hi-fi
Quality sound equipment
Hi-fi is short for high fidelity—audio equipment designed to reproduce sound with minimal distortion.
The term emerged in the mid-twentieth century as home audio technology improved.
A hi-fi system typically includes separate components: turntable, amplifier, speakers.
The word now sounds slightly dated, evoking an era of vinyl records and wood-paneled stereo cabinets: My dad's old hi-fi still works beautifully.
Signal-strengthening electronic device
- turntableRotating music player
- speakersAudio output devices
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- headphonesWearable speakers for ears
subwoofer · preamp · cartridge · DAC · tuner · equalizer · tonearm · stylus
Two-channel audio system
- monoSingle, as prefix
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- reverberationProlonged reflected sound
- decibelTenth of a bel
waveform · stereophonic · quadraphonic · Dolby · soundproofing · diffuser · absorption · reflection
Loyalty or exactness
- soundstageIndoor film production space
- clarityState of being understandable
- warmthHeat you feel
- separationState of being apart
imaging · dynamics · treble · midrange · distortion · signal-to-noise · transparency · detail
amplifier
Signal-strengthening electronic device
headphones · subwoofer · preamp · cartridge · DAC · tuner · equalizer · tonearm · stylus · crossover
stereo
Two-channel audio system
- monoSingle, as prefix
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- reverberationProlonged reflected sound
decibel · waveform · stereophonic · quadraphonic · Dolby · soundproofing · diffuser · absorption · reflection · nearfield
fidelity
Loyalty or exactness
- soundstageIndoor film production space
- clarityState of being understandable
- warmthHeat you feel
separation · imaging · dynamics · treble · midrange · distortion · signal-to-noise · transparency · detail · depth
retro
Evoking recent past
vinyl · record · LP · gramophone · phonograph · radiogram · Bakelite · McIntosh · Pioneer · collector
enthusiast
Ardent admirer of something
- puristOne demanding strict adherence
- losslessRetaining all original information
- FLACLossless audio compression format
bit-depth · remaster · pressing · audiophile-grade · esoteric · boutique · upgrade
- audiosound, headphones, audio track, volume control, sound recording
- pastimeshobbies, amusement, puzzles, cards, crafting
- audio devicesmicrophone, mic, CD player, iPod, stereo
- AV equipmentTV, streaming, audio player, cable box, DVD player
- entertainment centerTV stand, media center, stereo, amplifier, receiver
- midcentury technologytransistor radio, color TV, rotary phone, tape recorder, record player