Reference

The parameters, explained

Every check the engine runs, plus the room and listening settings that feed it — each explained three ways, from plain language to nerd-level detail.

Room & listening

i

Target SPLHow loud you actually listen, in decibels at your chair.Crest factorThe power gap between average loudness and brief musical peaks.Listening distanceHow far you sit from the speakers — sets how much power you need.Room gainFree bass reinforcement from walls, floor, and corners.

Digital

ii

Digital compatibilityBits match or they don't — and a working digital cable is sonically neutral.Interface clockingHow each digital connection handles the clock — the only place interfaces truly differ.Clock & jitterTiming specs (ps jitter, ppm accuracy) — reported for completeness, never as a fault.DSD rate ceilingWhen an input accepts DSD, but at a lower maximum rate than the source can send.D/A placementWhen two devices could do the D/A conversion, which one should?Digital connection choiceUSB, coax, optical or AES — ranked by clocking architecture and isolation, not sound.

Line-level

iii

Impedance bridgingThe receiving input should look ≥10× bigger than the sending output.Cable HF rolloffCable capacitance plus source impedance can gently roll off the top treble.Gain stagingEnough voltage to reach full output, without overloading the next input.

Speaker

iv

Power / headroomCan the amp hit your peak SPL at your seat, with margin to spare?Impedance stabilityIs the amp rated to survive the speaker's deepest impedance dip?Damping factorHow tightly the amp grips the woofer — cable resistance counts.Power handlingAmp power vs speaker rating — and why a small amp is the real danger.

Headphone

v

Drive capabilityBoth voltage and current must clear what your peaks demand.Output-impedance ratioHeadphone impedance should be ≥8× the amp's output, or tone shifts.