HI-FI
Electroacoustics / Soundscape Studies

Abbr. for high-FIDELITY, that is, a system reproducing a full audio frequency SPECTRUM (20 to 20,000 Hz) and a favourable SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO. The most general use of the term is in ELECTROACOUSTICs, such as when applied to an AMPLIFIER or a recording.

Compare: QUALITY, PRESENCE. See also: DYNAMIC RANGE.

In terms of SOUNDSCAPE studies, the hi-fi environment is one where all sounds may be heard clearly without being crowded or MASKed by other sounds and NOISE.

Compare: LO-FI. See: ACOUSTIC SPACE, CLAIRAUDIENCE, FEEDBACK, SOUND EVENT, SOUNDWALK.

Sound Example: A piazza in Cembra, Italy, with voices and footsteps in the foreground, a more distant church bell, and a choir from another church in the middle ground.

Sound Example: A DC elevator in an old building in Vancouver. Note the absence of electrical hum.

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