Mar 27 2008Plasma Speakers: Awesome As You'd Expect
Plasma speakers have apparently existed since the 50's, but I'd never heard of them because my life up until this point has sucked. The speakers use a plasma arc to create compression waves instead of the traditionally boring magnets and cones. The "pitch is altered by the constantly shifting intensity of the plasma arc (the creator puts the frequency response range at 200Hz to 12kHz, and the speaker runs at 50W)." Kind of reminds me of the Tesla Coil music maker we saw awhile ago. This video is of an FM-based prototype, which I opted to use on the front page instead of the completed setup after the jump, because I just couldn't bring myself to post a video playing Hold Me Now by the Thompson Twins on the main page.
Related Stories
I NEEEEED THIS: The Triforce Of Awesome (12/22/2009)
I NEED One: Gas Powered Vortex Cannon (07/29/2009)
Kids Add Audio Systems To Their Bikes (08/18/2008)
NES Controller Coffee Table Actually Works! (05/09/2008)
Mario Theme Played With RC Car And Bottles (04/15/2008)
Reader Comments
1. ackt - March 27, 2008 3:12 PM
That is insanely cool
2. bry - March 27, 2008 3:26 PM
i have the uncontrollable urge to touch the pretty pink arc..
3. guate6 - March 27, 2008 3:33 PM
Excellent choice of music, Alice Deejay rocks. With all that "advanced technology" I'm surprised they used an old Sony Discman...man I remember those as if it were yesterday.
It'd be neat to have large versions...sound AND a light show.
4. Daniel - March 27, 2008 3:35 PM
I dunno, that things a little sketchy... I'm pretty sure I could get a similar response from my speakers if I poured some water in the outlet.
5. butterbee - March 27, 2008 3:48 PM
I would have turned the lights out...
6. Jeezy - March 27, 2008 3:58 PM
Fake? There's gotta be hidden speakers somewhere.
Is the sound actually being created by that little plasma arc? How is it so clear?
7. Andrew - March 27, 2008 4:16 PM
They should have used AC-DC's Thunderstruck
8. mrbeany - March 27, 2008 7:04 PM
I don't get it so the arc makes the music wtf where are the holes??
this has got to be fake that is just a light or uh i think they sell them at spencers gifts right?
9. eDDIR - March 27, 2008 10:22 PM
Umm, I saw this at Spencer gifts 20 years ago.
10. Brandon - March 27, 2008 10:53 PM
Cool, but how old is this video?
A walkman?
11. Tec_ - March 27, 2008 10:54 PM
the rapid on and off if the arc in different frequencies is what causes the sound, it is not fake.
12. The Mighty Quinn - March 27, 2008 11:23 PM
3 words: I want one!
13. Mr. Anderson - March 28, 2008 12:47 AM
It's not fake. Just think of it as the tesla coil speakers but much, much, much faster.
14. guate6 - March 28, 2008 1:48 AM
#10: a walkman was for cassettes, and a diskman was for...you guessed it...CDs.
If the quality were better, I'd get two giant ones (or 5.1 medium ones)
15. jessee jackson - March 28, 2008 8:45 AM
ok. so i do i build one of these?
i would like get a microphone, put it next to my hand, then saw off my hand with a hack saw and record that.
16. Josh - March 28, 2008 9:43 AM
HEY !
there's been some more videos put on....
Dream Theater track - you can see the Plasma dancing !!! - AWESOME
Jacobs ladder vid - not sure about that - cool effect tho :)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YyVTvtgm11o
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3AD-deOyljA
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DTYuIHVgGYU
Josh
17. thenuge - March 28, 2008 11:30 AM
BS
18. tim - March 28, 2008 1:30 PM
walkman's aren't just for cassettes, there are many newer walkman's that play mp3's and stuff and there were walkman's that played cd's, there are even walkman's that are phones
19. Jonomac - March 28, 2008 1:59 PM
You couldn't bear to put up Thompson Twins so you put up Alice Deejay instead?!! Yeesh!
20. scott - March 28, 2008 11:24 PM
I remember seeing something like this back in the 1970's using a bunsen burner and later natural gas and oxygen to produce the ionization. Completely omnidirectional sound and a frequency response up to 100k. A quick web search found this
http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/PopularElectronics/May1968/Flame_Amplification.htm
21. El Steve - March 29, 2008 10:02 AM
Obviously they should've used Blinded by the Light
22. jab - March 31, 2008 5:23 PM
this video is no longer available
23. your gay - May 11, 2008 11:26 PM
It's true I have a small prototype of this as well. It looks awesome when you have all the casing for it.
24. the nathanator - July 18, 2008 7:11 AM
i want one!! where do u buy them??? if not are there instructions to make???