Just curious...
Years ago I read the word "Squaker" for midranges. Has this word died completely?
Years ago I read the word "Squaker" for midranges. Has this word died completely?

The terms were Woofer, Squawker, Tweeter, american I believe.
I believe Sqawker fell into non-use because its simply not
as good a name for the relevant unit as the other two.
Though it is pretty apt for the "midrange" in many a cheap
speaker, which in reality are usually overgrown tweeters.
Considering this perhaps its also because it has derogatory
connotations that advertising copywriters stopped using it.
🙂 sreten.
I believe Sqawker fell into non-use because its simply not
as good a name for the relevant unit as the other two.
Though it is pretty apt for the "midrange" in many a cheap
speaker, which in reality are usually overgrown tweeters.
Considering this perhaps its also because it has derogatory
connotations that advertising copywriters stopped using it.
🙂 sreten.
It could also be related to another tele-comm term "squawk box" referring to early telephones, intercoms, primarily voice transmission and descriptive of the distortion that was common with such devices.
I aggree with Timn8ter as to the use of that term. I never heard it used in reference to speakers used for music. I'm not a spring chicken so this goes back awhile. Harry Truman was the Prez. when I was born.
Later BZ
Later BZ

Squawker was indeed an old word for a midrange driver but it was never all that common and I seldom see it any more. Some old-timers still use it though.
http://www.alkeng.com/klipsch.html
"Crossover rates are 6 dB / Octave on the woofer. 12 dB / Octave on the squawker and 18 dB / octave on the tweeter."
http://www.alkeng.com/klipsch.html
"Crossover rates are 6 dB / Octave on the woofer. 12 dB / Octave on the squawker and 18 dB / octave on the tweeter."
Another american term fallen by the wayside is referring
to the treble part of a twin cone as a "whizzer".
the animal origins of the other terms are obvious,
this one for its origin has me stumped.
(All I can think of is the paper rolled up tube childrens toy)
And to disagree with HDTVman the term "squawker" which
seemed to be used only in american product descriptions
was a source of some amusement to us Brits.
I assure you it was fairly common in american loudspeaker
descriptions lifted into the "UK hifi yearbook" of days gone old.
🙂 sreten.
to the treble part of a twin cone as a "whizzer".
the animal origins of the other terms are obvious,
this one for its origin has me stumped.
(All I can think of is the paper rolled up tube childrens toy)
And to disagree with HDTVman the term "squawker" which
seemed to be used only in american product descriptions
was a source of some amusement to us Brits.
I assure you it was fairly common in american loudspeaker
descriptions lifted into the "UK hifi yearbook" of days gone old.
🙂 sreten.
a source of some amusement to us Brits
Yep, I remember how much fun y'all had when the movie "Free Willy" was released.

I am so glad to hear squawker again.
I am in favour of the three animal system. Can't really be sure why it fell out of favour. When I was but a wee lad it was woofer, squawker, tweeter. In fact midrange sounded kind of weird back then but soon became popular. And now?... no squawker
But alas, the evolution of a language.
Cal
Hey sreten, I guess I better catch up. What is a whizzer called now?
I am in favour of the three animal system. Can't really be sure why it fell out of favour. When I was but a wee lad it was woofer, squawker, tweeter. In fact midrange sounded kind of weird back then but soon became popular. And now?... no squawker
But alas, the evolution of a language.
Cal
Hey sreten, I guess I better catch up. What is a whizzer called now?
a "whizzer".
Another possible derivation is fireworks.
Nowadays twin-cone, bi-cone, dual-cone
and passive tweeter (less so) are common.
🙂 sreten.
Another possible derivation is fireworks.
Nowadays twin-cone, bi-cone, dual-cone
and passive tweeter (less so) are common.
🙂 sreten.
'Squawker' was also used by Phillips many years ago for their midranges. Now a days the word squawk has a really rough sounding connotation to it. 'He squawked like a chicken' come to mind. Would you want to listen to something that squawked?
Interesting!
So there is a parallel to animals for woofer-squaker-tweeter?
Could someone educate the non-english (me)! Those would be *sounds* from animals, not the animals themselves, right?
So there is a parallel to animals for woofer-squaker-tweeter?
Could someone educate the non-english (me)! Those would be *sounds* from animals, not the animals themselves, right?
In the US we relate the sound 'woof' to dogs, and 'tweet' to birds. Geese are said to 'squawk'Svante said:Interesting!
So there is a parallel to animals for woofer-squaker-tweeter?
Could someone educate the non-english (me)! Those would be *sounds* from animals, not the animals themselves, right?
It may be that squawker fell out of favour because of the female factor. They seem to be the squawkers nowadays.
Hmmm...
Not meant to offend
Cal
Hmmm...
Not meant to offend
Cal
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