G lossary
A ctive:Uses electricalpower.
Am plifier:An electronic device thatincreases the cur- rentand/or voltage ofa signal,providing power to the loudspeakers (i.e.power am plifier, integrated am plifier, receiver).
Bass: The range of audio frequencies below 180Hz, characterized by low pitch.
Crossover: An electronic circuit that divides an audio signalinto differentfrequency ranges.
Distortion:Any deviation from the originalsignal. Driver:The m oving partofa loudspeaker,which radiates sound energy.
Dynam ics:Variations in loudness ofsound. Frequency: A rate of vibration, which corresponds to m usicalpitch,expressed in Hertz (Hz).
FullRange: A signalencom passing the entire audible frequency spectrum .
Hertz (Hz):A unitequalto one cycle persecond,used to m easure the frequency ofa signalorsound.
Im pedance:A m easure ofthe totalopposition to current flow in an alternating currentcircuit,m easured in ohm s. In Phase:The polarity ofan audio signalwhen connect- ed as follows:(+)to (+)and
Integrated Am plifier:A pream plifier and am plifier built into one chassis.
InterconnectCable:A length ofshielded wire with plugs at both ends for feeding signals from one electronic device to another.
L.F.E.:"Low Frequency Effects";The .1 channelofinfor- m ation recorded on m ostm ultichanneldigitalsound for- m ats.
Load: A term used to describe the im pedance that a speakerpresents to an am plifier.
Low
M ain Speakers:FrontL & R channelspeakers,som e- tim es referred to as satellites.
M
the back of a receiver, integrated am plifier or power am plifier.
M idrange:The frequency span in the m iddle ofthe audio range,roughly 180Hz
O hm :A unitofelectricalresistance.Thatwhich opposes an electric currentin a conductor. In audio,a m easure of the load presented by a device to an electricalsource.
O
connected as follows:(+)to
Phase:An expression ofthe relative polarities oftwo sig- nals.
Pow erHandling:The ability ofa loudspeakerto operate withoutlarge increases in distortion when given varying am ounts ofinputpower.
Pream plifier:An electronic device thatselects sources and passes
areceiver,integrated am plifierorpream plifier. Receiver: A pream plifier, am plifier and tuner built into one chassis.
Satellite:FrontL & R speakers when used with a sub- woofer. Also referred to as "m ain speakers". Sensitivity:A ratio ofvoltage across the speakerload to the acoustic poweroutput,m easured in decibels.
Sub O ut:An line leveloutputfor connection to a sub- wooferorsubwoofersignalprocessor.
Subw oofer:A driver designed to operate over the low bass portion ofthe audio range. Also refers to a system consisting ofa wooferand its enclosure,which are phys- ically separate from the upperrange loudspeakers.
Surround Speakers: Speakers located in the side or rearforsurround channeleffects.
Treble:The upperpartofthe frequency spectrum ,con- sisting offrequencies above about3000Hz.
Tw eeter:A sm alldriverdesigned to reproduce high fre- quencies.
W att:A m easure ofelectricalpower,com bining the volt- age with the electricalcurrentrequired to drive the loud- speaker.
W eight:Low frequencies below 50Hz.
W oofer:A driverdesigned to operate overthe bass por- tion ofthe audio range.