MartinLogan Monolith III User Manual

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Page31

Monolith III User's Manual

value.

Inductance

Inductance. The property of an

electric circuit by which a varying
current in it produces a varying

magnetic field that introduces

voltages in the same circuit or in
a nearby circuit. It is measured in

henrys.

Inductor

Inductor. A device designed primarily

to introduce inductance into an

electric circuit. Sometimes called
a choke or coil.

Linearity

Linearity. The extent to which any

signal handling process is

accomplished without amplitude

distortion.

Midrange

Midrange. The middle frequencies

where the ear is the most
sensitive.

Passive crossover

Passive crossover. Uses no active

components (transistors, IC’s,

tubes) and needs no power

supply (AC, DC, battery) to
operate. The crossover in a

typical loudspeaker is of the

passive variety. Passive cross-
overs consist of capacitors,

inductors and resistors.

Phase

Phase. The amount by which one

sine wave leads or lags a second

wave of the same frequency. The
difference is described by the

term phase angle. Sine waves in

phase reinforce each other; those
out of phase cancel.

Pink noise

Pink noise. A random noise used in

measurements, as it has the
same amount of energy in each

octave.

Polarity

Polarity. The condition of being

positive or negative with respect

to some reference point or object.

RMS

RMS. Abbreviation for root mean

square. The effective value of a
given waveform is its RMS value.

Acoustic power is proportional to

the square of the RMS sound
pressure.

Resistance

Resistance. That property of a

conductor by which it opposes

the flow of electric current,

resulting in the generation of heat
in the conducting material,

usually expressed in ohms.

Resistor

Resistor. A device used in a circuit

primarily to provide resistance.

Resonance

Resonance. The effect produced

when the natural vibration

frequency of a body is greatly
amplified by reinforcing vibrations

at the same or nearly the same

frequency from another body.

Sensitivity

Sensitivity. Volume of sound deliv-

ered for a given electrical input.

Stator

Stator. The fixed part forming the

reference for the moving dia-
phragm in a planar speaker.

THD

THD. Abbreviation for total harmonic

distortion. (See Distortion.)

TIM

TIM. Abbreviation for transient

intermodulation distortion. (See
Distortion.)

Transducer

Transducer. Any of various devices

that transmit energy from one

system to another, sometimes

one that converts the energy in
form. Loudspeaker transducers

convert electrical energy into

mechanical motion.

Transient

Transient. Applies to that which lasts

or stays but a short time. A
change from one steady-state

condition to another.

Transmit

Transmit. To cause sound to pass

through air or some other

medium.

Tweeter

Tweeter. A small drive unit designed

to produce only high frequencies.

Wavelength

Wavelength. The distance measured

in the direction of progression of
a wave, from any given point

characterized by the same phase.

White noise

White noise. A random noise used in

measurements, as it has the

same amount of energy at each
frequency.

Woofer

Woofer. A drive unit operating in the

bass frequencies only. Drive

units in two-way systems are not

true woofers but are more
accurately described as being

mid/bass drivers.