Don’t you hate when your read about a product and don’t know what some of the words and phrases mean?
At the store, we work hard to make things easy for our clients. That means using plain language whenever we talk about the high-tech mobile audio products we sell.
However, if you’re still curious what all those words and symbols mean — and what they mean for you — we’ve put together a simple glossary of car audio terms:
Amplifier
An amplifier boosts the audio signal coming out of your head unit (also called receiver, deck, radio or stereo). The amp’s output signal is exactly the same as the input, just a lot more powerful!
Why you need to know: If you want louder, clearer sound, you need an amp. An amp’s ratings will tell you how much power it can deliver to each speaker, helping you match numbers and create the best possible sound (free of distortion), at all volume settings.
Coaxial / Triaxial / Full Range
In a home audio speaker box there are usually two or three different-sized speakers for bass, mid-range and high-range sounds. However, audio manufacturers have also figured out how to combine up to five different speakers into a single speaker basket — each with its own independent driver.
Why you need to know: Some vehicles have limited space for speaker placement, and coaxial and triaxial speakers are a great option to get a richer overall spectrum of sound. When all you have is mid-range speakers, like most factory systems, you’re missing out on the full range of audio.
Component System
A component system has a separate subwoofer, mid-range speakers and tweeters, placed around your vehicle for the best sound quality. Subwoofer sounds aren’t directional and can be heard clearly when placed in your trunk, for example, but you want your tweeters to point towards your ears.
Why you need to know: Component systems are usually at the highest end for sound quality because each speaker is designed to focus on an audio range without any design compromises.
Crossovers
There are lots of different kinds of crossovers, but basic crossovers split the audio signal into different ranges, routing the low-range sounds to the subwoofer, the mid-range sounds to the mid-range speakers and the high-range sounds to the tweeters.
Why you need to know: No speaker can play all the highs and lows in a song at the same time without cutting corners. A better approach is to split the signal and let each speaker focus on the range it handles best.
Decibel
A decibel, or dB, is a measure of loudness or sound pressure. You have to increase output by 10 dB to double the volume of sound, something which requires a lot of electricity — every 3 dB increase in volume requires double the power!
Why you need to know: Audio quality often comes down to numbers, and dB output is one of the most important things to measure when selecting gear like amplifiers and tuning systems to perform their best.
Hertz, Hz
In audio, Hertz is the number of vibrations a speaker makes in a second, which determines the pitch of sound. The human ear can usually hear from 20 to 20,000 Hz.
Why you need to know: Every speaker has an optimal range, which can be useful to know when programming a digital sound processor or active crossover, setting equalizers levels, picking an amp, or making other adjustments.
Peak Power
Peak Power is the operating limit for a speaker if the audio spikes above the RMS (see below).
Why you need to know: Matching numbers and limits will let you safely crank your tunes without the risk of blowing your speakers.
Root Mean Square (RMS)
Every speaker comes with an RMS rating, which is how much continuous power they are built to handle.
Why you need to know: When matching amps and speakers, RMS numbers ensure you’ll get the best quality of sound at all volume levels. You won’t blow your speakers or under power them.
Sensitivity Rating
This is a measure of efficiency, or how many decibels you can get out of a certain wattage of electricity.
Why you need to know: This is valuable information when comparing speakers, and the biggest difference between factory speakers and aftermarket. A speaker that delivers higher dB with less wattage is more sensitive and energy efficient, and can play louder with the available power.
Speaker
Every speaker is comprised of a basket with a ring of magnets in the base, a pole wrapped with copper wire that moves up and down as power is applied (faster movement equals higher pitch, more up and down movement equals more volume), a “spider” that keeps the pole and cone in place, and a speaker cone attached to the pole that vibrates the air and makes sound. Around the cone you’ll find the “surround,” a border of flexible material that allows the cone to move while keeping the speaker sealed. The distance the cone moves above the edge of the speaker is called “excursion” — or in the case of subwoofers, “Xmax.”
Why you need to know: The construction of a speaker is important, from the quality of the magnets and copper wiring to the materials used for the cone and basket. Some materials will allow your speaker cone to move more precisely or actively, handle heat better, or are more durable.
As you can see, there are a lot of terms and concepts in mobile audio, and our staff will be more than happy to explain all of them to you or, better yet, demonstrate the different terms using one of our floor systems!
It may seem complicated, but great sound quality is about lining up the right gear so that every piece of your system works with all the other pieces. When it all comes together, it’s nothing short of amazing!
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