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| 1080i | 1080-line interlaced scan; the vertical resolution of some high-definition (HD) broadcasts. See "interlaced scanning". |
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| 1080p | 1080 progressive. Newest High Definition TV (HDTV) resolution standard using progressive scanning at 1920x1080 pixel resolution without interlacing. |
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| 3:2 Pull-Down or 3:2 Inverse Telecine | Digital technology developed by Faroudja to accurately convert and display content originally on celluloid film which runs at 24 frames per second compared to the 30 fps rate of television. |
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| 3-D color managment system | An auto-adjusting tool that ensures accurate color displays. |
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| 3D Digital Gamma Correction | DigiScanTM HDTV Circuitry technologies. Adds subtle nuance to dark scenes and gives images greater depth by increasing the number of gradation shades at low brightness levels. |
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| 3D Digital Noise Reduction | DigiScanTM HDTV Circuitry technologies. It precisely removes noise elements in video source (S-video and Composite) by comparing with the former and the latter pictures. It minimizes the influence on original pictures and produces clear and sharp pictures. 3D digital noise reduction works exclusively to 3D Y/C separation. |
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| 3D Y/C Separation | Function within DigiScan™ HDTV Circuitry. 3D Y/C separation (for NTSC/ composite video) separates composite signal to Y(brightness) signal and C(color) signal, and provides clear and sharp images without cross color (rainbow effect). |
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| 480i | 480-line interlaced scan; the vertical resolution of standard-definition broadcasts, and the original resolution technology. See "interlaced scanning". |
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| 480p | 480-line progressive scan; the vertical resolution of standard-definition and some enhanced-definition (ED) broadcasts. See "progressive scanning". |
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| 5.1-channel surround system | A speaker setup that places one speaker above or below a television, two on either side of the display, and two beside or just behind the listener (standard surround). A subwoofer is to the front left of the listener. A surround system creates a more immersive, realistic sound experience-the more speakers, the richer the sound. |
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| 7.1-channel suround system | A speaker setup that places one speaker above or below a television, two on either side of the display, two beside or just behind the listener (standard surround), and two behind the listener (surround back channels). A subwoofer is to the front left of the listener. A surround system creates a more immersive, realistic sound experience-the more speakers, the richer the sound. |
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| 720p | 720 progressive. High Definition television in the ATSC DTV standard using progressive format at a 1280x720 pixels; 720p offers progressive scanning and a constant vertical resolution of 720 lines to better support motion. |
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| Absorption | Reduction of acoustical energy usually by converting it into heat via friction using soft, fibrous materials. |
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| AC3 | Audio Codec 3. This was the original and more technical name for Dolby Digital. Replaced by marketing mavens when they realized that Dolby's name was not in the title. Some RF modulated, 5.1-encoded laser discs were labeled as AC3. Later versions were labeled as Dolby Digital. |
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| Academy Curve | An intentional roll-off in a theatrical system's playback response above ~2kHz (to -18dB at 8kHz) to minimize noise in mono optical tracks. Some (many) transfers to home video of mono movies have neglected to add the Academy filter during transfer, giving many old movies a screechy sound they were never intended to have. A few home processors have an Academy filter option, making them a must for old-movie buffs. Has been used since 1938. |
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| Acoustic Suspension | A sealed speaker enclosure that uses the air trapped in the cabinet as a reinforcing spring to help control the motion of the woofer(s). |
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| Active | Powered. An active cross-over is electrically powered and divides the line-level signal prior to amplification. An active speaker includes an active crossover and built-in amplifier. |
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| Amplifier | A component that increases the gain or level of an audio signal. |
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| Analog IQ | An HP feature in microdisplay TVs that processes analog video to optimize visuals. |
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| Analog tuner | A built-in television feature that decodes over-the-air (antenna-based) analog signals. |
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| Anamorphic | Process that horizontally condenses (squeezes) a 16:9 image into a 4:3 space, preserving 25 percent more vertical resolution than letterboxing into the 4:3 space. For the signal to appear with correct geometry, the display must either horizontally expand or vertically squish the image. Used on about two or three promotional laser discs and many DVDs. Also called Enhanced for Widescreen or Enhanced for 16:9. |
