When Were Speakers Invented: who invented the speaker?
Speakers are a vital component of our life. We are surrounded by speakers. We can listen to music, podcasts, videos, and audio with speakers. We can convey important information from one place to another with speakers. They boost up our voice. And make the unheard heard. But do you know when were speakers invented? If you don’t know it. Then you need not to worry. In this article, I will be giving you all of the information about when and how the speakers were invented. Then what are you waiting for? Let’s start the discussion!
The Early Days: Who Invented the Speaker?
The first loudspeaker invented was way different from the modern loudspeaker. It has come through a long journey. And then it reached that modern form and structure. The journey of loudspeakers started in the 19th century. And that journey started when Johann Philipp Reis, a German inventor invented the very first loudspeaker.
The work of Johann Philipp Reis:
Johann Philipp Reis was a teacher at Friedrichsdorf, Germany. John can be considered as the right forefather of the loudspeakers. In the year 1861, Johann Philipp Reis invented a rudimentary device. This device was capable of converting electrical signals into sound. However, this was just an experiment. The device was unable to be as perfect as it needs to be. And it was able to produce only noise. But it was the first step towards the creation of the loudspeakers.
John’s device was more of a precursor to the telephone rather than a loudspeaker. After John, Alexander Graham Bell tried his luck in inventing the loudspeaker.
The Work of Alexander Graham Bell:
After John, Alexander Graham Bell worked hard to invent a real loudspeaker. In 1876, he and his assistant, Thomas Watson, worked together on the ideas of John Philip Reis. But Bell was not that good in physics and material engineering. So, he was unable to make an electrodynamic loudspeaker. But he worked on improving the Reis’s device. As a result, he invented a loud-speaking telephone.
Alexander Graham Bell succeeded in transferring the real voice from his own room to another room via that device. His device was able to convert electrical signals into audio signals. And it happened for the first time. This is why Mr Bell is considered as the real inventor of the telephone. Mr Bell’s device paved the way for future inventions like radios, TVs and home theaters etc. After Alexander Graham Bell, Mr Werner Von Siemens tried his luck in inventing the electromagnetic loud speaker.
Werner Von Siemens:
Werner Von Siemens, in 1877, made the electromagnetic coil-driven speaker. He did it with DC transient and telegraphic signal inputs. Siemens actually does not know how to amplify sound. The sound amplification is compulsory to make a functional loudspeaker. But he knows that it could be done later. And it is possible.
The time from 1877 to 1921 was barren. However, different inventors and engineers did experiment to invent the electrodynamic loudspeaker. But they were able to produce scratchy and distorted sounds only. At that time, physics and engineering were not that much developed. So, there was no method to electrically amplify the signal. And produce extremely loud voices as a result. So, the sound industry continued to depend on sophisticated horns to achieve amplification.
And then C.W. Rice of General Electric and E.W. Kellogg of AT&T stepped forward to do the wonder.
The Birth of the Modern Speaker: 1924:
C.W. Rice and E.W. Kellogg met in New York. They collaborated. And they tried to make a modern loudspeaker. This was actually the first electric amplification system. They, for the first time, made a functional prototype in 1921. However, there were some issues with the device. And the voice was not that much clear.
Then Rice and Kellogg solved these issues. The device was able to produce a pleasant crisp sound. Rice and Kellogg were able to thoroughly comprehend the replication of all frequencies. These frequencies were required to produce an accurate audio sound. They successfully succeeded in it in 1924. And their loudspeaker featured a wider dynamic range in frequencies. These were better than the horn. And they could significantly boost the loudness.
In 1925, they applied for the patents of their successful device. They got the patents and delivered a victory speech to the AIEE in St. Louis. They polished their device in the coming years. And made it the first commercial device of its sort in 1926. The name of the loudspeaker was Radiola Loudspeaker #104. They sold this loudspeaker for $250 in 1926. $250 in 1926 is equivalent to $3500 today in US currency. RCA started producing the loudspeakers on a commercial basis. And a new era has begun.
When Were Speakers Invented?
Soon after the invention of the modern loudspeaker by Rice and Kellog. The mass production of loudspeakers started on a commercial basis. Giants like RCA and Western Electric played important roles in this matter. They used to manufacture loudspeakers. And then popularized them with their ad campaigns and sold them.
RCA:
The first commercial loudspeaker was made by the RCA. RCA stands for Radio Corporation of America. Then Western Electric started manufacturing loudspeakers as well. Actually, different American enterprises partnered together. And they formed the RCA. When RCA was in its earliest phase. The General Electric Research Centre and Bell Labs collaborated. This collaboration was on projects to generate products such as TVs or loudspeakers. And they made the loudspeakers commercial.
Advancements and Innovations: The 1940s to 1960s:
Time passes by. And the loudspeakers were getting more powerful and advanced. The Hifi system was introduced in loudspeakers in the 1940s. And it totally changed the way loudspeakers used to be. It also changes the way people listen to music in the comfort of their homes. This systems attempted to accurately amplify the sound. It reduced the distortion and noise. And hence makes your music listening experience way better.
The year 1950 was the beginning of new and more advanced technologies in the world of speakers. One of these technologies was the electrostatic speaker. This speaker was made by Arthur Janszen. This design was superior to all other designs. It offers premium sound clarity. And soon it became the Next Generation Hi-Fi equipment.
The Advent of Stereo and Surround Sound: The 1970s to 1990s:
The 1980s was the period where the stereo sound was introduced. This thing enhances the acoustics to be stereophonic. It was the era of giants like Bose and JBL. They began to dominate the market. And innovatively carved its niche in the domain of speakers. This era also marked the introduction of portable speakers. In the 1980s era, the growth of car audio systems started as well.
The era of the 1990s is marked by the introduction of a surround sound system. And this system revolutionized the home entertainment. This development was made by Dolby Laboratories. They produce multi-channel speakers for home appliances. And these speakers provide the cinema-like experience in your home.
The Digital Age: 2000s to Present:
And then, the speakers enter the 21st century till that time. They have gone through enough transformations. This is an era of digital speakers. Wireless technology, Bluetooth devices, and smart speakers are famous nowadays. Tech giants like Sonos and Amazon are in the field. And they are introducing smart speakers. These speakers are powered by virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri. And this thing is making them central to modern smart homes. The evolution process is continuous. And let’s see what we’re gonna see in the future. We are hoping for the best in this regard.
Conclusion:
The history and evolution of the loudspeaker started from Reis’s first nearly failed attempt. And it moves on to today’s highly developed smart speakers. It is a story of the success of humans and humanity. It is a road map. And it has taken over a hundred years to evolve into what it is actually today. It can be interesting to know when the speakers were invented. And by whom the invention of the first speaker occurred. It will make us realize that the technology of sound is being improved constantly. And we hope it will be improved more in the near future. Want to Fix your speaker, Try this Fix my speaker sound.