Audiogearreviews.com Glossary
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Glossary Category - Video
AM
Amplitude Modulation. A method of radio transmission which sends information as variations of the amplitude of a carrier wave.
AM Presets
Preset memories for AM radio stations.
Amperage
The rate of flow of electricity through wire - measured in terms of amperes.
Ampere
The measurement of the flow of an electric current through a conductor.
Amplitude
The measure of how powerful sound waves are in terms of pressure or voltage.
Analog
Continuously variable audio signal that can take on any value within a given range.
Attenuation
The process of weakening or reducing the amplitude of a audio signal.
Battery (B-)
The ground terminal post of the battery.
Battery (B+)
The positive termial post of the battery. It also refers to the electrical connection that is always energized with 12 volts + from the battery.
CD
Developed by Philips and Sony, the compact disc was first commercially implemented digital medium for storing digital audio data. The physical size of the disc is 12 cm and store up to 700MB of data.
Current Draw
The amount of current of an electrical device from vehcile's electrical system.
Differential Inputs
An audio signal delivery system that reduces noise. For each input signal there are two signal wires. A third connector allows the signals to be referenced to ground. The audio output is the difference in voltage between the two wires: any voltage (noise) common to both wires is removed.
Digital
The method of storing, processing and transmitting information through the use of distinct electronic or optical pulses that represent the binary digits 0 and 1.
FM
Frequency Modulation The process of varying the frequency of an RF carrier wave in accordance with the amplitude and frequency of an audio signal.
FM Presets
Memory preset for FM radio stations
Frequency
Frequency is the measurement of the number of times that a repeated event occurs per unit time. In audio, it is the number of times a speaker oscillates (cycles) per second.
Gain
The ratio of the signal output of a system to the signal input of the system.
Gain Control
Adjustment device use to match the ouput of an audio device to the input sensitivity of another audio device.
Ground
Refers to the metal chassis of the vehicle that is electrically connected to the B- of the battery. Also refers to any wiring that connects back to the B- of the battery.
IM Distortion
Intermodulation Distortion. The ratio, in dB, of the total rms signal level of harmonic sum and difference distortion products, to the overall rms signal level.
Impedance
This is the total opposition to the current flow of an Alternating Current (AC) within a measured system. Measured in Ohms.
MP4
MPEG-4 is a file format for compressed video.
Ohms
The measurement unit that defines electrical resistance.
Resistance
Electric resistance: a material's opposition to the flow of electric current. Measured in ohms.
Restitor
A device, with electrical resistance, that is used in an electrical circuit for current control and efficient operation.
Screen Resolution
The pixel resolution of the screen in width and height. Be aware of manufacturers that report the pixel resolution by counting the red, green and blue pixes separately.
Screen Size
The video screen size measured diagonally from edge to edge of the screen.
Seek
A source unit control that selects the next track on a CD, DVD or Satellite Radio or the next strong station of AM or FM radio.
Slew Rate
The maximum rate which an amplifier's output can change, generally expressed in V/µs. This is the speed of the amplifier.
Slope Rate (dB/Octave)
Is the rate at which a crossover attenuates or filters an audio signal.
Source Unit
The car audio component that decodes and plays the the source material.
Track
This is the smallest division on DVD-Audio Video CDs, and CDs and usually equates to a single song.
TV Presets
Memory presets for television channels
Vapor Ware
Product displayed and introduced to the market that does not exist.
Volt
Basic unit of electrical potential. One volt is the force required to send one ampere of electrical current through a resistance of one ohm.
Volume Control
The control that adjusts the overall output level of a system. Not to be confused with a gain control.
WAV
Uncompressed file format used by CD's to digitally store music.
