superhet
- noun
- /ˈsuːpərˌhɛt/
- Jargon
:
superheterodino
- The superhet receiver improved the clarity of the radio signal by using an intermediate frequency.
Examples
-
Receivers employed a simple tuned radio frequency (TRF) design rather than superhet circuits, which were considered standard on radios manufactured for American consumers.
Academic text (2007) -
Many modern radios use a superhet design to enhance sound quality and reduce interference.
-
Engineers prefer a superhet for its ability to amplify weak signals more effectively than other receiver types.
Synonyms
A radio that changes incoming signals to one fixed frequency to make them easier to receive
A radio that changes incoming signals to one fixed frequency for easier processing
A radio that mixes its signal with a received signal to make a lower frequency easier to amplify and hear
Surface Forms
Etymology
Superhet is short for superheterodyne, where super- means 'above' and hetero- means 'different'. It names a radio design that mixes an incoming signal with another frequency to make a 'middle' frequency that is easier to amplify and tune, so the name points to how the radio changes one frequency into another.
