Audio glossary
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. |