• A-B
• C-D
• E-F
• G-H
• I-J
• K-L
• M-N
• O-P
• Q-R
• S-T
• U-V
• W-X
• Y-Z

A-B

Active Speakers

Speakers with a built-in amplifier.

Aerial

A device used to help a radio tuner locate broadcast signals.

Amplifier

Part of a hi-fi system that boosts audio signals to power the speakers.

Analogue

The older format for music signals. Tapes and records store audio in analogue, whereas CDs and DVDs use digital signals.

Bass

Low frequencies in music e.g. a bassline. Bass levels can normally be controlled via an amplifier.

C-D

Cassette

An analogue cassette containing blank or pre-recorded tape on spools.

Cassette Deck

The unit required for playing and/or recording onto an audio cassette.

CD

Compact Disc.

CD-R

A CD that can be recorded onto once using a CD-RW drive. The term can also refer to the drive in your PC that you would insert this type of CD into.

CD-RW

A CD that can be recorded onto as many times as you wish. The term can also refer to the drive in your PC that you would insert this type of CD into.

CD-Text

A system which allows CD players to display a certain amount of text like lyrics or track names.

Decibel (dB)

A unit for measuring sound pressure. The higher the decibel, the louder the music.

Digital

Any system that represents signals as streams of numerically encoded data.

Dolby Digital

The home cinema sound system from Dolby, comprising five channels of digital sound plus a separate subwoofer channel.

DTS

Digital Theatre Sound. The rival of Dolby Digital.

E-F

EQ Presets

Standard hi-fi sound presets such as 'rock', 'jazz', 'dance', etc.

Five Point One (5.1)

The standard surround sound format. It employs five speakers plus a subwoofer.

Floorstander

A speaker that stands upright on the floor at the correct listening height.

Graphic Equaliser

A three or five-band control which lets you tailor the 'shape' of music to your individual taste.

G-H

Graphic Equaliser

A three or five-band control which lets you tailor the 'shape' of music to your individual taste.

Hi-Fi

High Fidelity. Meaning 'honesty' or 'truthfulness', in terms of audio reproduction it refers to a stereo that remains as 'true' as possible to the original recorded sound.

Integrated

Any hi-fi component that's built-in e.g. an amplifier.

K-L

M-N

Magnetic Shielded Speakers

Speakers protected against interference from other audio-visual devices e.g. a TV.

MP3

A file format that digitally compresses and stores sound. Sound files downloaded from the internet are often in this format.

O-P

Q-R

Repeat

A function for indefinitely repeating one or all selected audio tracks.

S-T

Shuffle

A function that plays audio tracks at random.

Stereo

Stereo sound is delivered through two separate channels simultaneously i.e. a left and right speaker.

Subwoofer

A separate woofer box that produces the deeper frequencies smaller speakers can't reach.

Surround Sound

Multi-channel audio that enables listeners to hear sounds from different parts of the room.

Treble

High frequencies in music e.g. cymbal crashes. Treble levels can normally be controlled via an amplifier.

Tuner

The hi-fi component that gives access to the radio.

Tweeter

A speaker designed to reproduce only the high frequencies such as 3500Hz and above.

U-V

W-X

Y-Z