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.
Speaker Stands
Supports that position stand-mount loudspeakers at appropriate height and placement while providing a stable mechanical base for consistent performance.
Speaker Wall Mount Brackets
Brackets designed to securely attach audio components or speakers to walls, optimizing space and acoustics.
Spikes
Rigid pointed supports used under loudspeakers or stands to provide stable mechanical contact; their primary effect depends on the floor and support construction.
Studio Monitors
Loudspeakers designed for recording and production work, emphasizing predictable, neutral response and controlled dispersion so engineers can evaluate mixes reliably.
Stylus (Needle)
The shaped tip that physically follows a record groove and transfers its microscopic motion through the cantilever to the cartridge generator.
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Stylus Overhang
The distance by which the stylus extends beyond the turntable spindle when the tonearm is positioned over the platter center, affecting alignment geometry.
Stylus Rake Angle (SRA)
The angle of the stylus contact geometry relative to the record surface, influencing how closely playback traces the groove-cutting orientation.
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Subwoofer
A loudspeaker dedicated to low-frequency reproduction, extending system bass and often handling the LFE channel in home-theater systems.
Surround Back Speaker
A rear-channel loudspeaker used in 7.1 and larger systems, positioned behind the listening area to improve rear spatial continuity and localization.
Surround Speakers
Side or rear loudspeakers carrying surround channels to create lateral and rear spatial information around the listening position in multichannel playback.
Three-Way Speaker
A loudspeaker using separate bass, midrange, and treble sections, with a crossover distributing frequencies among three driver ranges for broader specialization.
THX Certification
A licensing and performance certification program applying defined requirements to selected cinema and consumer audiovisual equipment, playback environments, and content workflows.
Tonearm
The pivoting assembly that supports and guides the phono cartridge across a record while maintaining the geometry and forces required for accurate groove tracking.
Tonearm Effective Mass
The tonearm’s dynamically relevant mass at the stylus, used with cartridge compliance to estimate resonance and determine suitable cartridge-arm matching.
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
The ratio of generated harmonic components to the fundamental signal after passing through a device, usually expressed as a percentage or decibel value.
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TRS Connector
A tip-ring-sleeve phone connector used for stereo headphones or balanced mono audio depending on wiring, available in several common plug sizes.
Tube Amplifiers
Amplifiers using vacuum tubes as active gain devices in preamp, driver, or output stages, with operating characteristics distinct from solid-state designs.
Turntable
A device that rotates vinyl records at a precise speed for analog audio playback, forming the foundation of vinyl sound reproduction.
Turntable Dust Cover
Custom‑fit covers that protect turntables from dust and spills, helping preserve performance and longevity.
Turntable Isolation
Methods that reduce vibration reaching a turntable from floors, furniture, loudspeakers, or the environment, helping prevent feedback and unwanted low-frequency disturbance.
Turntable Platter
The rotating platform on a turntable upon which a vinyl record sits, critical for maintaining consistent speed and smooth playback.
Turntable Speed (RPM)
The platter’s rotational speed, commonly 33⅓, 45, or 78 revolutions per minute, which must match the record for correct pitch and timing.
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Tweeter
A loudspeaker driver optimized for high frequencies, reproducing upper harmonics and detail that larger midrange and bass drivers cannot efficiently cover.
Two-Way Speaker
A loudspeaker using two frequency sections, typically a woofer and tweeter, with a crossover dividing the signal between the two driver ranges.
