Car Electronics

(Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor)
transistor. MOSFET's have a significantly higher switching speed than bipolar transistors. They generate almost no loss (little heat generation), which lends the power supply fast response, excellent linearity and high efficiency.

0-Bit Mute
Shuts of the digital to analog converter output during silent passages, yielding absolute silence between songs.

2-Ohm Stable
The amplifier can operate safely when connected to a 2-ohm load (two 4-ohm speakers wired in parallel to one channel of the amplifier), producing up to 100% more power than if connected to a 4-ohm load.

4-Step Modulation Level (Gain ) Setting
Lets the user adjust the output level of the modulator to best match the radio's input, which reduces distortion when playing CDs.

8-Times Over-sampling Digital Filter
A circuit that removes most of the unwanted digital data from a digital audio waveform while it's still in digital form. This allows the use of much gentler, better-sounding analog filters when the digital waveform is converted back to an analog music signal.

AC (Alternating Current)
Voltage that alternates from positive to negative in regular or irregular cycles. This type of voltage flows back to its source.

Air Gap
The space between the top plate and the pole piece. This is where the voice coil sits.

Alternator
A device that is turned by a motor to produce AC voltage, which is then rectified (turned into DC) and used to supply voltage to the vehicles' electrical system.

Ampere
The ampere is a unit of current. One ampere of current is the intensity of electron flow through a 1-ohm resistance under a pressure of 1V of potential difference.

Amplifier
A device that strengthens or enlarges an electrical signal.

Amplitude
The strength of the audio signal, regardless of the frequency. A reduction in the level of an audio signal.

Attenuator with Smooth Volume Return
Drops the volume by a preset level. Smooth Volume Return gradually increases the volume to the original level when the ATT button is pressed a second time, eliminating a jarring change in volume.

Audio/Video Outputs
The video output can be used with an additional monitor screen to display a different source than the one on the main screen, while the audio output can be connected to the vehicle's audio system

Automatic Memory Entry
Automatically programs 1 memory band (6 stations) in a given area, making it especially easy to find stations during long-distance travel.

B.M.S (Bass Management System)
A high Q-value bass entertainment circuit featuring variable center frequency (50Hz - 100Hz) and selectable 6dB or 12dB of enhancement. The high Q-value narrows the frequency range allowing strong bass enhancement while minimizing negative effects on the midrange.

Baffle
A flat panel that divides the front and rear sound waves produced by a woofer. Some times baffle is used to mean an enclosure or the front panel that the speaker is mounted on.

Bandpass Filter
A filter that removes certain portions of the higher and lower frequencies. Bandpass filters can be fixed in frequency and bandwidth, or variable.

Bass
The part of the frequency range made up of the low frequencies. Bass is generally agreed to be those frequencies between 20Hz and 400Hz.

Battery
An electrically connected group of cells (wired in series) that stores an electrical charge and supplies a direct current (DC).

Bi-amplification
Some speaker systems with multiple drivers do not contain a crossover network, and they require a separate amplifier for each frequency range. The bi-amplified system still requires an active or passive crossover network to send the proper frequency band to each amplifier and speaker, but it precedes the amplifier and speaker and does not handle the power amplifier output.

Bipolar Transistor
A transistor that contains two p or n junctions or diodes between two layers of opposite POLARITY material (emitter and collector).

Bit Mute
Shuts of the digital to analog converter output during silent passages, yielding absolute silence between songs

Blank Skip
Automatically skip blank tape sections longer than 10 seconds, stopping and playing at the next recorded section.

Bridged
In a multi-channel amplifier, the connection of two channels to drive a single load. The input signal is split, and then the phase of one of the signals is inverted. The non-inverted signal is sent to the left amplifier and the inverted signal is sent to the right amplifier (L+R-). The load is connected between the two outputs so it receives twice the voltage at a given input level. The resultant power is much greater than the two 4-ohm channels combined.

Butyl Rubber Surround
Butyl Rubber has greater internal loss than standard urethane, preventing harmonic distortion at higher frequencies. It more efficiently absorbs edge reflections that can cause audible distortion, resulting in clearer bass performance.

Capacitance
The property of an electric nonconductor that permits the storage of energy as a result of electric displacement when opposite surfaces of the nonconductor are maintained at a difference of potential. In a capacitor, capacitance is the measure of the property (the amount of charge that can be stored) equal to the ratio of the charge on either surface to the potential difference between the surfaces.

