What Is a Voice Coil?

A voice coil is one of the most important components in any loudspeaker. It is the part that converts electrical signals into mechanical movement, allowing the speaker cone to move back and forth and produce sound.

How It Works

At its core, a voice coil is a tightly wound coil of wire, usually copper or aluminum, attached to the back of the speaker cone. It sits inside a magnetic gap formed by the speaker’s permanent magnet and metal structure.

When an audio signal passes through the coil:

• The changing electrical current creates a magnetic field This field interacts with the permanent magnet
• The result is a force that moves the coil and the attached cone in and out
• This motion pushes and pulls air, creating the sound waves you hear.

Why It Matters

The voice coil plays a critical role in:

• Power handling. Larger coils with better heat dissipation can handle more power
• Efficiency. Light, responsive coils can produce more sound with less power
• Control. Coil size and winding affect how precisely the speaker moves, influencing clarity and accuracy

The voice coil is where electricity becomes motion, and motion becomes sound. It is one of the most finely engineered parts of a speaker and plays a big role in how your system performs.