| Glossary |
Audio Vision Electric
Electrical & Low Voltage Contractors
31500 Grape Street, Suite #3176
Lake Elsinore, California 92532
Business: 951. 674.9844 |
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AUDIO |
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Absolute Phase: Correct polarity (direction of energy) over two stereo channels.
Absorption: The weakening of radio wave strength by losses in various materials.
Absorption Trap: A parallel-tuned circuit made of either capacitors or coils used to absorb and reduce interface signals.
"Academy" Filter: A high frequency filter used in some advanced home theater controllers to compensate for the overly bright soundtrack of many earlier films.
Acoustics: The science of sound.
Acoustic Baffle: Padding designed to absorb sound and diminish the reflection of sound waves, often used in the side walls near the front of a home theater.
Ambiance: Acoustical qualities of a room and its contents.
Commentary Track: A separate track of audio on the DVD that can include filmmakers, stars, etc., discussing the film as it plays.
Component: An element of an audio system such as a receiver.
Composite Audio: The standard RCA-jack audio outputs, included on most DVD players and on all consumer level audio components. Usually chararaterized on most stereo components by a red - colored red output or input and a white colored left output to input.
Digital Coax Output: Transmits a digital audio signal via a digital coaxial cable. Similar in quality to a digital optical output, it is found on most mid- level and high - end DVD players and some CD players.
Digital Optical Output: Transmits a digital audio signal via s fiber optic cable. It is practically immune to magnetic or electrical interference. Similar in quality to a digital coax output, it is found on most mid-level and high-end DVD players and CD players.
Dolby Pro-Logic: The VHS standard for delivering surround sound. All DD 5.1 receivers can decode Pro-Logic. Some older DVDs may be encoded with digital Pro-Logic signals.
Dolby Digital 5.1 (DD 5.1): The most common sound output for DVDs. DD 5.1 sends unique signals to six different speakers: front left, front center, front right, rear left, rear right and subwoofer. To experience DD 5.1 you need a DVD player and/or a receiver that can decode the signal, or you need a DVD player with a built-in decoder and a DD-ready receiver.
Dolby Surround EX: New sound format that sends unique signals to seven different speakers: Front left, front center, front right, rear left, rear center, rear right, and subwoofer. To experience Dolby Surround EX (also called Dolby Digital 6.1) you need a receiver that can decode the signal, or an add-on amplifier that can decode the extra rear center signal.
Downmixing: Occurs when audio or video information on a disc is being sent to equipment that doesn't have capabilities to reproduce it. A common example of downmixing is when a Dolby Digital 5.1 track is sent to a stereo TV or Pro-Logic receiver. The audio will still sound great (better than VHS) but it will lose some dynamic range in the process.
Driver: The actual speaker unit inside the speaker cabinet. There are three general types of drivers: tweeters, midrange, and woofers.
DTS: Acronym for Digital Theater Systems. This is a competing audio format to Dolby Digital. Some DVDs have DTS tracks, but the compression rate is much larger, so a DTS disc will hold less.
DTS-ES: This is a competing audio format to Dolby Surround EX, again sending unique signals to six different speakers: front left, front center, front right, rear left, rear right and subwoofer. Like, Dolby Surround EX, you'll need decoding equipment to experience it.
DVD Audio: Audio format similar to CD but with a higher sampling rate. This format has yet to catch on in the music industry.
DVD: Acronym for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc. The disc is the same size as an audio CD but can hold hours of video and audio, as well as other information and alternative versions.
MP3: Motion Picture Experts Group, Audio Layer-III. This is a compression format that reduces the time it takes to transfer audio files along the internet. MP3 files take an audio file and squeeze it to about one twelfth the original size, thus making it easier to access and download music.
Receiver: A component that combines both the pre-amp and the power amp in one package, usually along with an FM tuner. It translates waves and codes to audible sounds.
Sampling Rate: How a movie or piece of music has been recorded or copied. The higher the sampling rate, the better quality.
Shielded Speaker: Powerful magnets inside speakers can damage a television, so speakers placed near TVs (especially center channels) need to be shielded to prevent this problem.
Subwoofer: A large bass driver in its own cabinet that comes in two types: powered and passive. Passive subs draw power from an amplifier or receiver, while powered subs have their own amplifier.
Surround Sound: Properly placed speakers can put you in the center of the sound, thus the surround sound effect.
THX: THX describes a certification process. The THX label indicates the sound and video quality are endorsed by Lucas film. Both software (DVDs) and hardware can carry the THX stamp of approval.
Watts: Measurement of amplifier power. Home amplifiers and receivers must be rated in watts per channel, or the amount of power the amp sends to each speaker. |
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