Jargon Explained
It sometimes seems that companies compete to produce the most obscure acronyms. While it would be interesting to get more information on some of the items below, it is best not to get too bogged down in technicalities. If you want more information on any technical aspect of hi-fi or home cinema fell free to ask, our aim is to be informative.
Trust your own eyes and ears as to what looks and sounds good; often the terms below are blown out of proportion by the marketing guys.
Aspect Ratio
Simply put, is the ratio between screen height and width ie 4.3 = 4 parts
long & 3 parts high.
4:3 aspect ratio is standard
normal PC monitors & Televisions.
16:9 aspect ratio is wide screen Television.
Pixel
A colour controllable dot on a display screen.
Contrast Ratio
This is the difference in light intensity between the brightest white and
the darkest black.
Resolution
Simply put, is the number of pixels that make up a screen or display and with
a computer fed Image or when presenting Images from say a digital camera,
usually means the higher the resolution the sharper the Image. Higher resolution
ie more than 852 x 480 on a plasma screen is of less Importance when connecting
a video source.
NTSC
United States broadcast standard for video and broadcasting.
PAL
PAL is a broadcast standard that is the predominant video system or standard
mostly used In Europe & Internationally PAL, 25 frames are transmitted
each second. Each frame is made up of 625 individual scan lines.
SECAM
Sequential Couleur avec Mmoire
The television broadcast standard in France, the Middle East, and most of
Eastern Europe, SECAM broadcasts 819 lines of resolution per second. SECAM
is one of three main television standards throughout the world.
Candela
The measurement used referring to brightness.
DVI
Digital Visual Interface.
BNC
A bayonet type connector commonly used on video equipment.
RS-232
A connection used for signalling devices.
PIP
Picture In Picture
Colours
Displayable colours ie 16.77 million.
AC-3
Is the former name for Dolby Digital.
CAM
Stands for Conditional Access Module. This is a device used in conjunction
with a smart card to decrypt digital pay-TV services, such as BskyB. Some
are built into the receivers whilst others take the form of plug-in cards.
Most plug-in CAMs adhere to the Common Interface (Cl) standard.
CD-R
Stands for CD-Recordable. Is a Write-Once, Read Many times (WORM) version
of a CD, with a 650 MB data capacity. With a video capture card, MPEG1 Video
CDs can be produced.
CD-RW
Stands for CD-Rewritable. Consists of a 650MB CD format disc similar to a
CD-R, but can be erased and reused thousands of times.
Coaxial Cable
Is a low noise cable in which the conductor is surrounded by a grounded braid.
These types of cables are used to carry RF signals from TV aerials. They are
also used with the electrical digital audio signal from DVD players.
Component Video
Also known as the YUV. Comprises a luminance/sync channel (Y), plus two colour
difference channels (U and V). In terms of performance potential, only RGB
comes close to component video.
Composite Video
Used by analogue transmitters, this signal combines luminance (brightness),
synchronisation and chrominance (colour) components. It is not ideal because
careful filtering is needed to separate the Y/sync and C information (however,
note that modern TVs use a comb filter, which does a good job here). Superior
pictures can be obtained by using S-video, RGB or component connections.
dB
The dB rating of a speaker is simply a measure of its efficiency, the higher
the dB the more sound you get for a given input.
D-VHS
Stands for Digital VHS. D-VHS recorders can record a bitstream from an IEEE1394
port. Current D-VHS VCRs record and playback analogue video, which is compressed
using MPEG2.
DIGIBOX
Is the name given to the digital satellite receivers specific to the BskyBs
service. They feature an internal CAM for the Mediaguard digital encryption
system.
DLP
Stands for Digital Light Processing. Is Texas Instruments answer to the LCD,
as used in many high-end video/data projectors. The DLP imaging device compromises
thousands of microscopic mirrors, each representing a single pixel, which
are angled towards (or away from) the light source to make the projected image
darker or lighter. Three of these digital micromirror devices (DMDs) are used
for colour. They are more efficient at transmitting light than LCDs, meaning
they are brighter.
DNR
Stands for Digital Noise Reduction. Is a feature built into many TVs and VCRs,
plus high-end DVD players, that seeks to reduce grain from tapes and terrestrial
broadcasts received via imperfect aerials.
Dolby Surround
Is the early surround sound format derived from Dolby Stereo film sound and
has now been eclipsed by Dolby Pro-Logic.
Dolby Pro-Logic
Is a four-channel surround sound system available from stereo TV broadcasts,
VHS movies and most DVDs. It sends information to speakers at front left,
front right, front centre and two rear speakers which share a mono signal.
