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We have compiled a list of audio, video and home theater terms that you
might find helpful as you research your next purchase.
From A-Z, this glossary should have all the answers.
Glossary of Terms:
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T
Tactile Transducer
A device that turns electrical energy into mechanical energy, usually used to shake the seating in a theater. Effective in providing visceral impact without increasing the system's actual SPL level.
THD
Total Harmonic Distortion. A measure of the distortion content of a signal as represented by equivalent harmonics of that signal and specified as a percentage of the signal amplitude. While the equivalent harmonics represented do not actually exist in the signal, their summation would reproduce the distortion component of the signal. Further, filter separation of the signal into its fundamental and harmonic frequencies yields the harmonics for identification and measurement comparison with the fundamental.
THX
Certification program for home theater equipment. Uses some proprietary features, but mostly assures a base quality level for a given room size (See also
THX Select) (See also THX Ultra). THX is compatible with any and all soundtrack formats. The acronym stands for either Tom Holman's eXperiment, after the engineer who drafted the original standard, or is named after the company's founder George Lucas' first movie, THX 1138.
THX Select
Certification program for speakers and receivers that assures a base level of quality and performance when played in a room that's between 2,000 and 3,000 cubic feet. (See also
THX Ultra) (See also THX)
THX Ultra
Certification program for speakers, receivers, and amplifiers that assures a base level of quality and performance when played in a room that's greater than 3,000 cubic feet. (See also
THX Select) (See also THX)
THX Ultra 2
The newest certification from THX, THX Ultra 2 requires amplification for seven channels, boundary compensation for subwoofers, and stricter requirements for amplifiers and speakers than THX Ultra. Dipole speakers are used for the side surround channels. Monopole speakers are used for the surround back channel and are placed next to each other. The Ultra 2 processor accommodates both 5.1 EX/ES soundtracks, as well as multichannel audio recordings by directing ambient sounds to the dipole speakers and discrete effects/sounds to the back channels. (See also
THX Select) (See also THX)
Transducer
Any device that converts one form of energy into another form of energy, specifically when one of the quantities is electrical. Thus, a loudspeaker converts electrical impulses into sound (mechanical impulses), a microphone converts sound into electrical impulses, a solar cell converts light into electricity, etc.
Transmission Line
A subwoofer cabinet design where the driver is mounted at one end of a tube with the same diameter as the radiating area of the driver and a length of 1/4 wavelength of the 3dB down frequency. This
Tuner
Any component that receives, or tunes, broadcast signals, be it NTSC, HDTV, DBS, or AM/FM radio. Typically refers to the single component that includes a preamp, surround processor, multichannel amplifier, and AM/FM tuner. (See also
Receiver)
Tweeter
A speaker driver designed to reproduce high frequencies; usually those over approximately 5,000 to 10,000 Hz.
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