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Midband
Frequency range where most of the instruments and voices are heard. Vital if singers, etc, are to sound natural.

MiniDisc
Sony's 64mm disc that can record up to 74 minutes of sound. Looks like a mini computer disc but works optically, like CD, on prerecorded discs, or magneto-optically in the case of blank software.

Monobloc
An independent mono power amp, so two are required for a stereo system. Advantage is a lack of interaction between channels.

Moving coil
Cartridges with a stylus connected to coils which move in relation to fixed magnets, creating electrical signals. Lower output than moving magnet.

Moving magnet
Record-playing cartridge (pickup) design in which a tiny magnet connected to the stylus moves relative to a fixed coil in the body, thus generating the signal.

Nicam
CD-quality digital stereo television sound transmitted alongside the picture.

Ohm
Unit of resistance to current. Impedance of a speaker is measured in ohms - generally the lower the figure the harder it is to drive.

Oversampling
Used in DAC systems. Increases signal frequency, making it easier for conversion circuitry and ancillary systems to filter out unwanted signals.

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Passive
A circuit or component which does not amplify the signal. Introduces very little distortion.

Phono stage
Cartridges output signals at much lower levels than CD players and tape decks. Many amps have the extra amplification built-in, but increasing numbers don't, and require an add-on phono amplifier.

PMPO
Stands for peak music power, used on gear that needs to look more powerful than it is. If you see a ghetto-blaster advertising 160watts output, ignore it.

Power amplifier
Supplies audio signals to the loudspeakers.

Power handling
The maximum safe power for speakers. But be aware that it's easier to damage speakers with an amp of too low power driven hard, than with too much power.

Preamplifier
The control part of an amp. Built into integrated amps, but can be separate and used with power amp or active speakers.

Pro-Logic
see Dolby

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RDS
Radio Data System: data piggybacked on FM radio allowing RDS tuners to display the names of stations, and perform a range of station-seek and switching functions.

Reclock
A process, device or system that redo the timing information from the SPDIF or AES transimission system. It will reduce jitter and improve

definition.

Reclock
A process, device or system that redo the timing information from the SPDIF or AES transimission system. It will reduce jitter and improve

definition.

Shielding
Keeps a conductor or equipment away from interference.

Signal-to-noise ratio
Describes the difference between the level of the audio signal and the level of unwanted noise. The larger the figure, measured in dB, the lower the noise will be.

Subwoofer
A separate woofer box to produce the deep lows smaller speakers can't reach.

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Tape loop
A pair of sockets on an amp letting the signal out for recording on a tape deck and another pair to let the signal back in for replay.

THX
Developed by LucasFilm, this is basically a set of standards for Dolby Pro-Logic gear, which should guarantee a certain quality of home cinema sound. Needs electronics and speakers made to exacting specs, which tend to be pricey.

Tonearm
The device on a turntable which holds the cartridge.

Toroidal transformer
Transformers bring mains voltages down to the levels required. Toroidal transformers (doughnut-shaped) get better stability and less flux leakage (magnetic radiation that can interfere with other circuits).

Transients
Short and sudden events in music (eg a cymbal crash). Difficult to reproduce.

Treble
High frequencies. When we say treble is splashy, it means cymbals, for example, sound like they're going 'tizzshsh', rather than having a crisp sting.

Triamping/triwiring
Like biamping and biwiring, but for three-way speakers. Needs three runs of cable in the case of triwiring and three stereo amps if you want to triamp the speakers.

Tube
American name for vavle. See valve.

Tunning
Tweaking of sound system using resonance. An untuned system can only give 50% of its performance, or even lower.

Tweeter
The speaker driver handling the treble.

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Valve
Amplifying device: electrodes in a glass vacuum enclosure. Produces a warm, seductive sound.

Wa-lao
Exclamation - can be good or bad.

Watt
Unit of power. More watts mean more power, but how loud a system sounds also depends on speaker sensitivity and room size. See PMPO.

Wavelength
The length of a wave. Sound at 50Hz in air has a wavelength of around 6.9 metres.

WAF
Wife acceptance factor

Woofer
The large drive unit in a speaker to produce bass frequencies.

Wow
Slow variations in speed of a record or tape deck, making sustained notes sound unsteady.

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