Capacitor
A device comprised of two or more conducting plates separated from each other by an insulating material and used for storing and electric charge.

CD Text
Displays text from encoded CDs on the unit's display. Text can include disc/song title and artist information, as well as disc genre (for example, 'Jazz', 'Classical', etc.

Charge
Stored energy in a battery or capacitor that is discharged as electrical energy.

Circuit
A number of components wired together to perform an electrical function. When voltage is applied, current flows and the function is performed.

Class
There are different classes of amplifiers, depending on how the biasing of the amplifier circuit is done.

Close
To come together, referring to contacts in a relay or switch. When the circuit is closed, the contacts are touching, completing the circuit.

Coil
A number of turns of wire around an iron core or onto a form made of insulating material. Used as an inductor, a coil offers a great deal of opposition to the passage of AC, but very little to the passage of DC. This device is good for use as a filter.

Compliance
An indication of the stiffness of a speaker suspension how easily the cone moves. It ranges from loose to stiff.

Concave Dust Cap
Offers greater contact area with the cone than convex dust caps. This provides a stronger bond and increased strength to the cone/dome structure.

Cone
The part of the speaker that moves the air around it to create sound waves. Also known as a diaphragm.

Crossover
A filter that blocks a specific range of frequencies from a particular device.

Crossover System
for the non-fading output in addition to high pass filters on the other outputs. The low- pass filter has selectable cutoff frequencies of 50Hz, 80Hz, 120Hz and through.

Crosstalk
The leakage of signal from one channel to another. Crosstalk is measured in Decibels as the ratio of desired signal to undesired signal; the higher the number the less the undesired signal.

Current
Expressed in Amperes, the flow or rate of electricity travelling from one point to another.

D MASK Removable Faceplate with Carrying Case
The user presses a button to rotate the faceplate forward and down, revealing the tape or disc loading slot located behind the faceplate. This allows a larger display containing more information that's easier to read. The faceplate can be removed while in the flip-down position, or the user can push the faceplate the rest of the way over, locking it with its blank rear panel exposed. The blank panel disguises the presence of the unit and eliminates the chance of losing a removable faceplate.

D MASK+: Self-Hiding Motorized Removable Faceplate with Carrying Case
Improved version of Kenwood's exclusive MASK technology. When the power is turned off, the unit's faceplate automatically revolves away from the unit and stops, allowing the user to remove the faceplate. If the faceplate isn't removed after a user-determined amount of time, it continues to revolve the rest the way over until it locks with its blank rear panel exposed. The blank panel disguises the presence of the unit and eliminates the chance of losing a removable faceplate. The tape, CD, or MD loading slot is behind the faceplate, allowing a larger LCD display containing more information that's easier to read.

Damper
Part of the suspension connected to the bottom of the cone at the voice coil that centers the voice coil in the air gap. It is sometimes referred to as the spider.

Damping Factor
The ratio of rated load impedance to the internal impedance of an amplifier. The higher the value, the more efficiently an amplifier can control unwanted movement of the speaker coil. A high damping factor is crucial for large speakers that reproduce bass.

dB (decibel)
The unit of measurement for sound, using a logarithmic scale. It is an expression of the relative loudness of a sound or power level.

dBr
A unit of measurement that indicates the decibel level relative to a reference level.

DC (Direct Current)
Current will flow in one direction from the DC source.

DC/DC Converter
A group of components within an amplifier that converts battery voltage (DC) into AC so that it can be increased by the switching devices and transformer and converted back to DC (rectified) to provide higher voltage to drive the amplification stage. Also called Power Supply.

Decibel (dB)
A logarithmic measure of amplitude. A unit for measuring what the ear hears.

Device
Used in this book to describe an electrical component in a circuit.

Digital Anti-Skip
A circuit that reads musical data from the disc, stores it in memory, then plays it back from the memory buffer, which results in less skipping caused by bumping or vibration. The more seconds of storage time in the buffer, the more protection against skipping.

Digital Filter
Circuit that removes unwanted digital artifacts from the signal which it is still in the digital domain, allowing the use of gentler-slopped, better sounding analog filters.

