In this brief glossary we explain some of the key terms that will help you understand more about audio technology. Think something is missing? Let us know at blog@teufel.de.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z|
| Abbreviation | Explanation |
|---|---|
| AAC | Short for "Advanced Audio Coding". This audio format allows for more sound quality than an mp3 file with the same data size. |
| Acoustic power | Also known as sound power, this is an acoustic value that indicates the sound energy per time unit of a sound source. |
| Active speakers | Designation for a loudspeaker that contains its own integrated amplifier. |
| Air gap | In loudspeaker construction, the air gap is the narrow gap between permanent magnets in which the moving coil can vibrate. |
| ALAC | Short for Apple Lossless Audio Codec. Designation for a sound format developed by Apple for lossless data compression compared to the original signal. |
| Ambience | Diffused background noise in film/radio/television, such as road noise. |
| Amplifier | Common term for a device that amplifies incoming audio signals to make them audible. |
| aptX | Quality feature of an audio signal transmitted via Bluetooth. The original signal is transmitted in CD quality. |
| ARC | Short for Audio Return Channel. Enables two-way signal transmission with just one HDMI cable. |
| ASMR | Short for "Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response". Indicates a sensory reaction which can be triggered by specific sounds, such as whispering. |
| Audiogram | Also known as the hearing curve, this describes a person's subjective (frequency-dependent) hearing ability. |
| Auditory perception | The holistic sensory perception of sound. |
| AUX | The AUX input (aux is short for auxiliary) is an analogue input for stereo audio signals. |
| Background noise | Designation for the inherent noise of an audio system without a current useful signal. |
| Banana plugs | Colloquial term for 4mm R-pin. Connects detachable loudspeaker cables e.g. to an amplifier. |
| Band | Band is an abbreviation for frequency band and refers to a certain small frequency range within a larger total frequency range. |
| Bass | The frequency range of audible sound below about 200 Hz. |
| Bass reflex tubes | Bass reflex speakers are loudspeakers that amplify sound waves (usually) radiated through tunnel-like openings by reflection. |
| Bead | The bead is the part of the speaker that connects and seals the diaphragm and basket. |
| Beats per minute (bpm) | Describes the tempo of a piece of music. |
| Bi-amping | Special cable connection method between amplifier(s) and speakers. In bi-amping, two power amplifiers are connected to a pair of loudspeakers, with each amplifier amplifying its own frequency range. |
| Bit rate | The bit rate is the output quantity of audio or video signals for digital multimedia formats per time unit. The unit of measurement is called "bit per second" (bit/s or bps). |
| Bi-wiring | Special cabling method between amplifier and speakers. With bi-wiring, individual frequency ranges are divided into different cable paths and fed together to the loudspeaker. |
| Cone speaker | Dynamic speaker with a cone-shaped membrane, i.e. as a domed cone. |
| Capacitor | A capacitor is an electrical component which stores electrical charge. It is used in crossovers for loudspeaker construction. |
| CEC | Short for "Consumer Electronics Control". CEC is a cross-device control of at least two devices connected via HDMI with one remote control. |
| Chassis | Term for the fixed housing of a loudspeaker. |
| Cinch | Standard connector for audio and video connections. |
| Clipping | Clipping happens when the amplifier is overloaded. The signal level is so high that the diaphragm strikes. This results in an unclean sound. |
| Coaxial driver | The coaxial driver consists of at least two drivers arranged on a single axis. Acoustically, this is an advantage, as the coaxial driver acts as a point source of sound and therefore produces a more natural playback. |
| Comb filter | A filter that can pick out pre-defined frequencies from sound signals. |
| Cone speaker | A common form of speaker in which the loudspeaker diaphragms are designed in a conical shape. |
| Critical frequency | The upper or lower limit of the frequency range up to which a speaker can reproduce an undistorted sound signal. |
| Crossover | The crossover is a component in a loudspeaker that divides electroacoustic input signals into different frequency ranges and feeds them to the corresponding drivers. |
| D/A Converter | Abbreviation for digital-to-analogue converter. This component converts digital to analogue audio signals. They are also often called Digital Analogue Converter (DAC). |
| DAB/DAB+ | Short for "Digital Audio Broadcasting". Transmission standard for terrestrial reception of digitally transmitted radio stations. |
| Decibel | Decibel (dB) is a unit of measurement for the loudness of a sound, named after Alexander Graham Bell. |
| Decoupling | Loudspeakers can be decoupled from the floor to reduce the transmission of vibrations to the floor. |
| Diffraction | When sound waves hit an obstacle or an object with an opening, the waves behind the obstacle are physically diffracted. |
