AMAX
Encyclopedia
AMAX is a United States
certification program developed by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) and the National Association of Broadcasters
(NAB) in 1993. This quality control program addressed both consumer receiver developments and air chains of broadcast AM
transmission
stations. tuners
and receivers offering AMAX Stereo were designed to capture the widest audio frequency response
and stereo
separation of AM stereo
broadcasts, where available.
receivers must have the following features:
An effective noise blanker is new to home audio products. This AMAX feature actively reduces the noise and interference encountered from monaural and stereo AM
stations during degraded reception conditions, such as during a localized lightning storm. A wide range of noises are successfully suppressed and the resulting audio seems almost clean until the noise is so intense, that the blanking approaches full time. Motorola
says that this is believed to be the most effective noise blanking yet offered within the consumer market.
According to the EIA and National Association of Broadcasters, tuners and receivers that are qualified to carry the AMAX stereo certification logo will capture the widest audio frequency response and highest quality stereo separation of AM stereo broadcasts that modern technology can offer. In addition, AMAX tuners and receivers will capture all of the fidelity
transmitted from monaural AM stations. Its audio response is more than two octaves greater than a standard AM radio.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
certification program developed by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) and the National Association of Broadcasters
National Association of Broadcasters
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
(NAB) in 1993. This quality control program addressed both consumer receiver developments and air chains of broadcast AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
transmission
Transmission (telecommunications)
Transmission, in telecommunications, is the process of sending, propagating and receiving an analogue or digital information signal over a physical point-to-point or point-to-multipoint transmission medium, either wired, optical fiber or wireless...
stations. tuners
Tuner (radio)
A radio tuner is a subsystem that receives radio broadcasts and converts them into audio-frequency signals which can be fed into an amplifier driving a loudspeaker. FM tuner, AM tuner, Digital Audio Broadcasting DAB tuner, etc. are types of radio tuner dealing with transmissions using different...
and receivers offering AMAX Stereo were designed to capture the widest audio frequency response
Frequency response
Frequency response is the quantitative measure of the output spectrum of a system or device in response to a stimulus, and is used to characterize the dynamics of the system. It is a measure of magnitude and phase of the output as a function of frequency, in comparison to the input...
and stereo
Stereophonic sound
The term Stereophonic, commonly called stereo, sound refers to any method of sound reproduction in which an attempt is made to create an illusion of directionality and audible perspective...
separation of AM stereo
AM stereo
AM stereo is a term given to a series of mutually incompatible techniques for wireless radio broadcasting stereo audio in the AM band in a manner that is compatible with standard AM receivers...
broadcasts, where available.
Prerequisites
AMAX Stereo products are not widely available to the public. To qualify for AMAX certification, the AMAmplitude modulation
Amplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
receivers must have the following features:
- They must have wide audio bandwidth: 7,500 hertzHertzThe hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
for home and automotive applications and 6,500 hertz for portable radios. - They must have some form of bandwidth control, either manual or automatic, including at least two bandwidth provisions, such as "narrowNarrowbandIn radio, narrowband describes a channel in which the bandwidth of the message does not significantly exceed the channel's coherence bandwidth. It is a common misconception that narrowband refers to a channel which occupies only a "small" amount of space on the radio spectrum.The opposite of...
" and "wideWidebandIn communications, wideband is a relative term used to describe a wide range of frequencies in a spectrum. A system is typically described as wideband if the message bandwidth significantly exceeds the channel's coherence bandwidth....
". - They must meet receiver standards for low total harmonic distortion and proper NRSCNational Radio Systems CommitteeThe National Radio Systems Committee is an organization sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association and the National Association of Broadcasters . Its main purpose is to set industry technical standards for radio broadcasting in the United States...
-1 audio de-emphasis curve. - They must attenuate the inter-station high frequency 10,000 hertz "whistle" sounds.
- They must have provisions for an external AM antenna connection.
- They must be capable of tuning the expanded AM band (up to 1,700 kHz).
- They must meet NRSCNational Radio Systems CommitteeThe National Radio Systems Committee is an organization sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association and the National Association of Broadcasters . Its main purpose is to set industry technical standards for radio broadcasting in the United States...
-1 receiver standards for audio distortion and audio de-emphasis. - Home and automotive receivers must have effective noise blanking.
An effective noise blanker is new to home audio products. This AMAX feature actively reduces the noise and interference encountered from monaural and stereo AM
AM stereo
AM stereo is a term given to a series of mutually incompatible techniques for wireless radio broadcasting stereo audio in the AM band in a manner that is compatible with standard AM receivers...
stations during degraded reception conditions, such as during a localized lightning storm. A wide range of noises are successfully suppressed and the resulting audio seems almost clean until the noise is so intense, that the blanking approaches full time. Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
says that this is believed to be the most effective noise blanking yet offered within the consumer market.
According to the EIA and National Association of Broadcasters, tuners and receivers that are qualified to carry the AMAX stereo certification logo will capture the widest audio frequency response and highest quality stereo separation of AM stereo broadcasts that modern technology can offer. In addition, AMAX tuners and receivers will capture all of the fidelity
Fidelity
"Fidelity" is the quality of being faithful or loyal. Its original meaning regarded duty to a lord or a king, in a broader sense than the related concept of fealty. Both derive from the Latin word fidēlis, meaning "faithful or loyal"....
transmitted from monaural AM stations. Its audio response is more than two octaves greater than a standard AM radio.