Digital Optimum Servo Control
Circuitry that enables the CD player to determine each disc's reflection rate and the modulation rate of its pits, enabling the player to set the ideal servo gain for each disc. DOSC also adjusts servo gain and balance when it encounters vibration, scratches, dust or fingerprints reducing mis-tracking and skipping.

Digital to Analog Converter
Circuit that converts digital data into an analog music signal.

Diode
A two terminal electronic device used to direct voltage/current in only one direction. In a bridged rectifier, diodes are used to convert AC to DC.

Direct Program Search System (DPSS)
Automates many tape functions, such as Song Search, Track Repeat, Rewind Play and Dash-and-Play.

Disabled System Indicator
An LED located behind the unit's removable faceplate that flashes when the faceplate is removed, indicating to potential thieves that the unit is inoperative.

Disc Naming
Lets the user program a title for each disc. The CD player reads the disc data and displays the name in its LCD display.

Disc Naming
Lets the user program a title for each disc. The disc player reads the disc data and displays the name in its display.

Discharge
In a capacitor, the release of stored energy to a load. In a batter, the conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy.

Displacement
The measurement of cubic volume that an item (such as a speaker or port) takes away from the internal volume of an enclosure. When designing an enclosure, this figure must be added to the enclosure volume.

Distortion
Any change in the waveform or harmonic content of a source signal.

Dolby Noise Reduction
Circuits that reduce tape hiss. Dolby B is the most common Noise Reduction circuit; Dolby C is more effective.

Double-Guttered Tape Head
A tape head with grooves that improve tape travel, reducing friction and head wear, and improving bass response.

DRIVE Distortion Reduction Circuitry
A circuit that uses several digital low pass filters and extremely high speed digital switching to eliminate digital distortion, improving musical clarity and detail.

DTS Digital Surround
Digital multi-channel sound delivery system that uses scalable data compression to deliver up to 6 independent channels of multi-channel film soundtrack or multi- channel music reproduction. The scalable compression rate allows performance to be maximized for any software delivery platform. Available on laser discs, CDs, and DVDs.

Dual-Zone Control
When used with an appropriate adapter or CD changer, the head unit can send it's internal sound sources (tuner and CD, MD or tape) to the front speakers and preout while simultaneously sending an external sound source (connected via the adapter or changer) to the rear speakers and preout, with independent volume control for each zone.

Dust cap
Part of the speaker that keeps foreign material from falling into the voice coil, which could hinder the speaker's movement and cut short it's life.

Dynamic Control (Automatic Level and Separation Control)
Automatically controls the level and separation of the FM modulator output to better match the FM radio's input. Reduces noise and distortion when playing CDs.

Dynamic Range
Expressed in decibels, the range of signal amplitudes (from the loudest to the quietest) that can be reproduced effectively by a piece of equipment. With respect to amplifiers, this range is defined by inherent noise at low levels and by overload distortion at high levels. The higher the number the better the performance.

Efficiency
The ratio of effective work to the energy expended to produce the work. The difference between the two is loss. In amplifiers, the loss is heat.

Electromagnetic Field
A field of magnetic energy in the woofer's voice coil created by the audio signal passing through the wire.

Electromagnetic Wave
A wave sent through space and matter by oscillating electric and magnetic fields.

Enclosure
A box housing a speaker to separate the front sound waves from those in the rear.

ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance)
Capacitors have an ESR expressed in ohms or mill-ohms. This loss comes from terminal lead resistance, termination losses and dissipation in the dielectric material.

Faceplate
the controls. In home audio systems this creates smooth, elegant front panel. In car audio products, the blank panel disguises the presence of the unit and eliminates the chance of losing a removable faceplate. Also, in car units the tape, CD or MD loading slot is behind the faceplate allowing a larger LCD display containing more information that is easier to read.

Flip-Down Removable Faceplate with Carrying Case
The faceplate rotates forward and down, revealing the tape or disc loading slot located behind the faceplate. This allows a larger display containing more information that's easier to read. The faceplate can be removed while in the flip-down position.

Flux
The flow of magnetic energy in a circuit.

Former
The cylinder portion of a speaker's voice coil; the wire is wound around this cylinder to form a coil.

Fourth-order rolloff
The frequency attenuation that occurs at a rate of 24 dB per octave.

