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Glossary
Hi-Fi terms, explained
Short, plain definitions of the words you'll see on product pages and spec sheets. Each one links to a guide when there's more to know.
B
- Balanced output
- A headphone output (usually 4.4 mm or XLR) that drives each side of the driver separately, often with more power. Read the guide →
C
- Closed-back
- Headphones with sealed ear cups that isolate outside noise and keep sound in. Read the guide →
D
- DAC
- A digital-to-analog converter, which turns digital audio into the analog signal headphones and speakers play. Read the guide →
I
- IEM
- In-ear monitor: an earphone that sits in the ear canal and seals with a tip, used by musicians and listeners.
- Impedance
- The electrical resistance of headphones, in ohms. Higher-impedance headphones usually need more voltage to reach the same volume. Read the guide →
O
- Open-back
- Headphones with vented ear cups that sound more spacious but leak sound and isolate little. Read the guide →
P
- Planar magnetic
- A headphone driver that moves a thin diaphragm between magnets; often low sensitivity and power-hungry. Read the guide →
S
- Sensitivity
- How loud headphones or speakers play for a given input, quoted in dB per milliwatt or per volt. Read the guide →
- Soundstage
- The sense of width and depth in reproduced music, which open-back headphones and good speaker placement improve. Read the guide →
T
- Toe-in
- Angling speakers toward the listening position to sharpen the stereo image. Read the guide →