| Direct emitter | A direct emitter is a loudspeaker that emits sound in only one direction. |
| Discman | Colloquial term for a portable CD-Player, originally developed by Sony. |
| Distortion factor | The harmonic distortion factor indicates how much the output signals deviate from the input signals, i.e. by what percentage they are distorted. |
| Dolby Atmos | The latest Dolby sound standard for home cinema. With Dolby Atmos, an unlimited number of sound tracks can be created in theory. Special attention is paid to a new sound layer - the sound can now come "from above". |
| Dolby Digital (Plus) | This is the Dolby codec for the digital transmission of 5.1 audio signals, especially during streaming. The newer Dolby Digital Plus standard also allows the transmission of 7.1. sound signals. |
| Dolby Pro Logic | Describes an audio codec from Dolby. Dolby Pro Logic can decode room sound information from a stereo source. |
| Dolby Surround | Dolby Surround is an outdated analogue multi-channel sound system that can accommodate four audio channels in two soundtracks. |
| Dolby Vision | Dolby TrueHD was developed by Dolby Laboratories specifically for the soundtracks of HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs. According to the manufacturer, it is lossless. |
| Down-firing subwoofer | In a down-firing subwoofer, the speaker cone is directed towards the floor. The sound signal is immediately reflected and thus more homogeneously perceived. |
| DPU Technik | Bass reflex technology developed by Teufel in order to avoid flow noises. |
| DSP | Short for "Digital signal processor". Computer chip for sound control. |
| DTS HD | Short for "Digital Theater Systems High Definition". DTS HD is a multi-channel digital audio system, specifically designed for Blu-Ray discs and HD DVD, and the competing format to Dolby True HD. |
| DTS:X | DTS: X is a sound format based on audio objects and is therefore not bound to a certain number of speakers. This sound format is an alternative to Dolby Atmos. |
| Dynamore | Dynamore is a patented method developed by Teufel for psychoacoustic sound enhancement. |
| Echo | An echo is audible when reflections from a sound source are delayed so much that the ear perceives the sound as an independent sound event. |
| Emission angle | The emission angle is the area in front of a loudspeaker in which the sound is best heard. |
| Equaliser | An equaliser (EQ) is an analogue or digital user interface that allows you to manually change individual frequency ranges, for example, to emphasise the bass. |
| Fade | A slow, manual or automatic change of volume. |
| FLAC | Short for "free lossless audio codec ". FLAC is an audio format for lossless storage. |
| Frequency range | The frequency range indicates an exactly defined range between and the highest tone in which a loudspeaker can reproduce measured or audible signals. For example, from 45 - 20000 Hz. |
| Front-firing subwoofer | A subwoofer in which the signal is output to the front. |
| Ghettoblaster | Also known as a boombox, a portable music system known from the 80s, mostly with cassette deck and radio function. |
| Haas effect | The Haas effect, or the Precedence Effect, is a Psychoacoustic Effect described by Helmut Haas as the ability of our ears to localise sounds coming from anywhere around us. |
| HDMI | Multi-vendor interface to transmit (especially) video signals. Abbreviation for "High Definition Multimedia Interface". |
| HDR | Short for High Dynamic Range. Dynamic image contrast control on monitors. HDR requires HDMI 2.0 or higher. |
| Headset | A headset is a pair of headphones with an integrated microphone. |
| Hertz | Hertz (Hz) is the (derived) physical unit for the frequency. In Hertz, the number of repetitive oscillations per second is displayed. Named after the German physicist Heinrich Hertz. |
| Hi-Fi | Short for High Fidelity. Hi-Fi is a quality standard in sound engineering. |
| Hi-Fi rack | A Hi-Fi rack (also called a Hi-Fi shelf) is a piece of furniture mostly for private use, on which audio devices such as amplifiers, receivers, etc. can be placed. |
| Horn speakers | A horn loudspeaker is a type of speaker in which one or more drivers are designed in the form of a funnel (like a horn). Horn loudspeakers have a high dynamic range and low power consumption. |
| In-ears | Popular headphone construction. The hearing pieces are inserted directly into the ear canal for listening. |
| Interaural | Latin for "between the ears". This term plays a role in describing the localisation of auditory events. |
| Interference | Interference is a superposition of at least two sound waves of the same frequency. |
| Jack plug | Jack or jack plugs are connectors used worldwide in audio technology for audio signals. |
| Jitter | Jitter refers to the fluctuation of the stroke frequency, which can have a negative effect on the sound. |
| Limiter | A device that limits the maximum amplitude of a signal. |
| Low frequency | Frequencies between 20 - 20.000 Hz. |
| MD | Short for MiniDisk. Older form of memory hardware. |
| Membrane | The part of the speaker that produces the audible sound or sound waves. |
