Here is a glossary of Audio Visual (AV) terms and abbreviations covering consumer electronics, home theatre, professional AV, displays, networking AV, and sound technologies.
🎧 AUDIO VISUAL (AV) MASTER GLOSSARY
A
AAC (Advanced Audio Codec) – Digital audio compression format commonly used for streaming.
Acoustic Treatment – Materials used to improve sound quality in a room.
Active Speaker – Speaker with built-in amplifier.
Adapter – Device converting one connection type to another.
Adaptive Sync – Technology matching display refresh rate to source frame rate.
ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) – Re-recording dialogue in post-production.
AES/EBU – Professional digital audio connection standard.
AirPlay – Wireless streaming technology for audio/video.
Ambient Lighting – Background lighting for viewing environments.
Amplifier (Amp) – Device increasing audio signal power.
Analog Signal – Continuous electrical signal representing sound or video.
Anamorphic – Widescreen image formatting technique.
ARC (Audio Return Channel) – HDMI feature sending audio from TV to receiver.
Aspect Ratio – Width-to-height ratio of an image (16:9, 21:9).
Atmos (Dolby Atmos) – Object-based surround sound technology.
Attenuation – Reduction in signal strength.
AV Receiver (AVR) – Central hub for home theatre audio/video switching and amplification.
B
Balanced Audio – Noise-resistant audio transmission using three conductors.
Bandwidth – Data transmission capacity.
Bass – Low-frequency audio range.
Bass Reflex – Speaker enclosure with port to enhance bass.
Bit Depth – Audio resolution measurement (16-bit, 24-bit).
Bitrate – Amount of data processed per second in media.
Bluetooth Audio – Wireless audio transmission technology.
Blu-ray – High-definition optical disc format.
Brightness (Nits) – Display luminance measurement.
C
Calibration – Adjusting equipment for accurate audio/video performance.
Center Channel – Speaker for dialogue in surround sound.
Chroma Subsampling – Colour compression method (4:2:0, 4:4:4).
Chromecast – Wireless media streaming technology.
Clipping – Audio distortion from excessive signal level.
Coaxial Cable – Shielded cable for audio/video signals.
Codec – Compression/decompression technology.
Color Gamut – Range of colours display can reproduce.
Color Temperature – Measurement of display colour tone (Kelvin).
Composite Video – Analog video signal using one cable.
Compression – Reducing file size or dynamic range.
Contrast Ratio – Difference between darkest and brightest display levels.
Crossover – Frequency divider sending signals to specific speakers.
D
DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) – Converts digital audio to analog sound.
Dante – Network-based professional audio protocol.
Decibel (dB) – Measurement of sound level.
Delay – Time offset in audio signals.
Digital Signal – Binary-based signal.
DisplayPort – Digital video interface standard.
Dolby Digital – Surround sound compression format.
Dolby Vision – HDR video format.
Downmix – Converting multi-channel audio to fewer channels.
Driver (Speaker) – Component producing sound.
E
eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) – High-bandwidth HDMI audio return.
Equalizer (EQ) – Audio frequency adjustment tool.
Ethernet AV – Audio/video over network systems.
F
Frequency (Hz) – Number of sound waves per second.
Frequency Response – Range of frequencies a device reproduces.
Full Range Speaker – Speaker covering wide frequency range.
Frame Rate (FPS) – Video frames per second.
G
Gain – Signal amplification level.
Gamma – Display brightness curve.
Gigabit Ethernet – High-speed network connection for AV streaming.
H
HD (High Definition) – Video resolution standard (720p, 1080p).
HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) – Copy protection system.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) – Expanded brightness and colour range.
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) – Digital audio/video cable standard.
Home Theatre – Residential AV entertainment system.
I
Impedance (Ohms) – Electrical resistance of speakers/headphones.
Input Lag – Delay between signal input and display output.
Interlaced Video (1080i) – Alternating scan video format.
IR (Infrared) – Remote control communication method.
J
Jitter – Timing errors in digital signals.
K
Keystone Correction – Projector image alignment adjustment.
KVM – Keyboard, video, mouse control system.
L
Latency – Delay in audio/video processing.
LED Display – Screen using light-emitting diodes.
Line Level – Standard audio signal level.
Lip Sync – Audio/video timing alignment.
Loudness – Perceived sound volume.
M
Matrix Switcher – Routes multiple AV sources to multiple displays.
Midrange – Middle audio frequencies.
Mixer – Device combining audio signals.
Mono Audio – Single channel sound.
Multiroom Audio – Audio across multiple rooms.
N
Noise Floor – Background noise level.
Nits – Display brightness unit.
O
OLED – Self-emitting display technology.
Optical Audio (TOSLINK) – Digital fiber audio connection.
Overscan – Cropping of display edges.
P
Passive Speaker – Speaker requiring external amplifier.
Peak Brightness – Maximum display brightness.
Phantom Power – Power supplied through audio cables to microphones.
Pixel – Smallest display unit.
PoE (Power over Ethernet) – Power delivered through network cable.
Preamp – Signal amplification before main amplifier.
Projection Mapping – Video projection onto surfaces.
Progressive Scan (1080p) – Full frame video scanning.
Q
QLED – Quantum dot LCD display technology.
R
Receiver – Device processing audio/video signals.
Refresh Rate (Hz) – Screen update frequency.
Resolution – Pixel count (4K, 8K).
RGB – Colour model using red, green, blue.
Room Correction – Automatic audio calibration system.
S
Sampling Rate (kHz) – Audio samples per second.
Saturation – Colour intensity.
Screen Gain – Projector screen reflectivity.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) – Signal clarity measurement.
Smart TV – Internet-connected television.
Soundbar – Compact speaker system for TVs.
Speaker Sensitivity – Loudness per watt measurement.
SPDIF – Digital audio interface.
Stereo – Two-channel audio.
Subwoofer – Low-frequency speaker.
Surround Sound – Multi-channel audio system.
T
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) – Audio distortion measurement.
THX – Audio/video performance certification.
Tone Control – Bass/treble adjustment.
Transducer – Device converting energy forms (speaker/microphone).
Tuner – Radio signal receiver.
U
Upscaling – Increasing video resolution artificially.
USB Audio – Digital audio via USB connection.
V
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) – Dynamic display refresh matching content.
Video Wall – Multiple displays forming one large screen.
W
Watt (W) – Power measurement.
Waveform – Visual representation of sound.
Wireless Audio – Cable-free audio transmission.
X
XLR – Professional balanced audio connector.
Y
YUV – Video colour encoding format.
Z
Zone Audio – Independent audio areas in AV systems.
Published 17th Feb. 2026