Simple Explanation

What comes out of a speaker, amplifier, or audio device—sound or power.

Concise Technical Definition

The electrical signal, power, or sound pressure level produced by a device such as an amplifier or loudspeaker.

Layman-Friendly Analogy

Like water flowing from a faucet—the output is what you get after turning the system on.

Industry Usage Summary

In audio, output can refer to the power (watts) an amplifier delivers, or the sound level (dB SPL) a speaker produces. Also used when describing output ports (e.g., line-level outputs).

Engineering Shortcut

Power or signal sent out by a device; usually in watts or volts (amp), or dB SPL (speaker).

Full Technical Explanation

Output in audio refers to the final signal, power, or sound that a device delivers. For amplifiers, output is usually expressed in watts, indicating how much electrical power the amplifier can deliver to a load (e.g., a speaker). For loudspeakers, output is expressed in sound pressure level (SPL), measured in decibels (dB), which represents how loud the speaker gets at a certain distance with a given input power. Output specifications are essential when matching components in an audio system to ensure proper performance, avoid distortion, and prevent damage. In digital and analog systems, the term also refers to signal outputs (e.g., analog line out, digital optical out) that connect to other devices in the signal chain.