A voice coil is a bobbin wound with fine wire that sits inside the narrow gap of a permanent magnet. When alternating current passes through the wire, the resulting magnetic field interacts with the permanent magnet, forcing the coil to move back and forth. This linear motion translates electrical signals into physical movement, driving everything from loudspeaker cones to hard drive actuator arms.
The amp clipped hard and dumped straight DC into the sub, melting the voice coil completely.
Related terms
Tweeter
A specialized loudspeaker driver engineered to reproduce high audio frequencies.
Inductor
A passive two-terminal electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it.
Solenoid
An electromechanical device that converts electrical energy into linear motion.