Monaural Sound

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What Does Monaural Sound Mean?

Monaural sound is an audio system in which audio signals are mixed and then routed through a single audio channel. Considered less expensive for audio reproduction and recording, as only basic devices are required, it is mainly used in hearing aids, cellphone and telephone communications, public address systems and radio communications. Mono is the preferred audio format when the focus is on clarity of a single amplified sound or voice.

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Monaural sound is also known as monophonic sound or simply mono.

Techopedia Explains Monaural Sound

Monaural sound is the basic format for sound output. In the case of monaural sound reproduction, only a single microphone and loudspeaker are required. It is also the same for monaural sound recording. In the case of multiple headphones or loudspeakers, the sound signals are mixed together and then fed through a common signal path. Similar to stereo sound, mono can be seen in most FM radio, NICAM stereo-oriented TV and VCR formats, compact audio cassettes and Minidiscs. However, it is not used in audio CDs and 8-track tapes.

One of the biggest benefits of using monaural sound is in the fact that the same sound level reaches all listeners. In other words, unlike stereo audio systems, monaural systems do not convey any sensation of location or depth. This factor is taken advantage of in well-designed mono systems for speech reinforcement and speech intelligibility. Compared to a stereophonic audio signal, a monaural signal has better signal strength with the same power.

Examples of monaural sound systems are mono split cluster systems and single-channel center clusters.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.