PureAV Audio Glossary

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Audio Glossary

5.1-channel, 6.1-channel, and 7.1-channel Surround Sound

Most home theatre systems utilize 5.1-channel surround sound consisting of three speakers (or channels) across the front (left, centre and right), two speakers in the back (left and right) and a subwoofer. The subwoofer is specifically for low frequency sounds like the ‘boomy’ bass sounds from an explosion in an action scene or a bass drum in music. Since the subwoofer doesn’t carry the full range of frequencies as the rest of the speakers/channels, it’s considered the “.1” in 5.1. 6.1-channel surround sound adds a centre-rear speaker to the 5.1 speaker arrangement. 7.1 adds two side speakers to the 5.1 arrangement. Dolby® Digital and DTS® are the prevalent audio formats for surround sound.

RF coaxial analogue

Also known as “75 ohm input” or simply “coaxial input,” this is the basic connector for hooking up antennas, cable boxes, VCRs and TVs. This connector carries both video and audio (though only stereo, not surround sound). For more information on better choices, visit our “Source To Sense” guide.

Analogue audio minijacks

Used primarily on portable devices like mp3 players and on computer sound cards. Most minijack outputs are stereo, but some output only a single mono channel.

Coaxial digital/Digital Coaxial audio

Similar in purpose to the Optical Digital jack, but using a different type of connector, the coaxial digital jack delivers audio including 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 surround sound. The coaxial digital jack has an RCA connector, which is different than the connector used on an RF Coaxial analogue jack and is specially designed for the higher demands of digital signals.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)

HDMI is the current state-of-the-art in delivering the highest quality video and audio through a single cable. HDMI can send high definition video (HDTV) as well as surround sound. Most recent HDTV television and mid- to upper-end home theatre receivers and DVD players offer HDMI connections.

HDMI is also compatible with most DVI connections for video so if you have, say a DVD player with DVI output and a plasma TV with HDMI input, you can use an HDMI-to-DVI cable to connect them, although you will need a separate connection for the audio, such as optical digital or coaxial digital.

Mini-optical/Mini-Toslink

Used on portable audio devices, especially MiniDisc recorders, for digital audio, including surround sound in some cases. See Optical digital.

This type of jack is commonly used for the digital audio input and output of portable audio devices. A mini-optical jack is the same shape and size as a standard analogue audio minijack. This allows portable MiniDisc recorders to use a single input jack that accepts both mini-optical connectors and standard analogue audio minijacks. The MD portable detects whether you're making a digital or an analogue connection based on the type of cable you're using, and automatically selects the appropriate recording mode.

Optical digital (Toslink)

The most common type of digital audio connection on DVD players, AV receivers and PC soundcards with surround sound capability. Sometimes labeled “SPDIF,” these connectors utilize fiber optics to deliver the digital audio signal.

Speaker Cable

Speaker cable consists of two leads, one for the positive signal, and one for the negative. PureAV speaker cable is marked (+) and (-) to help ensure proper polarity. In addition to the standard round speaker cable, PureAV also offers flat speaker cable that makes it easy to run along baseboards and under carpets, which is especially useful when setting up a surround sound system.

While speaker cable can be used without connectors by simply stripping off the insulation at the ends and wrapping the bare wire around the speaker terminals, it’s not the best solution for long term performance due to corrosion and risks of short circuits (due to the positive and negative wires touching). See Speaker wire connectors for better solutions.

Speaker wire connectors

PureAV speaker wire connectors are specially designed to ensure optimal contact while remaining corrosion-free. All PureAV speaker cables come with Pin-type connectors that work great with spring clip speaker terminals as well as with binding posts. Available separately, PureAV Banana plugs an ideal choice for binding post terminals since they are so easy to install. Banana plugs have a flexible metal collar that compresses when you insert it in the binding post, resulting in a strong connection.

RCA jacks (analogue)

The basic method for passing analogue mono and stereo audio between devices such as CD players, turntables, VCRs and DVD players. While there are higher quality types of audio connections available, older components, especially CD players, often only offer RCA jacks. For more information on which audio connections offer the best performance, check out “Source-To-Sense.”

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports are on virtually every PC and Mac made in the past 5 years (and on many that are older than that). A USB connection is often used to connect digital camcorders, digital cameras, mp3 players and other portable A/V devices as well as more recent products like digital media servers to a home theatre system.

There are a few types of USB connectors. The USB Type A connector plugs into the USB port on your computer. The USB Type B connector plugs into a peripheral device (such as a monitor or printer). Compact devices like cameras and mp3 players typically have smaller USB jacks called a mini USB. All USB cables have a Type A connector on one end (for the computer) and either a Type B or mini USB connector on the other end.