RMS Root Mean Square, Sampling rate, Stereo

RMS (Root Mean Square)

A formula that provides a reasonably accurate means to measure and compare continuous AC power.The use of this measure is preferred when matching system components, like amplifiers and receivers.

S/PDIF (SPDIF) (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) A standard audio-file transfer-format that was developed jointly by Sony and Philips. S/PDIF allows the transfer of digital audio signals from one device to another, without the need to convert first to analog.This prevents the quality of the digital signal degrading during transfer to analog.

Sampling rate

The precision with which a digital file describes the analog sound it represents. Basically, a lower rate produces files that sound worse and take up less drive space than those with a higher rate. CDs have a sampling rate of 44.1kHz, and DAT machines have a sampling rate of 48kHz. MiniDisc player/recorders with a built-in sampling rate converter can handle both rates.

Sensitivity

Volume that a speaker offers for a specific voltage input, expressed in decibels per watt (dB/W).

Shuffle

A feature that plays audio files (tracks) in random order.

Signal to noise ratio

Represents the difference between the level of the audio signal, and any interference.The larger the figure, the purer the sound.

SPL (sound pressure level)

An acoustic measurement of sound energy.

1 dB SPL is the smallest increment in sound level to which the average human is sensitive. Theoretically, 0 dB SPL is the threshold of human hearing while approximately 120 dB is the threshold of pain.

Stereo

Literally means solid. Usually taken to refer to two channel stereo, though developments in digital audio facilitate multichannel stereo.

Streaming

A technique for transferring data such that it can be processed as a steady and continuous stream. Streaming technologies are often used on the Internet because many users do not have fast enough access to download large multimedia files quickly, so the client browser or plug-in can start displaying the data before the entire file has been transmitted.

Subwoofer

The extra-low frequency drive-unit (loudspeaker) that can be used to augment both stereo and surround system.

Treble

High frequencies at the top end of the audio band i.e. above 3kHz.

Tweeter

The drive unit (loudspeaker) that reproduces high frequency sounds.

UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) Universal Plug and Play is a networking architecture developed by a consortium of companies to ensure easy connectivity between products from different vendors. UPnP devices should be able to connect to a network automatically, handling identification and other processes on the fly.The standards developed by the UPnP Forum are media-, platform-, and device-independent.

USB (universal serial bus)

A hardware interface used to connect devices such as computer audio players, digital cameras, and more. USB is UPnP enabled (also called hot-swappable), meaning that a computer does not need to be turned off when new devices

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