Harry Bo
28-03-2007, 11:50 AM
If you're new to the Internet, some of the acronyms you might run across may leave you a little bit confused. This FAQ entry aims to summarise some of the more common acronyms and abbreviations that you'll see, but it's definitely not a complete list!
We maintain a much more comprehensive Glossary of audio terms here (http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72&Itemid=26).
Audio/TA-Specific
Cap = Capacitor
Coax = Coaxial speakers *
Comps = Component speakers **
EQ = Equaliser
HU = Head Unit
IB = Infinite Baffle
RTA = Real Time Analyser
SQ = Sound Quality
SPL = Sound Pressure Level (how loud it is)
TA = TalkAudio, obviously! Confusingly, this can also mean Time Alignment if you're talking about sound ;)
TB3 = The Big Three ***
Term-LAB = world-standard SPL meter for car audio, also referred to as TL
TL = Transmission Line (speaker enclosure type)
XO = Crossover (can be active or passive)
Internet in General
AFAIK = As far as I know
BTW = By the way
FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions
FFS = For F***'s Sake
FYI = For your information
IANAL = I am not a lawyer
IIRC = If I remember correctly
IME = In my experience
IMO = In my opinion
IMHO = In my humble opinion
LMAO = Laughing my ass off
PMSL = P***ing myself laughing
ROFL = Rolling on (the) floor laughing
RTFM = Read the f***ing manual
STFW = Search the f***ing web
TBH = To be honest
WIW = What's it worth
WTF = What the f***?
YMMV = Your mileage may vary
* Coaxial speakers = those where the tweeter is located in the centre of the cone. Cheaper than components, but generally not as good. 3-way coaxial speakers are also called triaxials.
** Component speakers = those where the midrange and tweeter are seperated (see coax). Commonly available in 2-way and 3-way configurations, with or without passive crossovers.
*** The Big Three = three cables commonly upgraded by people with car audio systems. The most important one is the battery negative post to chassis ("battery earth"), the other two are the engine earth (a cable generally on the engine block or gearbox going back to the battery or to the chassis) and the alternator cable (from the alternator to the battery positive terminal). These are generally replaced or augmented with cable the same size as your main power cable (ie: 4awg, 0awg etc).
We maintain a much more comprehensive Glossary of audio terms here (http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72&Itemid=26).
Audio/TA-Specific
Cap = Capacitor
Coax = Coaxial speakers *
Comps = Component speakers **
EQ = Equaliser
HU = Head Unit
IB = Infinite Baffle
RTA = Real Time Analyser
SQ = Sound Quality
SPL = Sound Pressure Level (how loud it is)
TA = TalkAudio, obviously! Confusingly, this can also mean Time Alignment if you're talking about sound ;)
TB3 = The Big Three ***
Term-LAB = world-standard SPL meter for car audio, also referred to as TL
TL = Transmission Line (speaker enclosure type)
XO = Crossover (can be active or passive)
Internet in General
AFAIK = As far as I know
BTW = By the way
FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions
FFS = For F***'s Sake
FYI = For your information
IANAL = I am not a lawyer
IIRC = If I remember correctly
IME = In my experience
IMO = In my opinion
IMHO = In my humble opinion
LMAO = Laughing my ass off
PMSL = P***ing myself laughing
ROFL = Rolling on (the) floor laughing
RTFM = Read the f***ing manual
STFW = Search the f***ing web
TBH = To be honest
WIW = What's it worth
WTF = What the f***?
YMMV = Your mileage may vary
* Coaxial speakers = those where the tweeter is located in the centre of the cone. Cheaper than components, but generally not as good. 3-way coaxial speakers are also called triaxials.
** Component speakers = those where the midrange and tweeter are seperated (see coax). Commonly available in 2-way and 3-way configurations, with or without passive crossovers.
*** The Big Three = three cables commonly upgraded by people with car audio systems. The most important one is the battery negative post to chassis ("battery earth"), the other two are the engine earth (a cable generally on the engine block or gearbox going back to the battery or to the chassis) and the alternator cable (from the alternator to the battery positive terminal). These are generally replaced or augmented with cable the same size as your main power cable (ie: 4awg, 0awg etc).