W
W-VHS: Variant of the VHS videotape format used to record analog high definition video. W-VHS tapes and recorders were extremely expensive and never saw widespread use. Replaced by D-VHS. See D-VHS.
Walsh Driver: Loudspeaker driver developed by Lincoln Walsh, a famous electrical and audio engineer. In its pure form, a Walsh driver uses a single, downward-facing cone in a sealed enclosure to reproduce the entire audio range from low bass to high treble, radiating the sound in 360 degrees. The angle of the cone and use of materials that conduct sound supersonically allow the Walsh driver to reproduce waveforms more accurately than any other speaker (time and phase coherence), but tremendous power is required and the speakers were somewhat fragile. Modern Walsh designs are sold by Ohm Acoustics of Brooklyn, NY. These designs incorporate a ported cabinet to improve sensitivity and a supertweeter to augment high frequencies, making these speakers two-way designs that provide much of the benefit of a pure Walsh driver, without the drawbacks. See Acoustic Suspension, Omnidrectional Loudspeaker, Phase Coherence, Ported Loudspeaker, Time Coherence and Sensitivity.
Watt: Measurement of power. In electrical terms, watts is voltage multiplied by current.
Watts Per Channel: Number or watts an amplifier can produce for each amplifier channel. Please note that some amplifier or receiver specifications do not measure watts per channel with all channels driven, so a 5-channel receiver rated at 75 watts per channel could not produce 75 watts x 5 channels continuously. See the component’s specifications for more information. If a receiver or amplifier’s spec sheet says, “75 watts per channel x 5, all channels driven” then it can produce 75 watts x 5 channels continuosly.
Warm Sound: Sound with a pleasing, “warm” tone that lacks pronounced high frequencies and favors the midrange and upper-bass frequencies. Most listeners find warm sound pleasing, though it may not be strictly accurate.
WAV: Uncompressed audio format used for computer audio.
Wide-Angle: A lens with a greater than normal angle of view. In 35mm equivalent terms, lenses 35mm and below are considered wide-angle. See 35mm Equivalent.
WMV: Windows Media Video, a file format used for computer video applications. A version of WMV 9 became VC-1, a video codec used on Blu-ray Discs and HD DVDs.
Wolfson: Wolfson is a manufacturer of digital-to-analog converters (DACs.) Wolfson DACs are known for superior sound quality, so manufacturers using them in their components will often state “Wolfson DACs” as a selling point, assuring the customer of superior audio quality. Wolfson Microelectronics is abased in Edinburg, U.K. See DAC.
Woofer: Low-frequency driver in a loudspeaker. Name is derived from “woof,” the low-pitched sound of a dog barking.
Wow and Flutter: Specification used to describe speed variations. As digital components can reproduce sound with little or no variation, wow and flutter is mostly used with analog devices such as tape decks and turntables.
