Kõlareid

Kõlareid is the Estonian term for loudspeakers, the electronic devices that convert electrical signals into sound. In audio systems they reproduce music, speech, and other program material for listening, monitoring, or public address. The core of a loudspeaker is a transducer that moves air to create sound waves, typically using one or more drivers such as woofers, midrange units, and tweeters, each handling a different part of the audible spectrum. An electronic crossover directs signals to the appropriate drivers, and an enclosure shapes the bass response and overall sound.

Loudspeakers come in various configurations. Enclosures may be sealed (acoustic suspension) or ported (bass-reflex), with design choices affecting bass extension, transient response, and efficiency. Placement in a room and room acoustics have a strong influence on perceived sound. Common types include bookshelf speakers, floor-standing speakers, subwoofers for low frequencies, and compact portable models such as Bluetooth speakers. Loudspeakers can be passive, requiring an external amplifier, or active, with built-in amplification and sometimes digital processing.

Several transducer technologies are used, including dynamic moving-coil drivers, electrostatic diaphragms, planar-magnetic designs, and horn-loaded configurations. Each technology offers different trade-offs in efficiency, frequency response, distortion, and directivity. Performance is described by metrics such as frequency response, sensitivity or efficiency, impedance, and power handling, often supplemented by measurements of distortion and directivity. Loudspeakers are widely used in home audio, cinemas, recording studios, and professional sound reinforcement.