> Stereo Science

How Amplifiers Work
The purpose of an amplifier is to receive a small electrical signal and enlarge or amplify it. In the case of a power amplifier, the signal must be enlarged enough to power a loudspeaker.

Lossy and Lossless Compressed Audio Files
File compression uses lossy or lossless compression to reduce the size of the file. Here is a brief explanation of the differences.

What is the Difference Between Analog and Digital?
Analog and digital are terms used in many fields including audio. They can also be difficult to understand. Before describing analog and digital audio technology, a few definitions and examples are helpful.

What is Wideband Frequency Response and How Much is Enough?
Frequency response is the term used to describe the range of tones that a stereo system can reproduce. Typically a system is capable of frequency response that ranges from 20Hz to 20kHz, the approximate range of human hearing, and many people would consider this to be adequate. However,...

What is the Relationship between Loudness and Amplifier Power?
Decibels and watts are common terms used to describe stereos. They can be confusing and here is a simple explanation of what they mean and how they relate.

Amplifier Power, Speaker Efficiency and Dynamic Range
A receiver's power output in watts has little meaning when it comes to maximum volume or loudness. A 200 watt/channel receiver will play only 3 dB louder than a receiver with 100 watts/channel, a difference that is hardly audible. The decision about how much power you need should be based on speaker efficiency and the need to handle the volume peaks or dynamic range found in most music.