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ICE Terms Explained...

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After seeing a few threads where people don't seem to understand what certain terms are, I thought I'd put together a little glossary of ICE (In Car Entertainment) terms for quick reference :)

Thanks to Google/Wikipedia for some definitions where I couldn't find the words :lol:

The terms are split roughly into sections, relating to different parts of yoru typical ICE build/Audio Install. Feel free to add to the list if anyone can think of any more!

HEAD UNITS - aka HU's, H/Us etc

AUTOMATIC VOLUME CONTROL - Head unit's volume automatically increases along with car's speed (e.g. JVC's Cruise Control) to account for increases in engine noise/road noise

FADE/FADER - A headunit control which balances sound from front to rear in a four speaker set-up

LOUDNESS - This setting will boosts low frequencies but may cut out a amount of treble

MASH - Panasonic's trademark sound processor

POWER FADER - see FADE/FADER

PRE-AMP - This function has controls for volume, bass and treble but the h/u has no on-board amplification

QRB - Quick Release Bracket, for retro extractable units (popular before face-off h/u's)

UNILINK - Sony bi-directional 8-pin BUS connector for connecting various Sony products.


RADIO TUNERS

AUTOSTORE - The h/u will continually search for and store various stations in order of signal strength.

DAB - Digital Audio Broadcasting. aka Digital Radio.

CT - Clock Time. See RDS.

EON - Enhanced Other Networks. Allows interruption of RDS bulletins from other local stations. (See RDS below).

PI - Programme Identification.

PLL - Phase Locked Loop - Keeps FM signals locked on station.

PRESETS - Stations which can be held in a H/U's memory for single-button tuning.

PTY - Programme Type e.g. Classics, Light Music, Others.

RDS - RADIO DATA SYSTEM - Traffic information system on FM. RDS shows station name display (PI) and delivers traffic bulletins (TP/TA) Also locks onto best possible frequency for a station in a particular part of the country (AF) Can display time and date on the receiver (CT) Sets with PTY (Programme Type) will automatically tune into a station broadcasting Pop, Classical, News etc.

TP/TA - Traffic Programme/Traffic Announcement. See RDS.



CD PLAYERS

AAC - Advanced Audio Coding. An audio codec developed by the organisation that is responsible for the MPEG standards. It can achieve audio encoding with a much higher compression efficiency than previous formats such as MP3.

CD-R COMPATIBLE - Plays CD’s which were recorded using a CD-R recorder.

CD-RW COMPATIBLE - Plays CD’s which were recorded using a CD-RW recorder. These CD’s can be erased and re-recorded.

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 eg Jazz/Classical etc

DAC - Digital-to-Analogue Converter.

INTRO SCAN - Plays approximately the first 10 seconds of every track on a tape/CD.

MP3 - MPEG Audio Layer 3. A data format for compressing and storing data. Using MP3 format, the equivalent of 10 normal CD’s can be stored on a single CD-R disc.

WMA - Windows Media Audio. An audio encoding/decoding system enabling compression of data on a CD to up to 1/20 its original volume. Using WMA format, the equivalent of 20 normal CD’s can be stored on a single CD-R disc - double that of MP3 format.

CASSETTE PLAYERS

AUTO BLANK SKIP - Usually accompanies track search and allows the user to skip from the end of one track to the beginning of the next missing out any blank or unrecorded passages on the tape.

DNR - Dynamic Noise Reduction. Similar to Dolby but not as effective!

FULL LOGIC - A mechanism which lets you control cassette operation with just a light touch on control keys.

INTRO SCAN - Plays approximately the first 10 seconds of every track on a tape/CD.

POWER LOADING - System loads and ejects CD or tape automatically.

PROGRAMME SELECTOR - Cassette function, which allows user to switch from one side to the other.

WOW AND FLUTTER - Caused by any variation in the speed of the tape transport. The lower the figure the better and hence the lower the level of variation through the speakers.

TRACK SEARCH - Tape facility, which means you can rewind or forward to the next track and in some cases to any selected track.

AMPLIFIERS & CROSSOVERS

BANDPASS FILTER - A combination of high and low pass filters connected in series with an overlap between the lower and upper frequencies, usually used for the mid-range in a 3-way component system.

