Glossary

[cats squirrel]

just testing the water:

if this is going to succeed, then the idea should, at least, be tested. So, for your input, what would be your definitions of:

hifi
audiophile
stereo

answers can be witty, but don't forget this is to help others (and ourselves) understand the jargon, so we are all aware of what we are talking about (most of the time!)

[jake]

hi fi should be excellent mono 50-50,000
audiophile should sound pretty real, or in the alternative cost a lot.
stereo is two channeled anything, mid fi and low fi included

[cats squirrel]

interesting, Jake. Already I can see disagreement with these simple terms.

[Sheilajeanne]

Geez, even I can see a problem here already!

Hifi - short for 'high fidelity'. An audio system capable of reproducing sound, especially music, with as much fidelity (accuracy) as possible.

Audiophile - someone who is interested in and loves high fidelity sound reproduction. (from Dictionary.com)

Stereo: any device capable of producing or recording 2 channel sound. It can even be a kid screaing in each of your ears...

The actual definition of stereo is far more complicated, and can even refer to THREE dimensions, such as the stereochemistry of molecules, and stereoscopic viewers, for seeing photographs in 3D

[cats squirrel]

quite, and maybe we thought this was easy.........

[Steerpike_jhb]

I want to contest "stereo". From the Greek meaning 'solid'. Thus any number of channels may be used to create a stereo sound or effect.

(While the fact that a trade mark cannot define a concept, Dolby is correct in their adoption of the term: "Dolby Stereo" being a matrixed four-channel system, and "Dolby 3-stereo" being 3 channel.)

[avole]

Stereo (noun):

1) sound that is directed through two or more speakers so that it seems to surround the listener and to come from more than one source; stereophonic sound.

2) a sound system, typically including a CD, tape, or record player, that has two or more speakers and produces stereo sound.

From Oxford Ditionary (US).

[cats squirrel]

this is getting better. But is not the sound from headphones also 'stereo'?

I remember listening to a BBC demo of discrete four channel reproduction (equipment included a Studer 4 track tape deck, Quad monoblocks and four Spendor BC1's). They were reproducing a concert recorded in the RHA, of Strauss. That was certainly solid.

[Sheilajeanne]

Steerpike, my definition of stereo was just me not being serious. When I found out just how complicated trying to define the word was, I just gave up!

[Steerpike_jhb]

When I found out just how complicated trying to define the word was, I just gave up!

I think that once you take into account the origin (= solid) it almost become self explanatory. The technical executions may vary wildly, but ultimately it's a simple as creating a 'solid' sound image.

Interesting that we have 'monaural', and 'quadraphonic' and 'binaural', but nothing in common use that specifies two channel playback in particular.

[avole]

When I found out just how complicated trying to define the word was, I just gave up!

I think that once you take into account the origin (= solid) it almost become self explanatory. The technical executions may vary wildly, but ultimately it's a simple as creating a 'solid' sound image.

Interesting that we have 'monaural', and 'quadraphonic' and 'binaural', but nothing in common use that specifies two channel playback in particular.

Afraid the smart money is against you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid

Also note: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/self-explanatory

[JaS]

I don't see a problem defining the word stereo as simply 'two channel audio' as that's how it's commonly used in the audio world. After all, the title of the thread is Glossary not Dictionary...

Glossary - list of terms in a particular domain of knowledge with the definitions for those terms

Dictionary - a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information

Regards,
JaS

PS moving thread to Pedants' Corner

[Steerpike_jhb]

Afraid the smart money is against you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid

I listen to Rock & Metal, so it's all quite solid and easy to rationalise my statement!

Now, what do you call a two channel setup playing the same signal through both channels?

[satanfriendly]

HiFi – A means of deriving a high quality playback of music from various mediums via electronic and mechanical means. The original term ‘HiFi’ came about in the 1950’s as a shortened version of ‘High Fidelity’ when musical reproduction became more accessible to the general public. It would have been more closely associated to ‘Mono’ musical reproduction at the time.

It is often linked with the phrase ‘hand bags at 50 paces’ and can have a similar effect to being provoked with the threat of a No.16 needle on a knitting forum.

Audiophile – Someone who exercises the previously mentioned practices with the exception of menacing overtones of being armed with a Geiger stylus. Or occasionally a Hermes clutch bag.

Stereo – Same as above but twice the problem