Glossary Of Terms       Links To Manufacturer’s Websites       Speakers Main Page       How Speakers Work       Choosing Speakers
What’s A Woofer?      What’s A Midrange Speaker?       What’s A Tweeter?       What Are Dual-Cone/Voice-Coil Speakers?
2/3/4-Way Speakers       What’s A Capacitor?       Installing A Capacitor       What’s A Crossover?       What’s An Equalizer?
About Speaker Enclosures       About Power Amplifiers       Installing An Amplifier       Installation Tips       About Power Ratings
Installing Receivers       About Theile/Small Parameters       Eliminating Noise       Installing Neon/LED       Choosing Tools
Home Stereo Tech Information       Home Stereo FAQ       Home Stereo Glossary       About Home Stereo Speaker/Drivers

WELCOME
TO THE AUDIO/STEREO
TECHNINCAL EDUCATION
AND INFORMATION CENTER

Our goal here at STI is make you into a fully armed and dangerous audio/stereo consumer. To attain this exalted condition, you will need to know the terminology, the technology, the schemes and tricks of the automotive stereo trade, and gain some knowledge on the unique aspects of Home Stereo Systems as well.

On this website, you will find more than you ever wanted to know about audio/stereo equipment and systems but were afraid to ask. If you take a look at the navigation bar above, you will see that you can move around in this section quickly to find out what you need to know about speakers, amplifiers, speaker boxes & enclosures, and just about anything else. To help get you started, here's a little preview of exactly what you will find here.

GLOSSARY (Understanding Audio Terminology)
Ever wonder exactly what "MAX Power" means as opposed to "RMS?" Or what about "VAS," "dB," "THD," and all those other terms audiophiles tend to throw around? You will find all these answers and many many more in our Glossary. The Glossary is basically a dictionary of audio terms, with easy-to-understand explanations of what they mean.

Car Power
The first requisite for any car audio system is to make sure your vehicle has the electrical capacity to handle the demands of your dream system.

SPEAKERS
In the Speakers section you will find perhaps the most comprehensive explanation of the what, why, and how-to when it comes to speakers. Starting off with a some clear advice on how to choose the right speaker for your purposes, we follow with an illustrated explanation of exactly how speakers work and why. Next, we explain what the various types of speakers and crossovers are and what they are supposed to do. Then, vital information on correctly calculating impedances. And finally, for the very serious audiophile, we explain the what and wherefore of Theil/Small Parameters, the specifications you need to undersand in order to create the perfect speaker system and enclosure.

SPEAKER BOXES & ENCLOSURES
Whether you are buying or building a speaker box for your car or an enclosure for your home, you will find everything you need to know in this section. From a information on how to determine the perfect interior volume for various types and sizes of speakers, to a program you can download that will calculate all this for you, we offer expert advice on enclosures of all types.

HEAD UNITS / RECEIVERS
In this section, we explain in detail how to install or replace a head unit or receiver in your vehicle. It includes a chart for common wiring color codes. See recommended Tools.

AMPLIFIERS
Finally, we give a comprehensive explanation of amplifiers--what they do, how they do it, and which one would be just right for your needs. For the confusing matter of power, we have a page on, What's a Watt? We also provide plenty of information on general installation issues with tips on wire gauges, dealing with noise, and impedance matching.

HOME STEREO
In our Home Stereo Section, you will find a complimentary Glossary that addresses terminology unique to home stereo systems. In addition, there is a page answering some Frequently Asked Questions and another full of information on Home Stereo Speakers and Drivers.