Beatrice Lang
The evolution of speakers has come a long way since the first electric speaker was invented. The first form of the loudspeaker came about with the development of telephone systems in the late 19th century. In 1861, Johann Philipp Reis, a self-taught inventor and teacher in Germany, installed an electric speaker on his telephone, which could reproduce clear tones and muffled speech. However, it was Alexander Graham Bell who patented the first electric loudspeaker capable of reproducing intelligible speech in 1876 as part of his telephone. Over the years, several inventors and companies have contributed to the development of the modern speaker, with improvements in sound quality, size, and compatibility with various devices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of invention | 1861 |
| Inventor | Johann Philipp Reis |
| Country | Germany |
| Occupation | Teacher and self-taught inventor |
| Invention | Electric speaker |
| Installation | Telephone |
| Capabilities | Reproduced clear tones and muffled speech |
| Subsequent developments | Alexander Graham Bell's patent for an electric loudspeaker capable of reproducing intelligible speech in 1876; Ernst Siemens improved upon it in 1877; Horace Short earned a patent for a loudspeaker driven by compressed air in 1898; Oliver Lodge developed the first experimental moving coil loudspeaker in 1898; Peter L. Jensen and Edwin Pridham manufactured practical moving coil loudspeakers in 1915; Chester W. Rice and Edward W. Kellogg invented the dynamic speaker in 1925 |
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What You'll Learn
Alexander Graham Bell's 1876 patent
The first loudspeaker came about with the development of telephone systems in the late 1800s. However, it was not until 1912 that loudspeakers became practical, thanks to electronic amplification by a vacuum tube. By the 1920s, they were being used in radios, phonographs, public address systems, and theatre sound systems for talking motion pictures.
The evolution of speakers can be traced back to the first patents from Werner von Siemens and Alexander Graham Bell in the 1870s. Alexander Graham Bell, a Scottish-born Canadian-American inventor, scientist, and engineer, patented his first electric loudspeaker capable of reproducing intelligible speech in 1876 as part of his telephone.
Bell filed a patent describing his method of transmitting sounds on 14 February 1876, just hours before Elisha Gray filed a caveat (a statement of concept) on a similar method. On 7 March 1876, the US Patent Office awarded Bell what is considered to be one of the most valuable patents in history. This patent covered "the method of, and apparatus for, transmitting vocal or other sounds telegraphically... by causing electrical undulations, similar in form to the vibrations of the air accompanying the said vocal or other sound".
Three days after filing the patent, the telephone carried its first intelligible message: the famous "Mr Watson, come here, I need you" from Bell to his assistant. Bell's research on hearing and speech led him to experiment with hearing devices, which eventually culminated in his being awarded the first US patent for the telephone.
The history of speakers and microphones is closely linked to the history of electronics, especially telecommunications. Engineers working on speakers and microphones in the past were primarily electronic engineers.
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Early developments by Siemens
The first form of loudspeaker was developed in the late 1800s, alongside the invention of the telephone. Alexander Graham Bell patented his first electric loudspeaker, capable of reproducing intelligible speech, in 1876. The following year, in 1877, Ernst Siemens improved upon Bell's design.
Siemens' early developments in speaker technology were based on the work of Alexander Graham Bell and Johann Philipp Reis. Siemens theorised the idea of an electromagnetic coil-driven speaker, which could be used with input signals of DC transients and telegraphic signals. However, he had no way of amplifying the sound to create a useful speaker, but he predicted that this would be possible in the future.
Siemens' work in the late 1800s was foundational for the development of the first practical speakers in the early 1900s. In 1912, loudspeakers became practical due to electronic amplification by a vacuum tube. By the 1920s, loudspeakers were being used in radios, phonographs, public address systems, and theater sound systems for talking motion pictures.
The first practical moving-coil (dynamic) loudspeakers were made by Peter L. Jensen and Edwin Pridham in 1915 in Napa, California. Their product, called Magnavox, used horns to amplify the sound produced by a small diaphragm.
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The first practical speakers
The first form of loudspeaker was developed in the late 1800s when telephone systems were first being created. However, these early speakers were not practical. In 1861, Johann Philipp Reis, a teacher and self-taught inventor from Friedrichsdorf, Germany, installed an electric speaker on his telephone. It was able to reproduce clear tones and, after some revisions, muffled speech.
In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell patented his first electric loudspeaker, which was capable of reproducing intelligible speech as part of his telephone. This was followed by an improved version in 1877. In 1898, Horace Short earned a patent for a loudspeaker driven by compressed air, but this design had poor sound quality and could not reproduce low-volume sound.
