| Keyword | Description |
|---|
| 100Hz | A normal television scans its picture at 50hrz, which means that the picture is flickering all the time which can make a picture look unrealistic. A 100Hrz set doubles this scan rate giving a flicker free picture and the most realistic and deep picture reproduction available when combined with a super flat tube |
| 2-Head | A 2 head VCR won't give as good a playback in long play, a very jumpy pause picture or no pause picture at all and doesn’t have stereo sound. |
| 4-Head | A 4 head VCR gives good quality long play recording, a perfect still picture in standard (not long) play and has stereo sound. |
| Analogue | Analogue means copy, as amalogue signals copy the pattern of the vibration in air prassure caused by the original sound, or the vibration in the ear drum as it hears the sound. Electronic analogues are created from the sounds which can then be reproduced by a wide range of equipment. Contrasts with digital technology which represents a signal with binary digits rather than attempting to copy it. |
| ANSI Lumens | This represents a measurement of brightness and is used in reference to projectors. Generally, the higher the better, though as people are "Willing to control the ambient light conditions", home cinema projectors can get away with a lower rating than presentation units. |
| Audio Digital Optical Output | Using an optical cable, this output allows you to connect your Hi-Fi system to products such as mini-disc recorders and DVD players. This takes full advantage of high performance digital signals and allows you to playback sound through a Dolby 5.1 amplifier/decoder. |
| Auto 16:9 | A signal is used to identify programmes in 16:9 format and allows you to record and playback these programmes in the correct format so you don’t miss any of the picture. |
| Auto clock | This function automatically sets the video recorders date and time. |
| Auto Format | When receiving programs in different picture size formats (16:9/4:3/letterbox) the television automatically switches to the right format, so you don’t get black bands on your screen. |
| Auto Install | This function automatically finds the channels and tunes them into your television or VCR. Afterwards you simply put them in the right order. |
| Auto Long Play | When the length of a recording you have programmed is longer then the time left on the tape the VCR will automatically switch to long play (doubles the length of your tape) so as not to cut off the end of your recording. |
| AV (front) | Phono sockets located on the front of the video recorder or Television for easy connection to other pieces of equipment such as camcorders. |
| Blu Ray | This is a new type of DVD, Blu Ray is a high definition format with many of the biggest names in the industry behind it. A Blu Ray disk is capable of stroing over five times as much data as a DVD. The name origninates from the blue violet laser used to read and write the data. |
| CDR/CDRW Playback | Plays back CD's you have recorded on to a blank CD using a CD writer. |
| Coaxial | A type of digital audio connection that passes raw digital data from an output, such as DVD player, to a home cinemareciver interface and degradation of the audio signal is kept to a minimum. |
| Composite Video | The least satisfactory way to connect a DVD player to a television, composite video uses singal RCA jack to transmit all the picture infromation. |
| Conventional (4:3) | The 'Old' style screen aspect ratio (not widescreen) there are very few conventional sized televisions left on the market. |
| Crossover | This refers to a system of filters which divide the audio between each driver in each speaker |
| CRT Projector | Usually used for large scale presentations, CRT offers better picture quality than an LCD projector, but is bigger, heavier, more exspensive and harder to set up |
| Custom Installation | The practice of installing a proper full blown home cinema set up. |
| Digital Television | Digitally transmitted television signals carrying superior picture and sound quality and a larger number of channels using either an aerial or minidish. For more information on digital see our 'digital latest' section. |
| Discrete | As opposed to 'matrixed', a discrete channel or signal is one that is separate from the other channels |
| DLP | More common than CRT in home cinema projectors, Digital Light Processing uses mirrors to reflect light in home cinema projectors. |
| Dolby Digital (Dolby 5.1) Surround Sound | Recreates the sound system used in a cinema in your own home using 5 speakers and 1 subwoofer (low frequency loudspeaker for powerful bass) positioned around the room each with their own sound channel
so you can have a different sound coming out of each speaker |
| Dolby Digital EX | An improved version of Dolby Digital, which came about with release of the Phantom Menace in ciemas. This adds a matrixed rear speaker to procedings |
| Dolby ProLogic II | This later version of Dolby Pro Logic enables multi Channel playback, so lons as the amplifier supports it |
| Dolby Pro-Logic Sound | 4 Channel sound using rear speakers to give a surround sound effect |
| DSP | Digital Signal Processing is a kind of vanilla version of surround. It uses echo reverb and spacing to create pseudo sorround effects, such as stadium and hall. |
| DTS | Digital Theatre Surround is the other prevalent surround sound format and a direct rival to Dolby Digital. It uses less compression than Dolby Digital and therefore offers a clearer sound |
| Extended Paly | This feature increases the length of your tapes which have been recorded in Long Play, giving you 16 hours recording time on a 4 hour tape. |
| HD Ready | Ready for High Definition TV |
| HDD | Hard Disc recording ia apparantly the future and can be programmed to seek out your customers favoutite films |
| HDTV | High Definition television, offering 1.080 active lines as opposed to the 626 that makes a standard television picture |
| IDTV | Integrated Digital Televisions revieve all the free to air channles as well as being upgradable to pay channels. |
| Interlacing | In order to generate greater picture definition, some units use a technique called interlacing. In this way, a second set of lines are generated and interlaced with the original picture |
| Long Play | This feature doubles the length of your tapes, giving you 8 hours recording time on a 4 hour tape. |
| MiniDisc | A new audio recording method that records CD quality sound onto a disk smaller then a normal audio tape. Easy to edit and rerecord on, with features such as long play. |
| Mono Sound | The most basic sound format coming out of only one channel. |
| Stereo Sound | Allows a much fuller and realistic sound reproduction than from mono equipment seperating sound into the left and right channels. |
| Sub Woofer | Low frequency loudspeaker used in Dolby 5.1 sytems (see above) for a powerful base sound. |
| Super Flat Screen | The screen on these televisions is 100% flat, eliminating any reflection or glare, giving a much sharper and realistic picture. This combined with 100Hz Scanning (see above) give one of the most realistic picures available. |
| TeleText | Allows you to access up to date information on just about anything over your television set, from share prices to star gossip and TV listings. |
| Twin Tuner | A twin tuner televideo allows you to watch and record different channels, so you can watch BBC1 and record ITV at the same time. |
| Video Heads | See above for 2-head and 4-heads. |
| VideoPlus | Easy recording. Next to the TV listings in most publications there is a plus code. Simply enter this code into your VCR and your record timer will be set to record that program. |
| Virtual Dolby | A sound system that uses different powered speakers actually in the unit to produce a surround sound effect without the rear speakers. |
| Widescreen (16:9) | The new format of screen size. This new aspect ratio uses the same viewing ratios as your eyes making everything look a lot more realistic. It is also the same ratio used for cinema screens, so you are viewing films how they are meant to be, without losing any of the picture or having big black bars. All new technology is being made with widescreen in mind and nearly all digital programs and DVDs are in widescreen. |
