Q

System losses or relevant damping in an enclosure. Defined as the ratio of stored to dissipated energy.

Q't

The total Q of a speaker's suspension when considering the load of the sealed chamber of a 4th order enclosure.

Qec

The Q of a speaker in a sealed box considering only electrical resistance.

Qes

The Q of a speaker at Fs considering only electrical resistance.

QL

The Q of a vented box resulting from box losses.

Qmc

The Q of a speaker in a sealed box considering only mechanical resistance.

Qms

The Q of a speaker at Fs considering only mechanical resistance.

Qtc

The measurement of a speaker and enclosure working together as one.

Qts

The Q of a speaker at Fs in free air considering both electrical and mechanical resistance.

Quasi-Parametric

A type of equalizer. A quasi-parametric (also known as "semi-parametric") EQ will allow control over the frequency and gain of each band of equalization, but not the number of frequencies controlled (bandwidth). The midrange EQs on mixing consoles are often quasi-parametric. More flexible in some ways than a graphic EQ, a quasi-parametric EQ does not offer the full range of adjustment found in a fully parametric design.

Quick Release Terminal

A means for securing a wire conductor to a terminal connector that permits easy attachment and removal. In the usual form, this will involve a spring-loaded clip, which needs only to be pressed to either secure or detach a cable end.

Quiescent Current

The term given to describe the amount of current consumed by a circuit when it is not performing any work.