Hi-Fi Wiki
Master the language of high-fidelity audio and advanced home cinema. Explore clear, professional definitions of acoustic concepts, AV technology, and audiophile terminology.
Mono and Stereo
Mono uses one audio channel, while stereo uses two independent channels to reproduce left-right placement and a broader spatial presentation.
Monoblock Amplifiers
Single-channel power amplifiers housed separately, allowing each loudspeaker channel to use its own amplifier chassis, power supply, and physical placement.
Moving Coil (MC) Cartridge
A phono cartridge in which small coils move with the stylus assembly inside a magnetic field, usually producing lower output than moving-magnet designs.
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Moving Magnet (MM) Cartridge
A phono cartridge in which magnets move with the stylus cantilever near fixed coils, typically providing relatively high output and replaceable styli.
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MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III)
A widely-used lossy compression format that significantly reduces file size while maintaining acceptable sound quality.
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Multi-Channel Amplifiers
Amplifiers engineered to drive several audio channels simultaneously, making them well‑suited for surround sound and multi‑room configurations.
Multi-room players
Network audio players designed for synchronized or independent playback across multiple rooms or zones, usually controlled through an app or central platform.
Music Server
A dedicated computer or appliance that stores, indexes, manages, and serves a digital music library to network players, streamers, or control applications.
Music Streamers
Network playback devices that receive music from streaming services, servers, or local libraries and deliver digital or analog audio to a Hi-Fi system.
Network Amplifiers
Amplifiers with built-in network streaming and control, combining music playback from online or local sources with power amplification for passive loudspeakers.
Network Audio Player
A playback component that receives music over Ethernet or Wi-Fi from streaming services, servers, or local libraries and outputs audio to a system.
Noise
Unwanted random signals or disturbances that interfere with the desired audio signal, affecting clarity and fidelity.
Noise Isolation
Passive attenuation of external sound achieved through the physical seal, ear-cup structure, tips, or pads, without microphones or active cancellation circuitry.
Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC)
A scalar representation of the amount of sound energy absorbed upon striking a particular surface; ranges from 0 (no absorption) to 1 (complete absorption).
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Object-Based Audio
Audio production and playback that represents sounds as positioned objects with metadata, allowing a renderer to adapt them to different speaker layouts.
On-Ear Headphones
Headphones that rest directly on the ears, balancing portability with sound quality while providing moderate isolation.
On-Wall Speakers
Speakers designed for wall mounting, providing a discreet audio solution that saves space while delivering quality sound.
Open‑Back Headphones
Headphones with acoustically open ear cups that allow air and sound to pass through, reducing isolation while often producing a more spacious presentation.
Optical Cables (TOSLINK)
Fiber-optic cables that carry S/PDIF digital audio as light, providing galvanic isolation between components but with bandwidth limits set by the interface implementation.
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Opus
A royalty-free lossy codec designed for both speech and music, supporting low-latency communication as well as efficient high-quality streaming across wide bitrates.
Outdoor Speakers
Weather‑resistant speakers engineered to withstand the elements, offering reliable performance for patios and gardens.
Over-Ear Headphones
Headphones that fully enclose the ears, offering superior sound isolation and comfort for extended listening sessions.
Overtones
Higher frequency harmonics that occur above the fundamental tone, contributing to the timbre and richness of a sound.
Passive Radiator
An unpowered diaphragm that moves in response to cabinet pressure, performing a function similar to a bass-reflex port without requiring an open vent.