Front/Rear Fader
Controls both the speaker level (power) and preamp level (front and rear RCA preouts) levels at the same time with a single control. This makes it easy to change the system's front/rear balance even if it has external amplifiers.

Full Bandwidth Power (less than 1% THD)
Unlike other brands, Kenwood head units are rated at full bandwidth power (from very low to very high frequencies) with less than 1% THD. This more accurately shows how the unit will perform when playing music.

Full-Logic Auto-Reverse Transport
A tape transport with a logic-controlled mechanism that uses 2 motors. One motor runs the tape and 1 changes modes. Besides providing smooth, silent transport control and tape movement, it allows additional features like Tape Advance, Blank Skip and repeat.

Fuse
A protective device that melts and opens the circuit when current exceeds it's rated value for a specific amount of time. The fuse is placed in series with the circuit that it is to protect.

Ground Isolation Circuit
A circuit that cancels noise from the input of the negative side of the RCA cable, preventing vehicle electrical noise from interfering with the music.

Heat dissipation
The ability to transfer heat away from a component into the air to prevent damage to the speaker.

Heat Sink
Part of the frame of the speaker used to conduct and radiate heat away from the motor assembly.

High Frequencies
The frequencies above 4kHz.

High Pass Filter
A filter that passes signals above a certain frequency (called the cutoff frequency).

High-Speed Multipath Control (CRSC) with ANRC
A circuit that controls multipath distortion by reducing stereo separation. As stereo separation is reduced, multipath has less effect on the radio signal, improving reception in areas with tall buildings or mountains.

Hz (Hertz)
The unit of measurement for frequency, equal to one cycle per second (cps).

Imaging
The effect of reproducing a sound stage faithful to that of an original recording. Represented, for instance, in the listener's ability to place a particular instrument at a single point, rather than to hear it as if spread throughout the sound field. Good imaging is often described in terms of channel separation and openness.

Impedance
The total opposition offered by an electric circuit to the flow of alternating current at a given frequency. It is a combination of resistance and reactance and is measured in ohms.

Induction
The establishment of an electromotive force and current in a conductor by variation of the magnetic field affecting the conductor, such as in a transformer. See DC/DC Converter.

In-Line Fuse
A fuse and holder incorporated into a length of supply wire.

Integrated Quad 1-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter
Four digital-to-analog converters, 2 for each channel, improve playback sound quality. Including musical detail and resolution. Using 2 converters for each channel reduces distortion by half.

Internal Loss
The ability of a material to absorb unnecessary vibration or resonance. If unchecked, this resonance produces distortion.

Intro Scan
Plays the first 10 seconds of the track or disc, making it easy to find a particular song or disc.

Inverter
Takes the input signal and applies a 180 degree phase shift.

Isolation
Electrical or acoustical separation to prevent the spread of noise and the effect on the signal of unwanted elements produced by internal or external devices.

ISO-Mound Capability for Japanese Vehicles
Unit has mounting holes designed to fit the factory brackets of many Japanese import vehicles. Units with removable faceplates have a removable faceplate trim ring for easy mounting.

Kenwood CR-2 Advanced Tuner
An Advanced tuner featuring improved rejection of multipath distortion (new CRSC). The CR-2 tuner retains the ANRC circuit found in the CR-1 tuner (see CR-1 listing for explanation).

Kenwood-Designed Superior Disc Transport
A disc transport mechanism that uses soft butyl rubber insulators for exceptional shock resistance, along with ceramic-injected silicon oil that absorbs jarring vibrations even at extreme temperatures, reducing skipping and mistracking.

LAPT Audio Transistors
High speed output transistors that operate over an extremely broad frequency range and produce minimal distortion even when handling large amounts of current.

LED (Light Emitting Diode)
A solid state diode that glows when current is passed through it.

Linear
1). Referring to mechanical movement, the ability of the voice coil to move in and out in the air gap without moving side-to-side. Non-linear movement can damage the voice coil. 2). Referring to speaker response, the ability to maintain power or movement without loss of drive force. 3). Referring to port operation, the relationship between the amount of air moving through the port vs. the amount of air moved by the cone. Non-linear response in a port causes audible distortion.

Linearity
In an audio device, the ability to accommodate the flow of the original source signal without distorting or altering it in anyway. A component is linear if it accurately reproduces the source signal regardless of the signal's frequency.

