Glossary
Hi-fi glossary
Short, plain definitions of the terms used across the wiki. Each term has its own page and links to the article that explains it in depth.
A
- Active speaker
- In the strict crossover sense, a loudspeaker arrangement that divides the signal into frequency bands before separate power-amplifier channels drive the corresponding drivers. Product labels also use “active” more loosely for built-in amplification.
- Anti-skate
- A tonearm adjustment that counteracts the inward turning tendency caused by stylus/groove friction. Its setting follows the particular arm and cartridge instructions and is separate from vertical tracking force.
D
- DAC
- A digital-to-analog converter: a function or device that converts digital audio into an analog electrical signal. Conversion may be built into a playback device or provided by a separate unit.
H
- Headroom
- The margin between a reference operating level and a limiting level. In amplifier planning, an allowance for signal peaks above the chosen reference level helps avoid exceeding the amplifier’s available output.
- Hi-fi
- Short for high fidelity: reproduction of recorded sound with little added noise or distortion. The term describes an aim for the complete playback system.
- High-resolution audio
- A label commonly used for audio specifications beyond the 16-bit, 44.1 kHz PCM reference of CD audio. Exact criteria depend on the labeling system; the label alone does not establish source provenance or audible improvement.
I
- Integrated amplifier
- A component combining preamplifier/control and speaker power-amplifier functions. Digital conversion, phono processing and other facilities depend on the model.
L
- Line level
- An analog audio signal level used between source and control or amplification components, distinct from a cartridge’s phono signal and a loudspeaker power output. Compatibility still depends on the specified output and input.
- Lossless
- Encoding that allows the digital audio samples supplied to the encoder to be recovered on decoding. It may use compression, and it does not restore information removed before encoding.
- Lossy
- Encoding that discards information when reducing audio data. The technical data loss alone does not establish whether a particular difference is audible.
M
- Music streamer
- A network music player that receives audio from supported network sources and provides an output to an audio system. Playback, conversion, control and amplification may share hardware or be supplied by separate devices.
P
- Passive speaker
- A loudspeaker intended to receive speaker-level power from an external amplifier. A conventional passive multiway design divides that amplified signal with a passive crossover.
- Phono stage
- A circuit or device that provides suitable gain and playback equalization for a phono cartridge before feeding a line-level audio path. Cartridge type, output and loading requirements must match the stage.
- Power amplifier
- An amplifier that supplies the electrical output used to drive loudspeakers. Input adjustments, if present, do not necessarily provide the full source selection and master-volume control a system needs.
- Powered speaker
- A loudspeaker or speaker system with built-in power amplification. This does not by itself establish whether its crossover is active or passive.
- Preamplifier
- A system control stage that provides source selection and level control before power amplification. A phono preamplifier is a more specific function and is not interchangeable with every system preamp.
R
- Receiver
- Conventionally, a component combining source control and speaker power amplification with radio reception. Modern stereo and AV receivers vary in reception, network and audio/video features.
- RIAA equalization
- The standardized complementary recording and playback frequency-response characteristic used for ordinary RIAA records. A suitable phono stage applies the playback characteristic as well as gain.
S
- Signal chain
- The ordered path an audio signal follows from its source through the required processing, control and amplification to speakers or headphones. Several stages can share one device.
- Source
- The device or playback function that supplies the music signal to the rest of a system, such as a file player, disc player or turntable. Its available output determines the next required connection.
- Stereo
- In ordinary two-channel playback, stereo uses distinct left and right audio channels to represent spatial information. The channels are reproduced by a pair of speakers or the two earpieces of headphones.
T
- Tracking force
- The downward force applied through a phono stylus during playback. Use the recommended setting and permitted range for the actual cartridge and stylus, following the tonearm’s adjustment procedure.