lydspann

Lydspann is a term used in acoustics and audio engineering, primarily within Scandinavian languages, to denote the span or extent of sound in a given context. The word blends lyd (sound) and spann (span) and is used to describe the range of frequencies that a sound source, signal, or system can produce or transmit, or the portion of the spectrum deemed relevant for a particular analysis.

In practice, lydspann is usually understood as a bandwidth—the difference between the lower and upper cutoff frequencies. For example, a device with a response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz has a lydspann of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. In some contexts, the term may also refer to the spectral extent of a single note, timbre, or processed signal, including how frequency components evolve over time. The exact interpretation can vary by discipline and language.

Applications of the concept include specifying the frequency response of loudspeakers and microphones, defining the usable range of audio equipment, and guiding room acoustics assessments and audio mastering. Lydspann is often considered alongside related concepts such as overall frequency response, bandwidth, and spectral content, which together describe how a system handles different parts of the audible spectrum.

Notes and variations: the term is not universally standardized. Different fields may prefer more explicit terms like frequency span or bandwidth to avoid ambiguity. See also frequency response, bandwidth, spectral content.