Glossary of Speaker Terms
In this blog I’ll try to be use as little technical terms as possible, for the simple reason that it’s not necessarily useful in our search for cheap computer speakers. Sure, it’s good to know all these numbers but it ultimately boils down to the actual performance and personal preference to the speakers. As I’ve mentioned in the buying guide, reading reviews will pretty much suffice to inform you adequately about the product.
Regardless, it might still be useful to know some common terms that might be used in these reviews, and what they mean for you. It’s not going to be especially extensive, just the bare essentials that might apply. I’ll try to describe them in as newbie-friendly a manner as possible and keep jargon to a minimum but that means it won’t be the most in-depth. I may add entries over the course of time.
Acoustics
The science/study of sound. Also refers to how the environment affects sound.
Amplifier or Amp
The electrical circuit/device that boosts the current, voltage or power (read: volume) of the electric signal.
Attenuation
The reduction of an electrical signal, often by a controlled amount by instruments like volume control and faders.
Audio Spectrum/Frequency
The range of frequencies (audio spectrum) that the human ear can perceive. This is generally regarded to be between 20 Hz and 20 KHz. In audio it is generally classified, in order of low to high, as bass, mids and treble.
Balance
The difference in volume between the left and right channels.
Bass
The lower frequencies, or lower end of the audio spectrum. This is approximately 20 Hz to 400Hz.
Clipping
The distortion in audio that occurs when the peaks of audio signals are unable to be produced by the speakers, usually when the input signal is too high or the volume is set too loud for the amplifier to reproduce due to insufficient power.
Decibel or dB
A measurement scale denoting the relative strength of volume. A 10 dB increase means a sound will sound twice as loud.
Distortion
An undesirable change in the intended sound from the original.
Driver
The device in the speaker that hold the electromagnetic components.
Dynamic Range
The audio range that a system can accurately reproduce without distortion or compression.
Equalizer
A device (whether physical or software) used to boost certain frequencies.
Fidelity
The quality of the recording/reproduction.
Frequency Response
The range of frequencies that the speakers can produce.
Hiss
A high frequency sound that may be produced by the speakers.
Hum
A low frequency, often constant sound that may be produced by the speakers.
Midrange or Mids
The middle frequencies between the bass and treble. This often refers to the majority of tones in music and speech.
Mono
Single channel, as opposed to the dual channels of Stereo.
Noise
An undesirable sound produced in an audio system. This includes hissing and hums.
Satellite (Speaker)
Usually used when referring to the speakers used in a system including a subwoofer. It generally has a weaker bass response.
Signal
Desired portion of electrical information. In other words, what you want to hear.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio or SNR or S/R
The level of the desired signal to the level of background (often undesirable) noise.
Soundstage
Used to describe the ability of sound systems to create an audio environment of an imaginary stage, often with clear instrument separation and a sense of space.
Stereo
The reproduction of sound using two independent audio channels.
Subwoofer
A speaker specially designed to reproduce the bass frequencies. Also refers to the ".1" in speaker systems (eg. 2.1 speaker system refers to two satellite speakers and a subwoofer).
Surround Sound
The simulation of audio from a one dimensional space to a two or three dimensional space, thus surrounding the listener with sound.
Treble
The high freqneucies produced by a speaker system.
Tweeter
Kind of the opposite of a (sub)woofer. This driver is dedicated to reproducing the higher frequencies around 4000 – 20 000 Hz. It is often housed in the satellite speakers. Not all cheap speakers have these, but those that do generally have clearer, more defined highs.
Volume
The loudness of a sound.
For more entries, choose a category from the left or click on "Get Cheap Computer Speakers" at the top for a list of all entries.
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