LOUDSPEAKERS HIGH FIDELITY HOME CINEMA GLOSSARY
LOUDSPEAKER - SPEAKER - HI-FI STEREO - AUDIO VIDEO - HOME THEATER
COMPONENTS - SUBWOOFER - WOOFER - MIDBASS - MIDRANGE - TWEETER
SPEAKERS - LOUDSPEAKERS
High fidelity audiophile loudspeakers : Bi-wiring
in audiophile High fidelity audio system, allows separate connections between the amplifier terminals and the hi-fi loudspeaker inputs to the high and low frequency sections of the speaker to reduce cross modulation distortion due to back EMF.
High fidelity audiophile loudspeakers
Center channel speaker in home theater
Center channel speaker is a specialized speaker used for reproduction of the center channel voice (dialog) and music signals found on Home Theater or Home Cinema and home audio video soundtracks. The Center channel speaker should be magnetically shielded in order to not distort the picture on the video monitor or TV screen.
Center channel speaker in home theater and home cinema
Dual voice coil speaker
A Focal-JMlab innovation, the dual voice coil speaker, in combination with the appropriate filtering, allows a selective increase in low frequency level in relation to the midband. This is especially beneficial for small midrange and medium size sound speakers systems.
High fidelity Loudspeaker Frequency response
Quoted in Hertz, it represents the High fidelity loudspeaker range of frequencies, from bass through to treble, that the acoustic speaker system is capable of reproducing in a linear manner, ie. without significant accentuation or attenuation. hi-fi loudspeaker response should be as flat and as extended as possible. The linearity is quoted within a certain amplitude limit, expressed in dB. A limit of +/-3dB is often used.
Focus-Time System in Focal hi-fi loudspeaker
Developed during the Grande Utopia loudspeaker hi-fi research project, this acoustic system aligns the speakers around the tweeter in a symetrical arc which is focused toward the listening position using the tweeter as the main axis. Two speakers mid-band or mid-woofers are usually employed in this symmetrical array, allowing the realization of near point source and optimal phase alignment of the speaker system.
Focal hi-fi loudspeaker
Home Cinema system - Home Theater system
Home Cinema - Home Theater are terms used to describe home audio-video system which permit home based reproduction of movies and multi-channel movie soundtracks DVD.... A specialized signal processor (Dolby Surround, Dolby Pro-Logic, AC3, THX..) is used to decode the signal and distribute it to the various loudspeakers.
Home Cinema speakers system - Home Theater system
Speakers and hi-fi loudspeakers Impedance
Speakers and loudspeakers Impedance is to AC signals what resistance is for DC signals.
Loudspeaker inpedance is measured in Ohms, it may vary according to frequency. speakers with low impedance (under 4 ohms) will draw more current from an hifi amplifier; if it is a unit with low power, this may cause problems: overheating, frequent shut-off of the protection circuits and so on. The maximum current capacity of an hi-fi amplifier is not directly related to the rated power capacity which is typically measured using a resistor. So, in order to help, we give not only the loudspeaker nominal impedance (at 1Khz as per EN60065), but with the loudspeaker minimum impedance value.
Focal hi-fi components : Inverted dome tweeter
Unlike other tweeter which use convex domes with peripheral voice coils, JMlab's audiophile tweeter is designed around a unique concave dome, in this tweeter, the voice coil is attached at half the diameter of the dome. Inverted dome tweeter provides better mechanical rigidity and transient response.
Focal audiophile components : Midrange Speaker
Name given to the speaker used to reproduce the middle range of frequencies, the most sensitive area for the ear. JMlab use unique, advanced cone materials for the most detailled a neutral sound in this region.
Hifi Components : Mid-woofer speaker or mid-bass speaker
Mid-woofer or bass-mid speaker is the Name given to a the speaker used to reproduce both low and midrange frequency signals.
Subwoofer and woofer - Multi ferrite speakers
magnet On the larger models (Ligne Utopia hi-fi loudspeaker), Focal-JMlab uses a proprietary technology which uses a dozen small ferrite magnets to create a stronger magnetic field with no compression due to trapped air in the voice coil and better cooling of the assembly for much higher power handling.
Speaker Polyglass / Neoglass
Speakers proprietary JMlab technology where speakers cones are treated with specialized resins and hollow glass microspheres. The granular surface coating breaks up standing waves along the cone and thus neutralizes any colorations. Polyglass is applied on cellulose cones, Neoglass on Neoflex (a synthetic material).
Loudspeakers Power handling
(in Watts, W) Maximum power rating that can be handled by loudspeakers during a period of time without incurring damage. It is desirable to specify a range of hi-fi amplifier power ratings for a given speaker, for example: Loudspeakers Recommended Amplifier Power of 45 to 90 Watts.
