Plasma Tweeter and Xenon (Xe), Neon, Helium, CO2; Surprising Results!

Xenon (Xe), Helium (He), CO2, Neon (Ne) high-purity gases in a high-voltage Tesla-coil plasma tweeter ion speaker.

[@m.t.horton]

can you do a video just showing and talking about the plasma tweeter? it looks like a really nice build

[@MickeyMishra]

Okay, so this is the video I have always wanted to see! THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT! Are you on the DIY AUDIO Forums? Also, that looks like a parts express woofer! Is it?

[@heidijoye3473]

Man, you are on FIRE (or plasma?)! Yes, it is indeed a Dayton 5" woofer from Parts Express, but I bought it about 20 years ago, so you have a good eye! I should join DIY Audio Forums. I haven't yet. I was surprised how little of a difference the gasses made, and I thought the color would change more depending on the gas, but it was a good experiment! For sure the electrode will last longer in inert gas than normal air (oxidation), unless it gets sputtered by the heavier atoms (Xe).

[@suzesiviter6083]

Heavier gasses will sound louder because you are making the sound medium denser, gasses like Helium that are light will act as a sound insulator.

[@JoyeMusiccom]

Thanks for the input. On the other hand, Nobel gases don't like to ionize as easily (especially He), but anything other than He or maybe Ar is too expensive!

[@suzesiviter6083]

np, interesting experiment; IMO I think you would get a cleaner sound arcing plasma between two points rather than into free space, seen some commercial speakers use plasma but they appear to use a very tiny almost dot-like flame.

[@coalthedergsune]

now put a chunk of sodium on the electrode

[@CalJennings]

What about Krypton?

[@kilgoretrout4461]

Awesome.