Technology / Home Audio Glossary

Digital Signal Processing (DSP): A technology for signal processing that combines algorithms and fast number-crunching digital hardware, and is capable of high-performance and flexibility.

Digital Technology: Human beings directly process information in an analog format. That is, our senses directly convey information to the brain in the form of constantly varying amplitudes and frequencies that . . . View Full Definition

Din: Acronym for Deutsche Industrie Norm (Deutsches Institut fuer Normung), the German standardization body. A world reference standard for the mounting parameters of many common receivers ( Head . . . View Full Definition

Dipole: A speaker design that uses two sets of drivers to generate equal amounts of sound both forward and backward, or side to side, with the two sounds being 'out of phase.' Dipoles are often used . . . View Full Definition

Direct And Reflected Sound: The sound that you hear from your listening/viewing position is a combination of the direct sound that travels straight from your speakers to your ears, and the indirect, reflected sound — t . . . View Full Definition

Direct Sound: Sound that arrives at the listeners ear first.. Sound reaching the listening location without reflections, i.e., sound that travels in the most direct path from the source to the listener.

Discrete Output Devices: A separate active unit in an amplifier, capable of performing a single essential function within the output circuit. There are three basic types of output devices found on car audio amplifie . . . View Full Definition

Dispersion: The extent to which a sound emitter yields acoustic radiation over a given area. This is a particular concern in tweeters and midranges whose portion of the audio spectrum has a much more di . . . View Full Definition

Displacement: The measurement of cubic volume that an item (such as a speaker or port) takes away from the internal volume of an enclosure. When designing an enclosure, this figure must be added to the en . . . View Full Definition

Distortion: Any departure from a true and accurate reproduction of the original waveform. It can include Noise, Clipping Distortion, Harmonic, and Intermodulation Distortion. These last two forms are fa . . . View Full Definition

Diversity Tuner: An FM tuning method which employs two antennas. The tuner can switch between the two antennas in order to attain better reception.

Dolby: The most common shared logo or feature between all brands is the Dolby labs' 'double D' symbol. Named after audio engineer, Ray Dolby, it represents a number of sound processing technologies . . . View Full Definition

Dolby Digital: Dolby's name for its format for the digital soundtrack system for motion picture playback. Utilizes their AC-3 method of digital compression. The signal is optically printed between the spro . . . View Full Definition

Dolby Noise Reduction: Decodes Dolby-encoded cassette tapes during playback to virtually eliminate the tape hiss which is especially apparent in quiet environments. Dolby B is the most widely used system. Dolby C . . . View Full Definition

Dome Tweeter: Tweeters come in several different types; cones, horns and domes being the most popular. Dome types are heavily favored in many standard applications. They are efficient, and have low Distor . . . View Full Definition

Dot Matrix Display: A display type that employs regularly spaced patterned grids of point-source lighting elements. As a result, characters displayed have greater resolution than a segmented display.

Double Stacked (Magnet): Two magnets overlaying each other to increase the overall magnetic field. In some designs for home theater applications the polarity is reversed which provides the effect of 'shielding,'inhi . . . View Full Definition

Double-Banana Plugs: Are the same as banana plugs, except the positive and negative banana connectors are both fixed in a molded housing that spaces them 3/4' apart. (These are even quicker and easier to connect . . . View Full Definition

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