Walk the Walk: Audio and Video Terms

From AAD to Voice Coils (we don't have any "Z" terms yet), this glossary will break-down the alphabet soup and "audiophile-speak." Credit for some terms: TheWhippinpost, Aaron Miller, Audio Concepts

Ground
Refers to a point of (usually) zero voltage, and can pertain to a power circuit or a signal circuit. In car audio, the single most important factor to avoid...
Tue, 14 Oct, 2014 at 1:41 PM
Grungy
 Lots of harmonic or I.M. (Intermodulation) distortion.
Tue, 14 Oct, 2014 at 1:42 PM
Haas effect
 If sounds arrive from several sources, the ears and brain will identify only the nearest. In other words, if our ears receive similar sounds coming from va...
Tue, 14 Oct, 2014 at 1:43 PM
Hard
 Too much upper midrange, usually around 3 kHz. Or, good transient response, as if the sound is hitting you hard. Uncomfortable, forward, aggressive sound w...
Tue, 14 Oct, 2014 at 1:43 PM
Harmonics
 Also called overtones, these are vibrations at frequencies that are multiples of the fundamental. Harmonics extend without limit beyond the audible range. ...
Tue, 14 Oct, 2014 at 1:44 PM
Harsh
 Grating, abrasive. Too much upper midrange. Peaks in the frequency response between 2 and 6 kHz. Or, excessive phase shift in a digital recorder's low ...
Tue, 14 Oct, 2014 at 1:44 PM
HDCD
 High-Definition Compact Disc. A proprietary system by Pacific Microsonics that requires special encoding during the recording process. Some observers repor...
Tue, 14 Oct, 2014 at 1:44 PM
Head Unit
The in dash control center of a car audio system, usually consisting of an internal low powered amp, AM/FM receiver, and either a tape or CD player (or both).
Tue, 14 Oct, 2014 at 1:45 PM
Headroom
 The ability of an amp to go beyond its rated power for short durations in order to reproduce musical peaks without distortion. This capability is often dep...
Tue, 14 Oct, 2014 at 1:45 PM
Headstage
The perception of the Soundstage while listening to headphones.
Tue, 14 Oct, 2014 at 1:45 PM