The Crystal Speaker

Author: N.H. Crowhurst

The basic crystal speaker mechanism

The piezoelectric transducer can also be used for loudspeakers. Again it needs the lever principle to get enough movement to the diaphragm. If the moving-coil speaker type suffers due to the mechanical problems in the drive from a simple coil attached directly to the diaphragm, it is obvious that this more complicated drive is going to have problems. Nonetheless, the crystal speaker enjoyed some popularity as a very cheap unit during a period when the moving-coil speaker was relatively expensive. Improved materials and production techniques for moving-coil speakers have reduced their cost and made the crystal-type loudspeaker virtually obsolete.