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Glossary of Audio Terms 19
Inductance. The property of an electrical circuit by which
a varying current in it produces a varying magnetic field
that introduces voltages in the same circuit or in a nearby
circuit. It is measured in henrys.
Inductor. A device designed primarily to introduce
inductance into an electrical circuit. Sometimes called a
choke or coil.
Linearity. The extent to which any signal handling process
is accomplished without amplitude distortion.
Midrange. The middle frequencies where the ear is the
most sensitive.
NAC. The abbreviation for natural ambience
compensation.
Passive crossover. Uses no active components
(transistors, ICs, tubes) and needs no power supply
(AC, DC, battery) to operate. The crossover in a typical
loudspeaker is of the passive variety. Passive crossovers
consist of capacitors, inductors and resistors.
Phase. The amount by which one sine wave leads or lags
a second wave of the same frequency. The difference is
described by the term phase angle. Sine waves in phase
reinforce each other; those out of phase cancel.
Pink noise. A random noise used in measurements, as it
has the same amount of energy in each octave.
Polarity. The condition of being positive or negative with
respect to some reference point or object.
RMS. Abbreviation for root mean square. The effective
value of a given waveform is its RMS value. Acoustic
power is proportional to the square of the RMS sound
pressure.
Resistance. That property of a conductor by which it
opposes the flow of electric current, resulting in the
generation of heat in the conducting material, usually
expressed in ohms.
Resistor. A device used in a circuit to provide resistance.
Resonance. The effect produced when the natural
vibration frequency of a body is greatly amplified by
reinforcing vibrations at the same or nearly the same
frequency from another body.
Sensitivity. The volume of sound delivered for a given
electrical input.
Stator. The fixed part forming the reference for the moving
diaphragm in a planar speaker.
THD. The abbreviation for total harmonic distortion. (See
Distortion)
TIM. The abbreviation for transient intermodulation
distortion.
Transducer. Any of various devices that transmit energy
from one system to another, sometimes one that converts
the energy in form. Loudspeaker transducers convert
electrical energy into mechanical motion.
Transient. Applies to that which lasts or stays but a
short time. A change from one steady-state condition to
another.
Tweeter. A small drive unit designed to reproduce only
high frequencies.
Wavelength. The distance measured in the direction
of progression of a wave, from any given point
characterized by the same phase.
White noise. A random noise used in measurements, as
it has the same amount of energy at each frequency.
Woofer. A drive unit operating in the bass frequencies
only. Drive units in two-way systems are not true woofers
but are more accurately described as being mid/bass
drivers.