite small, and similarly in electromagnetic devices I may be quite high and V may be relatively small. However, if either of them is 0 you get no power, and thus there can be no sound.
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1\$\begingroup\$ Common culprits of piezoelectric sound production are high-speed networking routers. You can audibly tell the kind of load on your network just by listening to them. \$\endgroup\$ Jul 28, 2015 at 3:00
Typically when you change one (voltage or current), the other will change as well (except with infinite resistance ie. open circuit or zero resistance ie. superconductors).
But speaking for speakers, most of which consist of a magnet and a big wire coil connected to a paper cone, it is the current flowing through the coil which creates the force that moves the coil and cone and produces the sound you hear.
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\$\begingroup\$ True, but within the device which it generating the signal, is the voltage modulated to create the changes within the signal's amplitude or is the voltage constant? \$\endgroup\$– HoytmanJul 27, 2015 at 18:33
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\$\begingroup\$ There is no modulation involved; modulation is a non-linear process that is not used to drive loudspeakers. A loudspeaker represents an electrical impedance to the amplifier. Therefore both the voltage across it and the current through it are representations of the audio signal. They both will change in step with the audio signal. Hopefully, if the speaker is operated in its linear region, the sound output of the speaker will also vary in step with the audio signal. \$\endgroup\$– BarryJul 27, 2015 at 20:36
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\$\begingroup\$ The amplifier 'modulates' DC voltage from the power supply to reproduce the original audio waveform at the speaker. Current drawn by the speaker is whatever flows as a result of the voltage across it. The cone of a dynamic speaker moves due to current flowing through it, but most speakers are designed to produce a sound output proportional to voltage, not current. \$\endgroup\$ Jul 27, 2015 at 20:45
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\$\begingroup\$ Ohm's law V=IR specifies that the amount of current flowing is proportional to the voltage, with R the resistance being the factor. R itself is presented by the speaker (you will typically see an 'Ohm' rating for different types), so in order to generate current through the coil you'll need to apply a voltage, and vary this voltage in time to vary the current, and thus create sound. \$\endgroup\$– robertJul 28, 2015 at 8:35
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\$\begingroup\$ Thanks Barry and Bruce, these are the answers that I was looking for. \$\endgroup\$– HoytmanJul 28, 2015 at 20:54
Many good answers, mine is short. Voltage causes current, current creates force, which in turn moves the magnet that makes sound waves. Good amplifier makes all that stuff very accurately. With good speakers you will only hear the initial signal. Otherwise all sorts of ringing may occur on each transformation.
My intuition says it's both.
I think you will get the best answer, for you, with a multimeter. Plug an old, cut-off headphone jack into something playing a song and attach the multimeter's probes to the headphone jack's wires. Look at the different detection settings. You should be able to see where the variations occur as the song plays.
Here's a link. http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/voltageloudness.html The title is The Relationship of Voltage, Loudness, Power and Decibels. There is discussion and a table showing a correlation between dB, voltage, wattage and loudness. I think it addresses the question kinda side-on because it talks about loudness rather than the sound signal, but I'm lead to believe that it will come down to the wiring of the sound system as to what's carrying the signal.
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\$\begingroup\$ Welcome to EE.SE, Ben, but you need to back up intuition with theory and practical experience. See the accepted answer (from a year ago). \$\endgroup\$ Aug 25, 2016 at 17:47
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\$\begingroup\$ A voltmeter won't tell you anything very useful about audio. The variations are too fast for you to see anything but a sluggish wandering that will barely let you tell loud from quiet, let alone tell you anything about the relationship between voltage, current, impedance, and speaker motion. \$\endgroup\$– JREAug 25, 2016 at 18:04
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\$\begingroup\$ Ben, while this setup is a viable experiment, sadly it doesn't show the answer. If you can provide evidence of this expirement working, I would highly reccoment adding it. \$\endgroup\$– user86234Aug 25, 2016 at 19:37
P=V*I
, both current and voltage must be applied to the speakers to create that power in the first place. \$\endgroup\$