Attach speaker to a Function Generator

[staze]

So, just futzing around, I figured (probably like most people) I could attach a simple speaker to my Function Generator (FG) and test both frequency response, and heck, my hearing thresholds. =)

I guess my question is, the speaker is 4R impedance. The FG is expecting at least 50R. So I should just be able to throw a couple 100R resistors (in parallel) in series with the speaker and get ~54R, which should keep the FG from being overloaded too much, yes, or is that not really a worry with an FG?

Thanks!

[Balaur]

You'll be hard pressed to find a simple speaker with a frequency response good enough for any kind of hearing checking and so on.
Ideally, you'll need a good (monitoring) loudspeaker system driven by an amplifier.

Better, just use a good headphone (32 ohm+, 16 ohm also work) and drive them directly with your FG. Please take care of the signal levels and use the -20dB feature, otherwise you will break your headphones.

You can find headphones with a good frequency response for not so much.

[DaveW]

Assuming we're talking about a bench function generator, I think you'll find that it has 50 ohms in series with the output already. You should be able to get something out of your speaker hooking it up directly

[Paul Price]

Use am amplified speaker system  from a desktop computer speaker system and use the input from PC plug to feed the signal gen.

Or else if you can handle the do it yourself hi-tech way see below:

I have received more than a pair of complementary comments about how well this simple circuit works.

[Telequipment]

Rather than doing that to your FG, put headphones in computer google  audio tone generator, and listen to there's. here's a link

http://www.nch.com.au/tonegen/index.html?gclid=CJfasL6grLcCFZMftAodun0AnA

















fg

[Rufus]

So I should just be able to throw a couple 100R resistors (in parallel) in series with the speaker and get ~54R, which should keep the FG from being overloaded too much, yes, or is that not really a worry with an FG?

It would have to be a crappy FG for driving into a short circuit to do any damage.

[staze]

So I should just be able to throw a couple 100R resistors (in parallel) in series with the speaker and get ~54R, which should keep the FG from being overloaded too much, yes, or is that not really a worry with an FG?

It would have to be a crappy FG for driving into a short circuit to do any damage.

It's a TTi TG1000, it's quite nice. But it does have a note in the manual saying it can handle 60 seconds of short circuit. Which makes me think after that 90 seconds, something will likely happen.

"To maintain waveform integrity only 50? cable should be used and the receiving end should be terminated with a 50? load. It can tolerate a short circuit for 60 seconds."

[staze]

Rather than doing that to your FG, put headphones in computer google  audio tone generator, and listen to there's. here's a link

http://www.nch.com.au/tonegen/index.html?gclid=CJfasL6grLcCFZMftAodun0AnA

Yeah, I have that software. It's quite useful, but there's something a bit more "fun" dialing up the frequency with the FG. =)

[Telequipment]

Rather than doing that to your FG, put headphones in computer google  audio tone generator, and listen to there's. here's a link

http://www.nch.com.au/tonegen/index.html?gclid=CJfasL6grLcCFZMftAodun0AnA

Yeah, I have that software. It's quite useful, but there's something a bit more "fun" dialing up the frequency with the FG. =)

OK, don't damage your ear drums

[GK]

Most headphones will have significant aberrations in frequency response when driven by the high output impedance of a function generator (generally either/or 50/600 ohms).