Tuner memory
The number of radio stations that can be stored in the tuner's memory.
By itself, the memory greatly simplifies the work with the tuner. Instead of having to manually search for your favorite stations each time, it is enough to “remember” them and in the future simply select the desired wave from the list in the receiver’s memory. The number of memory cells in modern audio systems can reach several tens; this will be especially useful for residents of metropolitan areas, where there are many stations on the air, as well as for those who often have to travel and tune
the receiver to local frequencies.
Hi-Res Audio
The speaker supports high-resolution audio
Hi-Res Audio. The corresponding format is designed to provide sound close to that recorded in the studio. Hi-Res Audio refers to a digital signal with parameters starting from 96 kHz/24 bits, and for analogue equipment there is a requirement for an extended frequency response - from 40 kHz. Audio tracks in this format sound as close as possible to the original ideas of the authors of the compositions. The Hi-Res license marks premium solutions for avid audiophiles.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity determines the intensity of the acoustics response to a signal of a certain level; Simply put, the higher this figure, the higher the volume of the speaker system will be at the same signal level. Note that in the case of audio systems, this parameter plays a secondary role: it is important for selecting acoustics for an amplifier, and here both of these components are in most cases optimally matched by the manufacturer to each other.
Impedance
The term "impedance" refers to the resistance of a speaker system to alternating current. Note that in the case of audio systems, this parameter plays a secondary role: it is important for selecting acoustics for an amplifier, and here both of these components are in most cases optimally matched by the manufacturer to each other. Therefore, in fact, information about the impedance can be useful only when looking for speakers to replace the complete ones: it is highly desirable that the new acoustics have the same impedance as the standard ones.
Frequency range
The total frequency range reproduced by the acoustics of an audio system. Measured from the lower threshold of the lowest frequency speaker to the upper threshold of the highest frequency: for example, in a 2.1 system with main speakers at 100 – 22000 Hz and a subwoofer at 20 – 150 Hz, the total value will be 20 – 22000 Hz.
In general, the wider the frequency range, the fuller the reproduced sound will be, the less low and high frequencies will be lost due to insufficient acoustic capabilities. On the other hand, do not forget that the actual sound quality also depends on a number of other parameters — primarily the frequency response. In addition, human audible frequencies range from 16 Hz to 22 kHz; deviations from these values are very small, and the upper limit also decreases with age. Therefore, from a practical point of view, it does not make sense to provide too large a frequency range; and impressive performances like 10 – 50000 Hz, found in top-class models, are usually more of a kind of "side effect" of high-quality speakers (and at the same time — a marketing ploy) than a really significant moment.
Bass Boost
Bass boost function for powerful and rich bass. Often implemented as a single button, with which you can actually "turn the bass on and off." This is more convenient than adjusting the low frequencies using the equalizer; in addition, various special technologies can be used to enhance the bass.
More features
—
Omnidirectional sound. As the name implies, audio systems with this feature radiate sound evenly in all directions, covering a space of 360°. Thus, the device can be installed in the centre of the room and evenly “fill” it with sound, which will be clearly perceived at any point. On the other hand, an omnidirectional system usually sounds 1.0 (mono); the design may include various tricks to ensure surround sound, but these still in most cases do not reach full stereo.
—
Voice assistant. Audio support for voice assistant. The most popular nowadays are such assistants:
However, other solutions are also possible. Anyway, it is worth noting that this is not about the function of the audio system itself, but about compatibility with smartphones, tablets and other gadgets that have their own voice assistants. Thus, to use the voice assistant, you will have to connect the audio system to an external device. On the other hand, the capabilities of such assistants are usually more extensive than those of built-in
voice control systems(see below); advanced features are often supported, such as natural speech recognition with complex queries (“Play the last album of the band … that I listened to”), weather fore
...cast, sports scores, etc. Of course, the specific set of supported commands and languages \u200b\u200bcan be different — depending on the voice assistant and its version.
