Explanation of 10 Common Sound Quality Terms
Timbre: Also known as tone quality, a fundamental attribute of sound distinguishing different instruments, e.g., erhu vs. pipa.
Coloration: The opposite of natural neutrality; sound acquires characteristics not originally present. For example, speaking into a jar produces typical coloration. It indicates added or reduced components in the reproduced signal, a form of distortion.
Distortion: The output fails to perfectly reproduce the input, resulting in waveform deformation or addition/subtraction of signal components.
Dynamic Range: The ratio between the maximum and minimum recordable information levels.
Transient Response: The equipment's ability to follow sudden signals in music. Good transient response means immediate reaction when the signal arrives and instant stop when it ceases, without lingering (Typical instrument: Piano).
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): The strength contrast between the useful signal and noise, often expressed in decibels (dB). Higher SNR means less noise generated.
Airiness: A term describing the openness of high frequencies or the spatial separation between instruments in the soundstage. Here, high-frequency response extends to 15kHz-20kHz. Antonyms include "dull" and "thick".
Low-Frequency Extension: The lowest frequency an audio system or speaker can reproduce. It measures how low the bass can reach. For example, a small subwoofer might extend to 40Hz, while a large one reaches 16Hz.
Brightness: Emphasizes the 4kHz-8kHz high-frequency range, where harmonics are relatively stronger than fundamentals. Brightness itself isn't bad; live concerts have bright sounds. The issue is controlling it appropriately; excessive brightness (even howling) is annoying.
Coloration: The opposite of natural neutrality; sound acquires characteristics not originally present. For example, speaking into a jar produces typical coloration. It indicates added or reduced components in the reproduced signal, a form of distortion.
Distortion: The output fails to perfectly reproduce the input, resulting in waveform deformation or addition/subtraction of signal components.
Dynamic Range: The ratio between the maximum and minimum recordable information levels.
Transient Response: The equipment's ability to follow sudden signals in music. Good transient response means immediate reaction when the signal arrives and instant stop when it ceases, without lingering (Typical instrument: Piano).
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): The strength contrast between the useful signal and noise, often expressed in decibels (dB). Higher SNR means less noise generated.
Airiness: A term describing the openness of high frequencies or the spatial separation between instruments in the soundstage. Here, high-frequency response extends to 15kHz-20kHz. Antonyms include "dull" and "thick".
Low-Frequency Extension: The lowest frequency an audio system or speaker can reproduce. It measures how low the bass can reach. For example, a small subwoofer might extend to 40Hz, while a large one reaches 16Hz.
Brightness: Emphasizes the 4kHz-8kHz high-frequency range, where harmonics are relatively stronger than fundamentals. Brightness itself isn't bad; live concerts have bright sounds. The issue is controlling it appropriately; excessive brightness (even howling) is annoying.