| MIDI | Short for „Musical Instrument Digital Interface". MIDI is a digital interface for the synchronisation of electronic musical instruments or effect devices. |
| Minimoog | The minimoog is an instrument that was invented by physicist Robert Moog in 1970. |
| Moving coil | A moving coil is the drive unit of a loudspeaker. |
| mp3 | Worldwide popular compression method for audio files. |
| Multi-room audio | Multiroom systems are interconnected loudspeakers (possibly in different rooms) which can be controlled by a central unit. |
| Music cassette | Older storage medium for sound recordings. |
| Neodymium magnet | A magnet made from the chemical element neodymium, which is highly rare. Neodymium magnets are particularly well-suited for loudspeaker construction because they can generate strong magnetic fields in small volumes. |
| Noise-cancelling headphones | In acoustics, noise cancellation is usually associated with headphones. Noise-cancelling headphones are designed to reduce external noise. They use passive and active technology. |
| Ohm | Unit of electrical resistance. In loudspeaker construction, the (acoustic) impedance is indicated in ohms. |
| On-ear headphones | Common headphone design. The receiver is placed directly on the ear, but does not completely cover the ear. |
| Optical cable | Used for the optical transmission of signals. The light signals are passed through a mixture of quartz and glass, known as optical fibres. |
| Over-ear headphones | Headphone construction. Like on-ear construction, however, covers the entire ear. |
| Passive speaker | Typical passive loudspeakers require the signal from an external amplifier for sound reproduction. |
| Pickup | Indicates the front part of a record player needle, which is used to read sound signals stored on a record. |
| Power amplifier | A power amplifier is a Hi-Fi component that only encloses the audio signal amplifier. |
| Pre-amplifier | A pre-amplifier is a Hi-Fi component that prepares audio signals from different sources for output to the power amplifier. |
| Rear speaker | Rear speakers are the loudspeakers in a typical 5.1 home cinema configuration that are used in the rear area starting from the listening position. They are often referred to as effect speakers or surround back. |
| Resilience | Describes a power value in Watts that can be absorbed by a speaker. |
| Resonance frequency | The resonance frequency is the frequency at which the amplitude of an oscillating system is greater than that of the impulse of adjacent frequencies. |
| Reverberation | Reverberation is an acoustic phenomenon in room acoustics. Reverberation is caused by reflections of sound waves on surfaces. |
| Ripple pickup | This phenomenon can occur when connecting several devices and is usually audible as a humming noise. |
| Room acoustics | Room acoustics denotes the acoustic properties of a room. Important factors are reflection, absorption and diffusion of the sound. |
| Room modes | Term for superposition of sound waves. |
| SCART | SCART is a somewhat outdated standard for connectors between audio and video devices. |
| Silent disco | In a silent disco, visitors listen to the music via headphones. This allows events to take place where loud music is not allowed, for example in public spaces. |
| Sound card | Hardware for laptops and desktop computers to generate and output audio signals. |
| Sound emission | In acoustics, sound emission is defined as the output of sounds from a sound source. |
| Sound filter | Another name for an equaliser |
| Sound pressure level | The sound pressure level is a logarithmic parameter describing the strength of a sound source. |
| SPDIF | Designation for an optical interface via which sound signals can be transmitted by means of fibre optic cables. Another designation is TOSLINK. |
| Sweet spot | A sweet spot refers to the (listening) position in a room where the sound of a sound system is perfectly audible. |
| THX | Quality guidelines for cinema sound initiated by Hollywood director George Lucas (Star Wars) with the basic idea that film sound should sound equally good in every cinema. |
| TOSLINK | Designation for an optical interface via which sound signals can be transmitted by means of fibre optic cables. Another name is S/PDIF. |
| Ultra HD BluRay | UHD or 4K resolution is a resolution standard that can display up to 3,840 x 2,160 pixels instead of the conventional Blu-ray, which can display "only" 1920 x 1080 pixels. |
| USB-Audio | Interface for the transmission of audio signals via USB. |
| VESA | Abbreviation for "Video Electronics Standards Association". VESA is a standardised settings for mounting flat screens, among other things. |
| Wave field synthesis | Wave Field Synthesis (WFS) is an acoustic reproduction technology that generates virtual spatial sound environments through wave fronts. |
| Wireless HDMI | Colloquial term for wireless transmission of HDMI signals. |
| XLR | Also known as Cannon plugs, XLR is an industry standard for electrical connectors in professional sound reinforcement and recording studio technology. |
| 2-way speaker | In this kind of loudspeaker, two drivers (usually a tweeter and a woofer) divide the frequency range to be reproduced. |
| 3-way speaker | A loudspeaker that has its own driver for high, medium and low frequencies. |