Load
The resistance or impedance to which energy is being supplied. In amplifiers, the speaker or speakers connected to the output of the amplifier.

Loss
The difference between potential energy output and actual energy output.

Loudness Control
Built-in EO curve designed to compensate for the human ear's lack of sensitivity to low and high frequencies at low volume levels, giving music a richer, fuller sound. It automatically defeats when the volume is approximately 3/4 of the maximum level.

Low Frequencies
The frequencies below 400Hz (bass).

LPF (Low Pass Filter)
A device that passes all frequencies below a certain cutoff point, while attenuating all frequencies above that point at a specified rate or slope.

Magnetic Circuit
The circuit that includes the magnet(s), the top plate, and the pole piece; they combine to create a magnetic field in the air gap where the voice coil sits.

Magnetic Flux
The current in a magnetic circuit.

Magnetic Flux Density
The measurement of magnetic flux inside the air gap.

MASK Self-Hiding Revolving
When the power is turned off, the unit's faceplate automatically turns over to hide

Memory Calendar
Scrolls a user-programmed message of up to 32-characters across the unit's display whenever the unit's power is turned on. The user can program a different message to appear on each day (up to 30 per month) for an entire year. Handy for birthday and anniversary reminders.

Metal Tape Selector
Provides smoother sound by allowing the user to select the proper equalization for playing back metal tapes.

Middle Frequencies
The frequencies above 400Hz but below 4kHz.

Modes
Normal mode displays 16:9 widescreen format pictures that fill the entire screen width and 4:3 (conventional TV) pictures display with black bare on either side; Full Mode expands 4:3 pictures horizontally to fill the entire width of the screen, distorting the picture slightly but retaining full image height; Just Mode expands 4:3 pictures horizontally only at the edges; Zoom Mode expands 4:3 pictures both horizontally and vertically, filling the screen without distorting the picture but cutting off the top and bottom edges.

Mono
The operation of an amplifier in one channel for both input and output. Can refer to an amplifier with only one channel of amplification.

MOSFET
A form of field effect transistor controlled by voltage rather than current, like a bipolar

Multiple Component Crossover Network
Crossover network utilizing several electronic elements that more accurately divide the sound between the different speaker units than the simple capacitors found in less sophisticated designs.

Negative Feedback Loop
A comparative circuit used in both audio applications (Sigma Drive, Sigma Servo) and voltage applications to ensure that a given circuit is performing appropriately.

Ohm
Electrical resistance equal to the resistance of a circuit in which an electromotive force of one volt maintains a current of one ampere.

Ohm Stable
The amplifier can operate safely when connected to a 2-ohm load (two 4-ohm speakers wired in parallel to one channel of the amplifier), producing up to 100% more power than if connected to a 4-ohm load.

Open
To pull apart, referring to contacts in a relay or switch. When the circuit is opened the contacts are no longer touching and no current flows.

Optical Touch Screen Control
Many features and adjustments can be accessed simply by touching the LCD screen. Touch is sensed optically, eliminating the picture degrading, touch sensitive membrane.

Output Stage Passive Component
The final section of amplification before the speaker terminal. In a crossover system, a non-powered component used to separate an audio signal into a specified frequency band before it goes to a particular amplifier or driver. A passive device usually presents some loss (expressed in decibels) to a system.

Peak Input Power
The amount of power a voice coil can withstand for short periods of time.

Pearl Mica Injection-Molded Polypropylene Cone
Polypropylene is used for speaker cones because of it's resilience, fast response and natural resistance to moisture. Our pearl mica crystals are uniform and form an overlapping structure that lends strength and heat resistance to the polypropylene. The injection-molding process results in uniform thickness and density in the cone wall. The results are tighter, clearer sound, reduced distortion and improved reliability.

Plus/Minus Power Source
Generates higher supply voltages to audio circuits enabling higher output levels with less noise and distortion. Additionally, the plus/minus power supply isolates the audio ground from the vehicle's chassis ground eliminating ground loops and interference.

Polarity
The condition of being positive or negative with respect to some reference point or connection.

Port Diameter
The measurement across the port opening. Measured as internal diameter (not outer diameter).

Port Length
The measurement of the length of the port.

