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.
Resilient Channel
A metal channel used in wall and ceiling assemblies to reduce sound transmission by decoupling drywall from the framing.
Resonance
The amplification of a particular frequency due to constructive interference, often influencing the tonal qualities of instruments and systems.
Reverberation Time (RT60)
The time required for a room’s sound level to decay by 60 dB after the source stops, normally evaluated by frequency band.
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RIAA Equalization
The standardized recording and playback frequency characteristic used for vinyl records, reducing bass and boosting treble during cutting, then applying the inverse on playback.
Ribbon Tweeter
A high-frequency driver using a very light conductive ribbon suspended in a magnetic field, valued for low moving mass and rapid transient response.
Room Mode
A standing-wave resonance determined by room dimensions, producing frequency-dependent peaks, nulls, and spatial variations that are strongest at low frequencies.
S/PDIF
A consumer digital-audio interface carrying PCM and some encoded formats over coaxial electrical or TOSLINK optical connections between compatible components.
Sampling Rate
The number of discrete samples taken or reproduced per second in digital audio, expressed in hertz and related to the highest representable frequency.
Satellite Speakers
Compact loudspeakers intended to handle mid and high frequencies in a system where deep bass is redirected to a separate subwoofer.
Sibilance
Excessive emphasis or distortion of “s,” “sh,” and similar high-frequency speech sounds, arising from recordings, transducers, room effects, or playback setup.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)
The ratio between the level of a desired audio signal and the level of background noise, typically expressed in decibels (dB).
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Sound Absorber
A material or device that absorbs sound energy, reducing reflections and reverberation within a space.
Sound Pressure Level (SPL)
A measure of the pressure variation in a sound wave relative to a reference value, expressed in decibels, indicating its loudness.
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Sound Transmission Class (STC)
A single-number rating derived from laboratory transmission-loss measurements of building partitions; higher STC generally indicates better airborne-sound isolation over tested frequencies.
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Soundbar
A long, compact loudspeaker system designed primarily for television audio, often combining multiple drivers, amplification, DSP, and optional surround or height processing.
Soundbars
Slim, elongated speaker systems that enhance TV audio with wide sound dispersion, serving as a space‑saving home theater solution.
Soundproofing
Design and construction methods intended to reduce sound transmission between spaces, typically using combinations of mass, airtightness, decoupling, damping, and absorption.
Soundstage
The perceived width, depth, height, and placement of sound sources in a recording as reproduced by a stereo or multichannel playback system.
Spade Connectors
Terminal connectors designed to fasten speaker wires to binding posts, providing a robust mechanical bond and enhanced electrical contact.
Speaker Boundary Interference Response (SBIR)
Frequency-response peaks and cancellations caused when direct loudspeaker sound combines with delayed reflections from nearby walls, floor, or other room boundaries.
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Speaker Cables
Low-impedance cables connecting power-amplifier outputs to passive loudspeakers, carrying relatively high current compared with line-level interconnects.
Speaker Drivers
Individual transducers inside a loudspeaker—such as woofers, midrange drivers, and tweeters—that convert electrical signals into acoustic output over specific frequency ranges.
Speaker Grilles
Protective screens or covers that shield speaker drivers from damage while minimally affecting sound quality.
Speaker Isolation Pads
Cushioned pads positioned under speakers to decouple them from surfaces, thereby reducing vibration transfer and improving clarity.