— Voice control. A feature that is virtually mandatory for smart speakers (see "Intended Use") and hardly found in other types of audio systems. As the name implies, this control allows you to control the device using voice commands. It differs from the voice assistant (see the relevant paragraph) in that in this case we are talking about the simplest commands related to the main functionality of the audio system — for example, "Stop", "Continue", "Next track", etc. It is worth having in mind that voice control is almost guaranteed to support English, but the ability to recognize other languages should be specified separately.
— Smartphone control. The ability to control the audio system from a smartphone, tablet or other gadget with a special application installed on it. Usually, the connection is made via Wi-Fi (see "Interfaces"). The convenience of this function lies not only in the fact that you can control the system from a distance — the application is often more convenient and provides more options than the controls on the radio itself.
— Multiroom support. Device support for Multiroom technology. This technology allows you to create a single wireless network in the house from several speakers located in different rooms, and simultaneously play music in all these rooms. The specific features of such networks in different models may be different, they should be specified separately. So, some devices use a Bluetooth connection, others use Wi-Fi (directly or via a local network). In some cases, the control speaker broadcasts sound to all the others, and the same music plays throughout the house, in others, the speakers are “equal”, and different tracks can be turned on simultaneously in different rooms. Some audio systems require an external sound source (smartphone, tablet, etc.), others are capable of playing the role of a player themselves, including for streaming Internet services.
— Karaoke. A popular entertainment that allows users to sing their favorite songs to the backing track (musical accompaniment with the original vocals cut out) — in such a way that the vocals superimposed on the backing track are played through the acoustics of the audio system. This feature requires at least one microphone input.
— Karaoke Mix. An extended version of karaoke (see above), which provides various additional features — for example, performance evaluation in points, singing competitions, etc. Usually, it allows you to connect two microphones already.
— Internet radio. Ability to listen to Internet radio stations on the audio system. In general, such broadcasting is similar to conventional broadcasting, however, it is carried out not through the radio, but through the World Wide Web, which provides some additional features. So, Internet broadcasting has no restrictions on the range and ranges, allows you to listen to programs from any country and in any language; and the list of broadcasters is extremely extensive, among them there are both traditional radio stations duplicating their programs on the Internet, and specific, purely network projects. The presence of this function assumes support for at least one network interface — Wi-Fi or LAN (see "Interfaces").
— Recording to a USB drive. The ability of the audio system to record to an external USB device — for example, a USB flash drive. In this way, you can record your favorite radio programs from a conventional tuner or Internet station (see above), copy music from optical discs, etc.; Specific USB recording capabilities vary by audio system model.
— Clock. Ordinary clock — a device for displaying time, most often in the form of numbers on the display. Sometimes these hours are the most convenient. In addition, this function is necessary for some other features — primarily the alarm clock (see below).
— Alarm. A classic alarm clock that sounds at a set time. It can be useful not only for wake-up calls, but also in other cases when you need to warn the user about the arrival of a certain time. A feature of this function in audio systems is that the inclusion of a specific radio station or musical composition can be used as a signal.
— Shutdown timer. A feature that allows the audio system to turn off automatically after a user-defined time. Thanks to the timer, you can, for example, turn on relaxing music to fall asleep and fall asleep peacefully — the audio system will turn off on its own.
— Nightlight. The presence in the audio system of its own built-in lamp of low power, which allows it to be used as a night lamp. A night light can be useful for both young children and adults who are uncomfortable falling asleep in complete darkness; in addition, it can come in handy in situations where you have to get up in the middle of the night or early in the morning, before sunrise — at least with the light from the nightlight, it's easier to get to the main switch.Outputs
—
RCA. The RCA interface uses coaxial cables, with characteristic "tulip" plugs, and the corresponding connectors. It can be used to transfer different types of data, however, in this case, it means outputting an audio signal in analogue format, one channel of audio per connector. RCA is widely used in modern audio technology, but its resistance to interference is very limited.
