Philips SA2MUS Glossary, Bit rate, Compression, Decibel dB, Flac Free Lossless Audio Codec

19 Glossary

B

Bit rate

Bit rate is the number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of time. The bit rate is usually measured in some multiple of bits per second (kilobits per second: kbps). The term bit rate is a synonym for data transfer rate (or simply data rate).

C

Compression

In audio terms, this is a process of temporarily or permanently reducing audio data for more efficient storage or transmission. A temporary reduction in file size is called ‘non-lossy’ compression, and no information is lost. A permanent reduction in file size (such as with MP3 files) is called ‘lossy’ compression, and involves discarding unnecessary information which is irretrievably lost.

D

Decibel (dB)

A unit of measure used to express relative difference in power or intensity of sound.

F

FLAC [Free Lossless Audio Codec]

An audio format similar to MP3, but lossless, meaning that audio is compressed in FLAC without loss in quality.

FM (Frequency Modulation)

In radio broadcasting: a method of modulation in which the frequency of the carrier voltage is varied with the frequency of the modulation voltage.

Frequency Response

Is the range of frequencies that a speaker reproduces, lowest frequency to the highest. While the optimal normal is 20-20,000 Hz (Hertz), the range of human hearing for individuals is often much more restricted.

Agood full-range speaker system however, reproduces as much of this range as possible to cover all variations. Individual drivers are limited to reproduce only that part of the spectrum for which they were made, so their response is limited, but still a necessary point to consider when designing a complete sound system.

FullSound

FullSound™ is an innovative technology designed by Philips. FullSound™ faithfully restores sonic details to compressed music, enhancing it to provide a full sound experience without any distortion.

L

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

Probably the most common way to show visual information on non-computer electronic equipment.

Lossless compression

A system for reducing the number of data bits (density) in a musical signal without corrupting the original.

M

MP3

A file format with a sound data compression system. MP3 is the abbreviation of Motion Picture Experts Group 1 (or MPEG-1) Audio Layer 3. With the MP3 format, one CD-R or CD-RW can contain about 10 times more data than a regular CD.

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