CD players and some modern amplifiers work with high-quality digital sound,
but loudspeakers are still analogue, using a continuously varying voltage rather
than digital pulses to generate sound. In EP 810 810, Sony describes a
loudspeaker that is driven be a digital signal. Like most speakers, it has a
coil which moves to and fro in a magnetic field to pump a piston, creating sound
waves. But the coil is divided into 16 sub-coils, each fed by one of the 16 bits
of coded information. Normally, this would require 32 wires, but Sony gets rid
of the spaghetti by using a multi-coiled transformer to transmit to the
coil.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Australia’s social media ban faces high court challenge
News
Technology
The nuclear waste repository in Finland designed to outlast modern civilisation
Features
Technology
How did the biggest crypto heist in history just happen?
News
Technology
Plant biology provides inspiration for PFAS replacement
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles