How much do you know about audio terminology?
In an article a few issues back we introduced a few tips on choosing audio gear, but many readers still find some of the technical terms hard to follow and have been messaging our editors asking, "What really counts as good sound quality?", "What is sound pressure?" and "What does frequency response have to do with?" So next, the Snail Power editors will explain several audio terms in detail to give you a deeper understanding of audio.
First, let us start with the most basic and most frequently asked term: "sound quality."
What is "sound quality"?
In audio technology, sound quality covers three aspects: loudness, pitch and timbre. Loudness is the intensity and amplitude of the sound; pitch, also called tone height, is the frequency of the audio, or the number of cycles per second; and timbre is the overtone or harmonic content of the audio.The technical experts at Snail Power told our editors that, objectively speaking, there is no precise measure for judging sound quality, because it varies with the medium and also changes with the listening environment.
Since there is no precise definition, how then should we judge whether sound quality is good or bad?
Here, the technical experts at Snail Power explained in detail several "adjectives" used to describe sound quality:1. Clear vs. muddy
The sound an audio system produces should be heard as clear and transparent: the frequency response should be wide and even, the mid and high frequencies in particular should have density, and the reverberation should be appropriate, so that the timbre and position of each instrument can be told apart. The opposite is called muddy.
2. Smooth vs. gritty
"Smooth" here refers to distortion, especially to sound with very little mid- and high-frequency distortion, the kind of sound that feels pleasant and easy on the ear: bass that is not muddy, mids that are not harsh, and highs that are not piercing. "Gritty" is the opposite of "smooth," describing sound that feels rough, with obvious distortion.
3. Full vs. thin
Do not get the wrong idea: "full" here has nothing to do with Mo Yan's "Big Breasts and Wide Hips." It means the sound the speaker gives out is solid and weighty, with high loudness, good mid- and high-frequency body, ample reverberation and good transient response. The opposite is thin.
4. Bright vs. dull
Bright means that, on the basis of high, mid and low frequencies being balanced across the whole range, the mid and high frequencies stand out slightly, with rich harmonics, moderate reverberation and little distortion. Dull means a severe lack of mid and high frequencies, loose bass and poor resolving power.
5. Warmth and coolness
The sense of warmth or coolness in sound varies a great deal from person to person. A cool sound has extremely little distortion and is very balanced, and the equipment has excellent physical specifications; a warm sound, on the basis of balanced sound with low distortion, carries more of a full, smooth character. Sound from transistor amplifiers generally leans cool, while tube amplifiers have a captivating timbre. Neither "cool" nor "warm" is a negative term, and which timbre you prefer is a matter of individual taste.
Finally, the technical experts at Snail Power also told us that although sound quality has no precise measure, a truly good audio system draws you into its scene the moment it starts playing, as if you were there yourself.
All right, that is the end of part one of our guide to audio terminology, "sound quality." If anything is still unclear, you are welcome to leave a comment on our official Weibo page and get to know audio better together with our editors.