Audiogearreviews.com Glossary
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| Alphabetical: | A-E | F-J | K-O | P-T | U-Z |
| Category: | CD Players | DVD | Video | Signal Processors | Speakers | Amplifiers | Subwoofers | Accessories |
Glossary P-T
Phase
The phase of an audio wave relates the position of a feature, typically a peak or a trough of the waveform, to that same feature in another part of the waveform (or, which amounts to the same, on a second waveform). The phase may be measured as a time, distance, a fraction of the wavelength, or as an angle.
Phase (Out of)
When two audio signal do not sync exactly. This is a common occurance in car audio.
Polarity
The orientation of the positive and negative connections of an audio signal.
Polarity (Out of)
A situation when a two or more speakers are 180 degrees out of phase from eachother.
Power (Peak)
The peak power that either an amplifier can produce into a give impedance load or a speaker (transducer) can handle in its recommended frequency range.
Power (RMS)
The continuous power that either an amplifier can produce into a give impedance load or a speaker (transducer) can handle in its recommended frequency range.
Protection (Optical)
A protection circuit that prevents damaging DC current from a tweeter. It called optical because it is usually a 12 volt light bulb.
Protection (Tweeter)
A protection circuit that prevents damaging DC current from a tweeter. Can be optical, fuse or a poly switch.
Qes
The electrical "Q" of a speaker (transducer) or subwoofer.
Qms
The mechanical "Q" of a speaker (tranducer) or subwoofer.
Qts
The total "Q" of a speaker (transducer) or subwoofer.
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.
Revc
The voice coil resistance of a speaker (transducer) or subwoofer measured in ohms.
Rms (speaker)
The driver's mechanical losses, in kg/s.
Satellite Radio
Digital music programming without commercials. Signals come from satellites in high fidelity digital format.
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.
Sd
The surface area of the speaker (transducer) or subwoofer usually measured in square inches.
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.
Sensitivity (Speaker,tranducer)
The amount of acoustical output generated (measured in SPL Sound Pressure Level) when the speaker (transducer) is supplied with a fixed amount of power. It is typically measured with 2.83 volts of pink noise measured at a distance of 1 meter from the center point of the speaker (transducer) cone or dome. Measured in dB (Decibels of sound pressure)
Separates (Speakers)
A speaker set where the tweeter, midrange and midbass (if included) are separate and mounted individually.
Signal Processor
A device that modifies the audio input signal to enhance or convert the signal for use in an audio system.
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
A device that produces the audio signal for a system from a source material of format like CD, DVD, MP3, WAV, AC3,
Source Unit
The car audio component that decodes and plays the the source material.
Speaker (Component)
See Component Speakers
Speakers (Coaxial)
See Coaxial Speakers
Speakers (Seperates)
See Seperates (Speakers)
Spider
The accordion shaped material that is connected to the voice coil former and the basket of a speaker (transducer). Its function is to control and limit the motion of the speaker (transducer).
Spider (Progressive)
A spider where the corrugations are staggered such that the spring effect changes based on the position of the voice coil.
SPL (Sound Pressure Level)
The measure of loudness of a car audio system. Measured in dB (decibels).
Subwoofer
A low-frequency speaker (transducer) designed to reproduce the lowest frequencies in the audible bandwidth.
Surround
The part of a speaker that connects the cone or dome of a speaker (transducer) to the basket. They are generally made from rubber, foam or, in less cases, paper.
Top Gasket
The gasket mounted on the outer perimeter of the surround. The gasket protects the edge of the surround and can provide an air seal for a back mounted speaker (transducer) or subwoofer.
Top Plate
The metal plate located on top of the magnet in a speaker (transducer) that focuses the magnetic energy of the motor structure.
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
The measurement of the distortion of a signal in the acoustic or analog domain. It is usually referred to THD + Noise.
Track
This is the smallest division on DVD-Audio Video CDs, and CDs and usually equates to a single song.
Transducer
A mechanical device that converts electrical signal into an acoustic (audible) output. Also referred to as a speaker
TV Presets
Memory presets for television channels
Tweeter
A small speaker (transducer) designed to reproduce higher frequencies in the audio bandwidth