Dolby Pro-Logic II
Is a digitally implemented matrix decoding system designed to make the most
of existing Dolby Stereo-encoded material. It will also generate simulated
5.1 surround sound from normal stereo recordings, as can DTS Neo:6.
Dolby Digital
Also known as Dolby Digital 5.1. Dolby Digital is a six-channel surround system
found on many DVDs which sends discrete audio information to speakers at front
left, front right, front centre, rear left, rear right and a dedicated bass
speaker, known as a subwoofer. It is this bass (or LFE) channel which provides
Dolby Digital 5.1, the .1 part of its name.
DTS
Stands for Digital Theater Surround. Is one of the two mainstream 5.1 multichannel
audio systems in present use. Compared with Dolby Digital, it has a relatively
low data compression rate, which makes some people believe that it sounds
better. The majority of DTS releases are still Region 1 (NTSC), although there
are an increasing number on Region 2 (PAL), including Gladiator, Ali and Hannibal.
DTS ES Discrete 6.1,
DTS ES Matrix 6.1
Is a new 6.1-channel surround sound format. The extra channel is intended
to drive one or more back surround, or centre rear speakers located between
the left and right rear ones. The sixth channel will be ignored by regular
5.1 DTS decoders, hence the need for DTS ES Matrix 6.1. This format like Dolby
Digital EX, encodes the back-surround channel via an analogue matrix, and
delivers it via the rear channels.
DTS NEO: 6
Is a matrix decoding algorithm that generates simulated 6.1-channel sound
from any two-channel source. Compare with Dolby Pro-Logic II.
DV
Stands for Digital Video. Is a popular video format in worldwide use. It employs
a compression similar to MPEG in basic principle. There are two tape sizes,
the full sized 3 hour one, which is fairly rare, and the mini 1 hour version
used in camcorders.
DVB
Stands for Digital Versatile Broadcasting. Is a set of standards which define
MPEG2 terrestrial and satellite digital broadcasting. Both the UKs digital
terrestrial signal and Sky digital are DB-compliant.
DVD
Stands for Digital Versatile Disc. Is a high-density storage medium that can
be used to store video (DVD-Video), audio (DVD-Audio) and computer data (DVD-ROM).
Most DVD-Audio movies are single sided, dual-layer discs, with a capacity
of 4.7GB.
DVD-R/ DVD+R
Are recordable DVD modes that make discs which cannot be re-recorded. DVD-R
is found on Panasonics DVD-RAM and Pioneers DVD-RW machines. DVD+R is found
on Philips DVD+RW models.
DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW
Are the re-recordable modes of the three domestic DVD recording formats:
DVD-RAM (Panasonic) discs
are protected by a caddy and cant be read by existing DVD decks.
DVD-RW (Pioneer) requires no caddy and has two modes: The Video Recording
mode offers Mini-Disc style editing features, but is incompatible with existing
DVD-Video decks. Video mode recordings will play back on existing decks but
cannot be edited.
DVD+RW (Philips) recordings can be edited and discs are compatible with a
claimed 80% of existing decks.
Electrical Digital
Audio
Whereby Undecoded Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks are transmitted from DVD
decks to amplifiers in either optical or electrical form. Coaxial cables are
used for the electrical signals.
Firewire
See IEEE1394
HDCD
Stands for High-Density Compatible Digital. Is a relatively new concept as
around only 4000 commercial HCDC titles are in circulation. The technology
is set to be surpassed by new super-fi standards like SACD and DVD-Audio.
HDTV
Stands for High-Definition television, with at lease double the number of
lines of standard TV signals. Is available in the US and Japan, but not the
UK.
i.LINK
See IEEE1394
LCD
Stands for Liquid Crystal Display. Is a flat, light weight display technology
that consumes 40% less power that the cathode ray tube (CRT) found in most
modern TVs. Is also used by many projection systems.
LCOS
Stands for Liquid Crystal on Silicon. LCOS is an advanced form of LCD using
a combination of liquid crystal and silicon processors. Manufacturers with
LCOS products include Philips, Thomson, JVC and Hitachi.
LFE
Stands for Low-Frequency Effects. Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel soundtracks
feature a channel (.1) devoted entirely to low bass sounds, ranging from 20Hz
to 120Hz. If played via the subwoofer, LFEs add fullness and depth to soundtracks,
with action movies in particular having a superior impact.