HIFI Loudspeaker Sensitivity
Speaker systems are electro-mechanical to acoustical transformers which transform electrical signals into acoustical pressure waves with varying degrees of efficiency. A acoustic system's sensitivity rating corresponds to the sound pressure level obtained at 1m of the hi-fi loudspeaker with a drive voltage of 2.83V across the inputs. The higher the efficiency of the speaker, the lower the power
needed to obtain a desired sound pressure level.
Spikes and cones for audiophile loudspeakers
Points provide decoupling of the enclosure from its stand or support surface and reduces the transmission of parasitic resonances for audiophile loudspeakers into the floor. Cones are used when the cabinet weight is substantial. Metallic cups are provided, to keep the points and cones from penetrating and damaging the floor (carpeting or wood flooring).
Self Powered Subwoofer enclosure
or Active SUB Cabinet
Subwoofer is a speaker system designed to produce only bass frequencies. The Subwoofer can be an active - self-powered or passive system. his surname is SUB
Self Powered Subwoofer enclosure or Active SUB Cabinet
Home audio video loudspeakers - Surround speakers
Surround speakers are Specialized speakers for the reproduction of special effects and ambient information contained in a multi-channel home audio video Home Theater or home cinema system. Usually available as surround speakers, loudspeakers to be placed at the rear or di-polar to provide a diffuse soundfield from the sides (rear effects speakers and di-polar effects speakers).
Home Audio video loudspeakers - Surround speakers for Home Theater or home cinema system
Tioxid
Tioxid is a Name given by Focal-JMlab to a specific type of inverted dome tweeter using titanium with an additional 7micron thick deposit containing Titanium Dioxide which improves of high frequency neutrality.
Titanium
A pure metal with ideal stiffness to mass properties, especially beneficial in the inverted dome tweeter configurations preferred by Focal JMlab. Provides very high quality tweeter in the upper registers.
Focal speakers and hi-fi components : Tweeter
Tweeter is a Name of the speaker used for high frequency reproduction. Because of its extremely light voice coil assembley, it is the most delicate of the speakers in a speaker and is most endangered by amplifier clipping.
Tweeter
Focal speakers and hi-fi components : W cone Speakers
Speaker material JMlab holds the patent (#2731579) on this cone material, which is JMlab's preferred choice for loudspeaker cones: it is the only one which guarantees a perfect stiffness to mass ratio, using a layer of syntactic foam heat sandwiched between two layers of woven glass tissue. The ultra light and rigid cone is capable of operating as perfect piston without coloration.
Focal hi-fi components : Woofer or subwoofer
Woofer or Subwoofer is the name given to the speaker used to reproduce low frequency signals.
Focal Woofer
Bass-reflex subwoofer enclosure
Bass-reflex subwoofer enclosure is a low bass loudspeaker loaded by a separate cabinet tuned box which acts as resonator. The tuning results from the enclosure volume and the port dimensions.
Bass-reflex subwoofer enclosure
Free air car subwoofer
Free air subwoofer is a Low bass car speaker wich does not necessitate car installation in a separate box because it is directly coupled with the volume of the automobile boot from behind.
Free air car subwoofer
Polyglass speakers
Speakers with a fine layer of silica microspheres applied evenly over a cellulose pulp cone resulting in considerably reduced distorsion.
Titanium
Pure metal which has engineering properties of rigidity and weight that are ideally suited for tweeter domes.
Bl
Force factor of the driver motor system
Dia.(m)
Nominal diameter of speaker
Fs (Hz)
Free air resonance of speaker
Coil height (mm)
Voice coil height
Gap height (mm) Gap height
Les (mH)
Electrical inductance equivalent to speaker suspension compliance
Mms (g)
speaker mechanical mass including air load
Qes speaker electrical Q factor
Qms
speaker mechanical Q factor
Qts
Total Q factor for speaker
Rcc (Ohms)
Dc Resistance of speaker
Sd (m”)
Driver effective surface area
Vas (l)
Volume of air equivalent to speaker suspension
X. Max.(mm)
Peak to peak maximum linear excursion of speaker
Xmax = coil height-gap height/2
LOUDSPEAKERS AND SPEAKERS FOR HIGH FIDELITY
surround speakers
subwoofer cabinet
self powered subwoofer
rear loudspeakers
rear effects speakers
rear effects loudspeakers
loudspeakers
loudspeaker
in-wall speakers
inwall speakers
in-wall loudspeakers
inwall loudspeakers
home theater system
home theater speakers
home theater loudspeakers
home theater loudspeaker
home theater
home cinema system
home cinema speakers
home cinema loudspeakers
home cinema loudspeaker
home cinema
home audio video
high fidelity loudspeakers
high fidelity loudspeaker
high fidelity
hi-fi loudspeakers
hifi loudspeakers
hi-fi loudspeaker
hifi loudspeaker
effects speakers
compact subwoofer
compact loudspeakers
compact home cinema system
compact active subwoofer
center loudspeaker
center channel speaker
center channel loudspeaker
bass reflex loudspeakers
bass reflex loudspeaker
audiophile loudspeaker
audio video loudspeakers
audio video loudspeaker
active subwoofer