Power Slide
Automatically opening sliding cover for an amplifier's top-mounted amplifier cooling fan. Power Slide opens automatically when the amplifier's operating temperature exceeds 176 F (80 C), and the top-mounted fan location increases cooling efficiency by 50%. Power Slide can also be opened manually (via controls on compatible head units) to allow manual adjustment of the amplifier's B.M.S. (Bass Management System). A single head unit can control multiple amplifiers with Power Slide.

Power Supply
See DC/DC Converter.

Precision Digital Timing (DPAC)
A high precision master clock circuit that is isolated from signal processing circuits to eliminate interference. This ensures that digital information is processed at exactly the same rate as it was recorded eliminating jitter (time based errors that make music sound harsh).

Primary
The input side of a transformer.

Programmable Security Code System
A user activated code system that prevents the unit from turning on after being disconnected from the battery unless a user selected 4 digit code number is entered. The unit cannot be operated by anyone who removes it from the car and doesn't know the code.

Quiet Turn On
Allows the amplifier to power up over a period of several milliseconds instead of instantaneously protecting speakers from thumps and other sounds that could be damaging.

Radio Data System (RDS)
Receives and displays text information broadcast by participating radio stations along with program material, allowing stations to be searched for by genre. RDS can also provide traffic and weather bulletins helping drivers avoid delays caused by traffic or weather conditions.

Radio Frequency (RF)
An alternating current or voltage with a frequency above about 100kHz. It's called radio frequency because these frequencies are radiated as electromagnetic waves by radio (and now television) stations.

Rectification
A conversion of Alternating Current (AC) into Direct Current (DC) by means of a rectifier.

Relay
An electromagnetic device that opens and closes electrical contacts.

Resonance
The vibration of a speaker's cone.

Resonant Frequency
The frequency at which a speaker cone vibrates the easiest - the point at which it has the most amplitude.

Ripple (Amplifier)
A train of pulses that occurs when AC is changed to DC via a rectifier. These pulses are left on the DC.

Ripple (Speaker)
The maximum deviation from fiat response, measured in decibels - it indicates the port's effect on woofer output.

Rolloff
The slope of a frequency curve that indicates its attenuation or rate of decrease.

Sealed Enclosure
A type of speaker enclosure with a specific internal volume of air to enhance the speaker's response.

Second Order
The frequency attenuation that occurs at a rate of 12 dB per octave.

Secondary
The output side of a transformer.

Selectable Screen Viewing
Lets users select the format that best matches the video program they are watching.

Sensitivity
The SPL rating at one meter from the speaker along its front center axis, using 1 watt of input.

Separate Bass and Treble Controls
Adjusts the bass and treble listening levels allowing users to adjust the music's tonal quality to suit their own tastes. Kenwood bass controls are centered at 100Hz; Kenwood treble controls are centered at 10kHz.

Short Circuit
A connection of one side of a power source to its other side (positive to negative).

Sigma Drive
A negative feedback loop that extends all the way to the amplifier's output terminals effectively suppressing distortion caused by all components within the amplifier. Sigma Drive lowers the amplifier's output impedance, which raises its damping factor (the ability to control unwanted speaker cone movement). Sigma Drive produces tighter more forceful bass response while reducing bass distortion.

Sigma Servo
A negative feedback loop that extends all the way to the speaker's input terminals, effectively suppressing distortion caused by all components within the amplifier, the speaker cable and the speaker itself. Sigma Servo lowers the amplifier's output impedance, which raises its damping factor (the ability to control unwanted speaker cone movement) by up to 10 times. Sigma Servo produces significantly tighter, more forceful bass response while reducing bass distortion.

Source Tone Memory
Remembers and recalls the more recent tone settings for each source (cassette, tuner, CD) eliminating the need for readjustments.

SPL (Sound Pressure Level)
The measurement (in dB) of the loudness level, as measured by changes in the air pressure caused by sound waves.

Station Name Preset Play
Lets the user find and select a preset radio station by its name.

Station Naming
Lets the user program a name for each preset radio station.

Stroke
The distance that the speaker cone or voice coil can travel in both directions.

Strontium
The chemical element used to produce the magnetic structure.

System E's + Advanced
Advanced version of System E's incorporating a phase switch and low-pass filter

System E's and E's+
A Kenwood designed electronic crossover management IC (integrated circuit) used in our head units.

