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Psychoacoustics: The scientific study of the relationship between human hearing and its stimulus; in other words, how we hear.

Punch: Like 'hitting hard,' a subjective colloquial term that describes the snap or deep impact of the low end response of an audio system

Q: The ratio of reactance to resistance in a series circuit, or the ratio of resistance to reactance in a parallel circuit.

Qes: The Q of a speaker driver at its free air resonance considering only its electrical losses.

Qms: The Q of a speaker driver at its free air resonance considering only its mechanical losses

Qtc: The total Q or resistance of a woofer and sealed enclosure at the system’s resonance frequency, considering all resistive losses. A Qtc of .7 has smoothest response and the lowest resonant f . . . View Full Definition

Qts: The total resistance in a series or parallel circuit. This takes into account all Driver resistances, both electrical and mechanical.

Quantization: The process of converting, or digitizing, the almost infinitely variable amplitude of an analog waveform to one of a finite series of discrete levels. Performed by the A/D converter.

Quantization Error: Error resulting from quantizing an analog waveform to a discrete level. In general the longer the word length, the less the error.

Quasi-Parametric: A type of equalizer. A quasi-parametric (also known as 'semi-parametric') EQ will allow control over the frequency and gain of each band of equalization, but not the number of frequencies co . . . View Full Definition

Quick Release (Terminal): A means for securing a wire conductor to a terminal connector that permits easy attachment and removal. In the usual form, this will involve a spring-loaded clip, which needs only to be pres . . . View Full Definition

Quiescent Current: The term given to describe the amount of current consumed by a circuit when it is not performing any work (sometimes referred to as standby current).

Radio Data System (Rds): RDS stands for Radio Data System. RDS tuners can automatically tune in stations according to the types of music (or talk) they broadcast. RDS also enables a receiver to display text messages . . . View Full Definition

Radio Frequency (Rf): An alternating current or voltage with a frequency (or carrier wave) above about 100khz. It's called radio frequency because these frequencies have a capacity to be radiated as electromagnet . . . View Full Definition

Random Code Encryption: In auto security systems, these terms describe anti-code grabbing technology, a feature which prevents malicious persons who use a special receiver to intercept remote control codes, from us . . . View Full Definition

Random Play: Also known as shuffle play. In CD players and changers, this function randomizes the order of selections during playback. Some CD players offer a 'Random Play with Delete' feature that preve . . . View Full Definition

Range (Audio): Usually described as frequency range, this is a system's frequency transmission limits, beyond which the frequency is attenuated below a specified tolerance. Also, the frequency band or band . . . View Full Definition

Rarefaction: In sound waves, the opposite of compression. An area of decreased air pressure caused by a sound wave. In a graphical depiction of a cyclical waveform rarefaction occurs when the wave is in . . . View Full Definition

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