BRIDGEABLE TO MONO - Where the two separate output channels can be combined to give a mono signal.

CROSSOVER - A selective filter, which splits signals into different frequency bands that can be fed independently to separate speakers. A passive crossover filters signals after they have been amplified. An active crossover (more effective and flexible) filters signals before amplification, sending different signals to different amps.

GAIN - Degree of signal amplification, achieved by an amp, tuner or pre-amp circuit. Expressed in decibels (dB).

MOSFET - Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor. Amplifier power supply switching device designed for optimum performance. 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.

PRE-AMP FADER - Adjusts front/rear balance at pre-amp level, used in combination with pre-outs and external amplifiers.

PRE-AMP OUTPUT - A pre-amp output (pre-out) on a head unit allows the addition of an amp or other peripherals when system building.

RMS - Root Mean Square, a realistic measurement of the maximum output of an amplifier. The higher the figure the more powerful the unit.

SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO - Indicates how much irritating background hiss is produced as a proportion of the full output power. Numbers higher than 90dB are acceptable. A good indicator of the quality of the amp.



SPEAKERS

COAXIAL - see "2-WAY" and "3-WAY" above.

2-WAY - A speaker system with two types of drivers.

3-WAY - A speaker system made up of three different types of drivers.

BASS - The lower end of the frequency spectrum, sometimes also known as mid-bass in speakers when part of an install that also has a subwoofer.

COMPONENTS - Separate speakers, usually a tweeter and mid-range with appropriate crossover.

DUAL CONE - Speakers which have two cones; the second cone is usually much smaller and glued directly to the centre of the main cone although it has just one voice coil.

FREE-AIR - Term relating to subwoofers which are designed to work most efficiently in free air using the boot for example, as an enclosure. Also known as 'infinite baffle'.

FULL RANGE - Speakers designed to give a wide frequency response.

HIGH PASS FILTER - (Capacitor) Essentially allows more signal to pass through the higher the signal gets, typically used and supplied with tweeters.

INFINITE BAFFLE - See FREE-AIR

LOW PASS FILTER - (Inductor or Choke) Allows more signal to pass through the lower the signal gets - ideal for a sub.

MDF - Medium Density Fibreboard. Used for building bass enclosures, door panels etc.

MIDRANGE - As the name suggests, frequencies in the middle of the frequency range.

PORTED - If the port length and diameter is correctly matched to the box volume and subwoofer's characteristics it will greatly increase efficiency and a good ported box offers lower distortion.

TWEETERS - Speakers which produce the higher frequencies (treble), they are generally fairly small (~1inch diameter is normal).

SUB BASS - The low frequencies/notes in a system.

SUBWOOFERS - Large speakers designed to produce the low frequencies, designed to be used in a cabinet, tube or free-air application.


MISCELLANEOUS/OTHER TERMS

DAT - Digital Audio Tape. Medium used in the pro sector for reproducing pre-recorded material in digital format on tape.

DIN - DIN E is the German standard of measurement for most in-dash players to enable sets to be fitted in standard slots.

DSP - Digital Sound (Signal) Processor. Lets you programme a listening environment pattern and change the sound to suit the music. A type of super equaliser.

HERTZ - Unit of measurement for frequency, usually written as Hz.

OHM - A measurement used of how much the flow of electricity is restricted or "impeded". The higher the measurement the higher the resistance, often written as Ω. Lower impedance of an amplifier or sub will mean that it is capable of handling greater power for longer times without distortion and/or damage/

RTA - Real Time Analyser. Piece of equipment, which measures frequency esponse and SPL level.

SPL - Sound Pressure Level. Monitored using a Oscilloscope and measured in decibels - basically the amount of volume produced.

SQ - Sound Quality. This type of ICE install is designed to produce a clearer, more accurate sound than an SPL install, however in simple terms it won't be as loud!

STAGING - Where the listening perceives the origin of the music to be coming from.
 
Last edited:
Can I add something to this ??

Where you explain the 2-way and 3-way speakers .. might be usefull to note that these are known as Coaxial speakers. Important to know for example when buying online (where you dont have the product in front of you - despite pictures) and if you dont know what Coaxial means, you could end up getting the wrong sort of speaker :)
 
done :)
 

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