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Glossary
Active:U ses electrical pow er.
Am plifier: An electronic device that increases the cur-
rent and/or voltage of a signal, providing power to the
loudspeakers (i.e. pow er am plifier, integrated am plifier,
receiver).
B ass: The range of audio frequencies below 180Hz,
characterized by low pitch.
C rossover: An electronic circuit that divides an audio
signal into different frequency ranges.
Distortion:Any deviation from the original signal.
Driver:The moving part of a loudspeaker, which radiates
sound energy.
Dynam ics:Variations in loudness of sound.
Frequency: A rate of vibration, which corresponds to
musical pitch, expressed in Hertz (Hz).
Full Range: A signal encom passing the entire audible
frequency spectrum .
Hertz (Hz):A unit equal to one cycle per second, used to
m easure the frequency of a signal or sound.
High-Pass Filter:A filter that passes only high frequen-
cies above a low er limit.
Im pedance:A m easure of the total opposition to current
flow in an alternating current circuit, m easured in ohm s.
In Phase:The polarity of an audio signal w hen connect-
ed as follow s: (+) to (+) and (-) to (-).
Integrated A m plifier: A pream plifier and am plifier built
into one chassis.
Interconnect Cable:A length of shielded wire with plugs
at both ends for feeding signals from one electronic
device to another.
L.F.E.:"Low Frequency Effects"; The .1 channel of infor-
mation recorded on most multichannel digital sound for-
mats.
Line-Level Connection:Low level RCA/phono or XLR
type connection.
Load: A term used to describe the im pedance that a
speaker presents to an am plifier.
Low -Pass Filter: A filter that passes only low frequen-
cies below a higher limit.
Main Speakers: Front L & R channel speakers, som e-
times referred to as satellites.
Main-In:A line-level RCA/XLR pow er am plifier input on
the back of a receiver, integrated am plifier or pow er
am plifier.
Midrange:The frequency span in the middle of the audio
range, roughly 180H z - 3000H z. A lso used to describe
the driver that reproduces these frequencies.
Ohm:A unit of electrical resistance. That which opposes
an electric current in a conductor. In audio, a m easure of
the load presented by a device to an electrical source.
Out-of-Phase: The polarity of an audio signal w hen
connected as follow s: (+) to (-) and (-) to (+).
Passive:U ses no electrical pow er.
Phase:An expression of the relative polarities of two sig-
nals.
Power Handling:The ability of a loudspeaker to operate
without large increases in distortion w hen given varying
am ounts of input pow er.
Pream plifier: An electronic device that selects sources
and passes line-level signals to an am plifier.
Pre-Out:A pream p line-level RCA output on the back of
a receiver, integrated am plifier or pream plifier.
R eceiver: A pream plifier, am plifier and tuner built into
one chassis.
Satellite:Front L & R speakers w hen used w ith a sub-
w oofer. Also referred to as "m a in speakers".
Sensitivity:A ratio of voltage across the speaker load to
the acoustic pow er output, m easured in decibels.
Sub O ut:An line level output for connection to a sub-
w oofer or subw oofer signal processor.
Subw oofer: A driver designed to operate over the low
bass portion of the audio range. Also refers to a system
consisting of a w oofer and its enclosure, which are phys-
ically separate from the upper range loudspeakers.
Surround Speakers: Speakers located in the side or
rear for surround channel effects.
Treble:The upper part of the frequency spectrum , con-
sisting of frequencies above about 3000H z.
Tw eeter:A sm all driver designed to reproduce high fre-
quencies.
Watt:A m easure of electrical pow er, com bining the volt-
age with the electrical current required to drive the loud-
speaker.
Weight:Low frequencies below 50Hz.
W oofer:A driver designed to operate over the bass por-
tion of the audio range.