CMRR — Common Mode Rejection Ratio
CMRR quantifies how well a balanced audio input rejects noise and interference that appears equally on both conductors — the key specification that makes balanced audio essential for long cable runs in AV systems.
dB — Decibel Reference Suffixes (dBu, dBFS, dBSPL, dBm, dBV)
Decibel suffixes define the reference point for audio level measurements — confusing dBu with dBFS or dBSPL is one of the most common errors in gain structure setup.
Gain Structure — Setting Levels Through the Signal Chain
Gain structure is the systematic setting of amplification and attenuation at every stage in an audio signal chain to maximize signal-to-noise ratio while maintaining adequate headroom before clipping.
Impedance — Audio and Video Impedance Matching
Impedance determines how audio and video signals are loaded and transferred between devices — mismatched impedance causes signal loss, frequency response errors, and reflections in video systems.
SNR — Signal-to-Noise Ratio
SNR quantifies how much stronger the desired signal is than the noise floor — a fundamental specification for microphones, preamps, DSPs, and amplifiers that determines how quiet a system can be before background noise becomes audible.
THD — Total Harmonic Distortion
THD measures the nonlinear distortion added by audio equipment — amplifiers, DSPs, and converters — expressed as a percentage or dB below the fundamental, indicating how cleanly the device reproduces a signal.