MP3
Is a compressed audio format that has become immensely popular over recent
years. The average MP3 file occupies 1/10 the space of the uncompressed CD
original, and is well suited to Internet delivery. Many DVD players will play
MP3s on CD-ROMs and CD-Rs.
MPEG
Stands for Motion Picture Experts Group. Is a set of lossy compression standards.
With MPEG, information regarded as unimportant (i.e imperceptible to the viewer
or listener) is irretrievably discarded by means of a highly complex mathematical
process. The data rate is considerably reduced, though. MPEG1, as used on
Video CDs, is a low bitrate variant capable of VHS quality. MPEG2 works at
faster bitrates, and can yield high quality results-as demonstrated by DVD
and DVB.
NICAM
Stands for Near Instantaneous Companding Audio Multiplex. Is the digital stereo
audio system used for terrestrial analogue broadcasting in the UK (but not
satellite).
NTSC
Stands for the National Television Standards Committee. Is a US-developed
TV system employed principally in the US & Japan. Its typically combined
with a 525-line picture and 30Hz frame rate.
Optical
Is a popular type of connector for interfacing audio equipment such as DVD
players and Dolby Digital decoders. Electrical signals are converted by an
LED at the transmitter end, and passed via an intermediate fibre optic light
guide, to a phototransistor built into the receiver. The latter device converts
the light back into an electrical signal. The main advantages of this system,
also known as TOSlink (TOShibaLINK) are isolation and total immunity to interference.
PAL
Stands for Phase Alternate Line. Is a colour TV system employed in the UK,
Western Europe, China and Australia. Normally partnered with 625-line pictures
and a 25Hz frame rate.
PDC
Stands for Programme Delivery Control. If you enable ODC on your VCR and a
flag (command), issued by the broadcaster via teletext, when the desired programme
beings it tells your VCR to start recording. The VCR will only stop when the
appropriate flag is received.
Progressive Scan
Is a superior way of viewing video images compared with the traditional interlaced
method. With interlacing, the two fields of each video frame (the odd and
the even horizontal lines) are shown one after the other. With progressive
scanning all of the horizontal lines of the frame are displayed in one go.
The advantages are a lack of flicker and jagged edges, typical of interlaced displays like CRT TVs, and also smooth horizontal resolution. A number of DVD players can output video progressively, although it is only officially available with NTSC material. The signal must be fed to a non-interlaced display such as a plasma screen, or LCD or DLP projector. Certain TVs also feature progressive scan (or deinterlacing). Such sets analyse the video signal and insert extra scanning lines to increase the apparent resolution (compare with 100Hz scanning).
RCE
Stands for Regional Coding Enhancement. Is Hollywoods latest attempt at preserving
regional coding. RCE is embedded in software (Region 1 DVD discs) to make
them incompatible with hacked or modified DVD players.
Regional Coding
Eight global DVD regions exist therefore a disc sold in one wont play in a
player intended for another. The UK is in Region 2 (R2) but many people want
Region 1 (the US) discs, which are cheaper and have better features. Thus,
many DVD players here can be made multi-region by handset hacking or can be
modified by a dealer.
RGB
Is a video transmission system that differentiates and processes all colour
information as separate red, green and blue channels. The best pictures from
DVD are obtained using an RGB Scart connection or Component Video.
Scart
Is a 21-pin AV connector which can carry composite, S-video and RGB video,
plus stereo audio and widescreen/4:3 switching signals.
SECAM
Stands for Sequentielle Couleur A Memoire. Is a French colour encoding system
employed within Russia and France. A British PAL TV and VCR will yield black-and-white
pictures when a Secam tape is played.
Subwoofer
A passive subwoofer is a powerful bass loudspeaker which stands alone in a
box, needing a power amplifier in the equipment to which it is connected.
The more common active subwoofer incorporates its own mains-powered amplifier,
and takes a signal feed at low (line) level.
S-video
Is a video transmission associated with high-band (eg Hi8 and S-VHS) video
formats. The chrominance (C) and luminance (Y) components are transmitted
separately.
SVGA
Stands for Super Video Graphics Array. Is a display resolution of 800 x 600
pixels, which compares roughly to the 720 x 576 of UK TV broadcasts.
THX
Cinema systems bearing the THX logo comply with stringent performance parameters
set by LucasFilm. Software can also be THX-approved. Two domestic variants
also apply, THX Ultra, which applies to high-end home cinema equipment and
THX Select, for midrange gear.
USB
Stands for Universal Serial Bus. Is a fast, but not as quick IEEE1394 serial
interface.
XGA
Stands for eXtended Graphics Array and has a display resolution of 1,024 x
768 pixels.
