What is the faithful reproduction of a signal called?

The faithful reproduction of a signal is referred to as fidelity. Fidelity indicates how accurately a system reproduces the original signal without distortion or loss of qualitative characteristics. In the context of audio, for example, high fidelity (often shortened to "hi-fi") implies that the sound produced closely resembles the original recording, maintaining the intended tone, timbre, and dynamics.

This concept is crucial in various fields such as audio engineering, telecommunications, and broadcasting, where maintaining the integrity of the original signal is vital for effective communication and quality of experience. Fidelity ensures that any changes to the signal during transmission or processing are minimized, allowing the end-user to experience the signal as it was meant to be heard or seen.

The other terms, while related to quality and precision, do not specifically capture the essence of faithful reproduction of a signal like fidelity does. Clarity generally refers to the clearness or distinctness of a signal, integrity often pertains to maintaining the overall condition or wholeness of data, and accuracy relates to how close a measurement is to the true value, but none of these terms specifically emphasize the concept of faithfully reproducing a signal.