Technology / Home Audio Glossary

Center Channel: In home theater, a signal sent to a speaker mounted in front of the listener, specially designed to enhance voices and sound effects associated with center stage action from a movie soundtra . . . View Full Definition

Center Channel Speaker: The center channel speaker reproduces almost all of a movie's dialogue and much of the special effects. Since its purpose is to keep sound anchored to the on-screen action, a good center cha . . . View Full Definition

Channel: Common name for a complete amplifying stage in any audio amplifier. Most amplifiers are denominated as 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6 channel units. Each of these is a discrete audio amp on its own, capab . . . View Full Definition

Chebyshev Filter: A filter that has some ripple in the pass-band but has an initial attenuation slope which is steeper than a Butterworth filter.

Chord: A combination of two or more notes played simultaneously

Circuit Breaker: An electrical switch that automatically breaks a circuit if the current through it is higher than its rating. Once tripped it can be manually reset. Performs the same function as a fuse, but . . . View Full Definition

Clipping: A signal that results from an amplifier that is either overloaded or underpowered relative to the signal Amplitude it being asked to generate. A clipped waveform is one in which the gently r . . . View Full Definition

Cms: Referring to the compliance of the mechanical suspension of a speaker cone, consisting of the spider and surround.

Coaxial Cable: A single copper conductor, surrounded with a layer of insulation, covered by a surrounding copper shield and finally, an insulating jacket. A constant-impedance unbalanced transmission line. . . . View Full Definition

Coloration: A term used to describe levels of audio Distortion that cause serious departures from a true High Fidelity rendition of the original signal.

Comb Filter Effect: This acoustical and electronic effect occurs when two signals interact in such a way as to produce an irregular spiked and choppy response pattern. When graphed on paper, this pattern looks . . . View Full Definition

Compact Disc (CD): The most popular format for conveying music and data currently available. It is among the first digital media to take over from the analog formats of phonograph records and tapes; coming to . . . View Full Definition

Compliance: The measurement in liters or cubic feet of the volume of air that is equal to the compliance, or maximum extension of a speaker's total suspension.

Component System: This term is used in relation to speaker systems, to indicate a system in which separate mounting arrangements are provided for each component of the system. In a typical car system you migh . . . View Full Definition

Compression: 1. An increase in density and pressure in a medium, such as air, caused intermittently by the passage of a sound wave. 2. The region in either air or material in which this occurs.

Compression (Audio): The process of reducing the dynamic range of a given analog audio program by making the loud parts quieter and the quiet parts louder.

Compression (Data): The process of packing digital data, such as computer files, more efficiently for the purpose of storage or transmission. Commonly referred to as 'stuffing' or 'zipping' a file.

Compression Driver: Compression drivers are usually dynamic; that is, with a magnet and interacting coil arrangement, and a small diaphragm as the main transducer. These are the motor parts, also known as the d . . . View Full Definition

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