— Mini-Jack (3.5 mm). One of the standard connectors in modern audio equipment, it is widely used in portable devices, as well as for connecting headphones. However, we note that in this case we mean the jack responsible for the line output — an interface for transmitting an audio signal in analogue format to an external device, such as an amplifier. The headphone jack is listed separately in our catalog, even if it belongs to the 3.5 mm mini-Jack standard; See below for details on headphone output.
—
Coaxial S / P-DIF. An electrical version of the S / P-DIF standard, using a coaxial cable with a “tulip” connector for signal transmission. Do not confuse this interface with the analogue RCA described above — despite the identity of the connectors, these standards are fundamentally different: "coaxial" works in digital format and even multi-channel audio can be transmitted over a single cable. Compared to
optical S/P-DIF, this interface is less resistant to interference, but more rel
...iable because electrical cables are not as delicate.
— Optical. One of the varieties of the S / P-DIF standard is, along with the coaxial one described above. In this case, the signal is transmitted via a TOSLINK fiber optic cable. The main advantage of this interface is its complete insensitivity to electrical interference, while its capabilities are sufficient even to work with multi-channel audio. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the high price of connecting cables, as well as the need for careful handling of them.
— Subwoofer. A separate output for connecting an external subwoofer — a specialized low-frequency speaker. The use of such a speaker allows you to significantly improve the sound of low frequencies, make the bass powerful and rich, which general-purpose speakers are not capable of. Note that such an output can also be useful in systems with a built-in subwoofer — external "subwoofers" are in most cases more powerful and provide more options for adjusting the sound.
— Headphones. Separate headphone output. Most often, a standard 3.5 mm mini-Jack or 6.35 Jack is used for this purpose, but there may be other options — for example, a manufacturer's proprietary connector. Anyway, headphones can come in handy in situations where you need to keep quiet — for example, if you want to listen to music at a late time when others are already sleeping — or vice versa, in noisy environments when ambient sounds drown out the speakers of the audio system.
— Composite. The full-size composite interface includes three connectors — one for video transmission and two for left and right stereo channels. However, in this case, a composite output usually means only a video connector (the standard acoustics of the audio system are responsible for the sound, it usually makes no sense to broadcast it to a TV). Anyway, this output allows you to connect the audio system not only to the latest, but also to frankly outdated TVs. Its disadvantages are poor image quality and incompatibility with HD.
— Component. Output for transmitting video signal in analogue format. Outwardly similar to the composite interface described above, because also uses three RCA cables; however, in this case, these cables carry three components of the video signal (hence the name). The component interface is considered the most advanced among the popular analogue video standards, it provides the highest image quality among them and is even capable of working with HD resolutions. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the impossibility of transmitting sound — this will require a separate connection.
— S video. Analogue interface for video transmission. In some way similar to the component described above, since it also provides separate wires for transmitting video signal components; however, in this case there are only two of these wires. This, on the one hand, allowed us to limit ourselves to one connector instead of several, on the other hand, it slightly reduced the quality of the “picture” and limited the bandwidth, so HD is out of the question with such a connection.
— SCART. Universal audio/video interface using a characteristic large 21-pin connector (20 pins plus a rim around the connector). For a long time it was the standard for European video equipment, but today it is considered obsolete due to its low bandwidth and significant dimensions. Note that SCART can work with signals of different formats, which allows the use of adapters — in particular, for connecting external devices via composite and component interfaces.
— HDMI. Universal digital interface that allows you to transfer HD-video and multi-channel audio over a single cable. It is practically a standard for modern video equipment, in particular, it is present in most TVs. In audio systems, this type of output is used in the same way as the coaxial S / P-DIF described above — that is, to output the audio signal in digital form.USB for charging gadgets
The ability to use the audio system to charge devices connected to it – pocket audio players, mobile phones, etc. For this usually a
USB port is used (microUSB or USB-C in modern models); some models are able to play music from an external gadget right in the process of charging.