The first practical moving-coil (dynamic) loudspeakers were made by Peter L. Jensen and Edwin Pridham in 1915 in Napa, California. Their design used horns to amplify the sound produced by a small diaphragm. However, Jensen and Pridham were unable to obtain a patent, so they switched their target market to radios and public address systems, naming their product Magnavox.
In 1916, Bell Labs introduced the first electronic vacuum tube amplifier, which made the true loudspeaker possible. By 1921, these speakers were fine for public address systems, but the sound quality wasn't good enough for motion pictures. In 1924, the first commercial electric loudspeaker was introduced, using an electromagnet to drive a large paper cone that reproduced the original sound.
In 1925, Edward W. Kellogg and Chester W. Rice of General Electric and AT&T, respectively, created the first dynamic speaker, which was the first commercial product of its kind. They called it the Radiola Loudspeaker #104.
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Improvements by Rice and Kellogg
The dynamic speaker was invented in 1925 by Edward W. Kellogg of AT&T and Chester W. Rice of General Electric. The pair developed the modern speaker and the first electric amplification system, creating a working prototype in 1921.
Rice and Kellogg's work solved the final problems that led to a crisp sound. They fully understood the reproduction of all the frequencies necessary to create an accurate audio sound. Their prototype had a dynamic range of frequencies and the ability to increase loudness.
The Rice/Kellogg electro-dynamic speaker design was licensed to RCA, which incorporated it into its successful Radiola line of AC-powered radios. In their research, Rice and Kellogg suggested a lightweight (paper) conical diaphragm attached to a coil of wire that was energised by a large magnet structure. This was an electromagnet, an affordable alternative to the great expense of large permanent magnets at the time.
Beyond describing a new type of transducer, the pair laid out many of the basic tenets of loudspeaker design. They detailed the importance of the baffle in preventing the "circulation" of sound from the speaker's forward and backward motion. They also discussed the need for more powerful amplifiers to provide adequate headroom for quality reproduction.
Rice and Kellogg's amplifier design was important in boosting the power transmitted to loudspeakers. Their work also led to the first commercial product of its kind, the Radiola Loudspeaker #104.
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Modern applications
Speakers have become an integral part of our lives, with applications across various domains. They are found in home entertainment systems, computers, and even integrated into gadgets like phones. They are used in numerous settings, such as sporting events, parties, seminars, and personal spaces for studying or listening to music. The evolution of speakers has been closely tied to the development of microphones, and both have been influenced by advancements in telecommunication.
The first commercial electric loudspeaker was introduced in 1924, and since then, speakers have undergone significant transformations. The introduction of the first electronic vacuum tube amplifier by Bell Labs in 1916 paved the way for the true loudspeaker. This technology found its way into public address systems, radios, phonographs, and theater sound systems for talking motion pictures in the 1920s and 1930s. The ability to synchronize sound and pictures revolutionized the film industry.
The dynamic speaker, invented in 1925 by Edward W. Kellogg and Chester W. Rice, operates on the same principle as a dynamic microphone but in reverse, converting electrical signals into sound. This type of speaker is the most common today and is found in radios, televisions, portable audio players, computers, and electronic musical instruments. The development of the voice coil system, which uses an electromagnetic coil and diaphragm to create sound, has been a significant milestone in speaker technology.
Miniaturization is a notable trend in the speaker industry, with speakers becoming smaller, louder, and more robust. The introduction of Apple AirPods in 2016 significantly impacted the market, increasing the demand for micro-speakers and driving further size and power consumption improvements. Multiple microphones in mobile phones and true wireless stereo (TWS) connections have become standard, enhancing audio quality. MEMS (Micro-Electromechanical Systems) speakers are expected to disrupt the audio industry in the 21st century, offering miniaturization, high volume production, and reduced costs.
The applications of speakers continue to expand, with BA speakers used in hearing aids and high-end in-ear monitors for musicians. The acoustic suspension principle, developed by Edgar Villchur in 1954, improved bass response and played a crucial role in the transition to stereo recording and reproduction. The evolution of speakers has been a journey of innovation, from the first simple electronic loudspeaker by Johann Philipp Reis in 1861 to the modern dynamic speakers that shape our audio experiences today.
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Frequently asked questions
The first electric speaker capable of reproducing intelligible speech was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 as part of his telephone.
Yes, in 1861, Johann Philipp Reis installed an electric speaker on his phone, which could reproduce light tones and muffled speech.
Ernst Siemens improved upon Bell's speaker in 1877. In 1898, Horace Short earned a patent for a loudspeaker driven by compressed air.
The first commercial electric loudspeaker was introduced in 1924. It used an electromagnet to drive a large paper cone that reproduced the original sound as it vibrated under the influence of the amplified signal.
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