System E's Crossover System
A single IC that allows the user to select from 8 different high-pass filter crossover frequencies plus pass-through, with independent selection for front and rear outputs. This makes it easy to optimize the performance of all amps and speakers in a car audio system. Additionally, system E's allow the user to switch the front preout to a non-fading output with level adjustment, for use with a subwoofer.'

System Q EX Sound Control
Five factory pre-set equalization curves (Rock, Top40, Pops, Jazz and Easy, plus a flat setting) and three speaker matching curves (OEM, 6x9, 5/4 plus a flat setting) that can be combines to give the user extreme flexibility over the sound's tonal character. The preset curves include midrange contouring, giving music more clarity and presence. System Q EX allows the user to modify the preset curves by changing the amplitude of the bass, midrange and treble compensation, and the Q of the bass and midrange compensation. The new curves can then be saved as presets for future recall.

System Q Sound Control
Five factory pre-set equalization curves (Rock, Top40, Pops, Jazz and Easy, plus a flat setting) and three speaker matching curves (OEM, 6x9, 5/4 plus a flat setting) that can be combined to give the user extreme flexibility over the sound's tonal character. The preset curves include midrange contouring, giving music more clarity and presence. The preset curves can also be combined with the unit's bass, midrange and treble controls allowing users to personalize the sound to their particular taste.

Tape Advance
Advances the tape one song by reaching for the next blank space between songs, making it easy to search for a skip a song.

TIL Voice Coil Bobbin
TIL is a glass fiber-reinforced polyamide film that is heat resistant, maintaining it's shape even in the larger coils used in high-power woofers. This increases the speaker's power handling and reliability.

Times Over-sampling Digital Filter
A circuit that removes most of the unwanted digital data from a digital audio waveform while it's still in digital form. This allows the use of much gentler, better-sounding analog filters when the digital waveform is converted back to an analog music signal.

Tornado Woofer Cone
A pearl mica injection-molded polypropylene cone that is formed with 3 raised circumferential ridges around the cone. The width of the ridges is graduated, making a “tornado”-like appearance. The ridges make the Tornado Cone much more rigid than conventional parabolic cones, with resonances that are more than an octave higher. Additionally, the Tornado Cone's resonances are of a more random nature than those of conventional cones, which reduces their intensity. Since these resonances are lower in amplitude and far above the woofer's useable frequency range, they are much less audible, producing markedly clearer, more detailed bass sound.

Toroldal Coil
An inductor or transformer whose core consists of a concentrically wound ribbon of magnetic material. Also used to filter noise on a DC supply line.

touch-tone Keys
Produces an audible tone each time a function key is pressed.

Trace
The path of conductive material that conveys voltage or current from one point to another on a printed circuit board. Traces add resistance to the circuit.

Transformer
An electrical device that can be used to provide circuitry isolation, signal coupling, impedance matching, or voltage step-up.

Transients
A non-repeating sound (such as percussion in music) or an abrupt change of voltage.

Tuner Call during FF/REW
Automatically switches to the last tuned radio station during tape fast forward or rewind.

Unloading
The tendency of an enclosure to produce no spring or pressure on the woofer. Unloading produces an uncontrollable over-excursion of the woofer cone (it vibrates out of control); the speaker will exhibit low power handling at lower frequencies.

Urethane Surround
Surround material with very high internal loss, which reduces speaker cone distortion.

Variable Resistor (VR)
A wire-wound resistor in which resistance can be changed to vary the amount of current or voltage that the resistor passes through the circuit.

Vented Enclosure
A type of speaker enclosure with a vent (or port). The combination of: 1). The specific internal volume of air and 2). The action of the port allowing some sound waves from the enclosure's interior to pass through, enhances the speaker's response.

Voice Coil
A coil of wire and the former (bobbin) around which the wire is wound. It is part of a speaker's electromagnetic motor that drives the cone to produce sound waves.

Voltage
Electromotive pressure that forces current through an electrical conductor. The difference of potential between any two conductors of a circuit.

Volume
The amount of space occupied in three dimensions (its cubic space) - In the case of enclosures, the space inside. It can also refer to the loudness of sound.

Watt
A watt (power) is the rate at which energy is expended or work is done.

Windings
The wire in a voice coil that is wound around the former (also called a bobbin) to create a coil.