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

AES/EBU
 Balanced digital connection. For example, used to connect a CD transport to a DAC. The AES/EBU standard uses XLR type connectors.
Mon, 13 Oct, 2014 at 11:17 AM
Aggressive
 Forward and bright sonic character. 
Mon, 13 Oct, 2014 at 11:18 AM
Airy
Spacious. Open. Instruments sound like they are surrounded by a large reflective space full of air. Good reproduction of high frequency reflections. High fr...
Mon, 13 Oct, 2014 at 11:19 AM
Alpha
 Term used in sealed enclosure designs to mean the ratio of Vas to Vb, where Vb is the volume of the box you will build.
Mon, 13 Oct, 2014 at 11:21 AM
AWS
Adaptive Woofer System, trademark of ACI. An active woofer system with built in user adjustable equalization capabilities. 
Mon, 13 Oct, 2014 at 12:49 PM
Backlighting
A technique of illuminating the buttons and keys on a remote control so they can be identified in a dark room.
Mon, 13 Oct, 2014 at 12:50 PM
Baffle
 A surface used to mount a loudspeaker.
Mon, 13 Oct, 2014 at 12:58 PM
Baffle bounce
Reflection off the baffle of the sound wave after the main wave has launched. The larger the baffle, the more bounces.
Mon, 13 Oct, 2014 at 12:59 PM
Balance
Essentially tonal balance, the degree to which one aspect of the sonic spectrum is emphasized above the rest. Also channel balance, the relative level of th...
Mon, 13 Oct, 2014 at 1:00 PM
Balanced
When positive and negative signal wires have a separate earthed (grounded) shield around them to improve interference rejection. Unbalanced connections use ...
Mon, 13 Oct, 2014 at 1:01 PM