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| Anamorphically Squeezed | This process, which is used on few laserdiscs, a few DVDs and even fewer TV broadcasts, is used to achieve a widescreen image, where the image is considerably wider than standard NTSC fare, once it is 'unsqueezed'. The wider image is squeezed into the skinnier aspect ratio, which is usually the NTSC standard of 4:3/1.33:1. Unsqueezing can be done with a 'stretching circuits' in the TV. The end result (if left unsqueezed) is a picture with really skinny objects. Another option which has less detail, but is more widely used is letterboxing the picture. |
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| Anti Glare Protection Screen | Discerning viewers know that stray light can reduce the clarity of a picture, making some areas appear faded and others pale. An Anti Glare Screen minimizes the reflection of exterior dazzling light with its special screen coating, regardless of the location of the TV. This results in smooth pictures which are easy on the eyes. It also increases picture contrast and is scratch resistant. |
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| Aspect Ratio | The ratio of the width to the height of a direct-view picture or projected image. The standard aspect ratio for HDTV is currently 16:9 (rectangular, wide screen image). The National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) standard for analog television broadcasts is 4:3 (traditional square format). |
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| ATSC | An acronym for Advanced Television Standards Committee. An advisory group that produced the table of 18 recommended transmission formats for Digital Television (DTV) broadcasting in the United States. |
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| ATSC HD | Advanced Television Systems Committee, an international organization that develops digital television standards. Also see "over-the-air HD". |
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| ATSC HD antenna | An antenna that receives over-the-air high-definition television signals. |
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| Attenuate | To turn down, reduce, decrease the level of; the opposite of boost. |
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| Automatic contrast optimization | Analyzes the brightness of scenes frame by frame and automatically adjusts contrast to maximize intense detail. |
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| A-Weighting | Measurement based roughly on the uneven frequency sensitivity of the human ear. The influences of low and high frequencies are reduced in comparison to midrange frequencies because people are most sensitive to midrange sounds. |
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| Balanced Input | A connection with three conductors: two identical signal conductors that are 180 degrees out of phase with each other, and one ground. This type of connection is very resistant to line noise. |
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| Bandpass | A two-part filter that cuts both higher and lower frequencies around a center band. A bandpass enclosure cuts high frequencies by acoustic cancellation and low frequencies by natural physical limitations on bass response. |
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| Bandwidth | In audio, the range of frequencies a device operates within. In video, the range of frequencies passed from the input to the output. |
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| Bass | Low frequencies; those below approximately 200 Hz |
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| Bass Reflex | A vented speaker enclosure that utilizes controlled rear radiated sound waves. |
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| BBE Viva | An audio technology that creates realistic 3-D sound while preserving high-definition sound. Makes subtle sounds clearly audible. |
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| Bipolar | The condition of possessing two pole sets. In a conventional (non-FET) transistor, one pole set exists between the base and collector, and the other pole set exists between the base and emitter. 2) Speakers that consist of two driver arrays facing opposite directions and wired in electrical phase with one another to create a more diffuse soundstage. |
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| Bipole Speakers | One type of surround speaker. In this instance two or more drivers are facing different directions, and their cones vibrate in phase. This causes an omni-directional sound. |
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| Bi-Wiring | A method of connecting an amplifier or receiver to a speaker in which separate wires are run between the amp and the woofer and the amp and the tweeter. |
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| Black Level | Light level of the darker portions of a video image. A black level control sets the light level of the darkest portion of the video signal to match that of the display's black level capability. Black is, of course, the absence of light. Many displays, however, have as much difficulty shutting off the light in the black portions of an image as they do creating light in the brighter portions. CRT-based displays usually have better black levels than DLP, plasma, and LCD, which rank, generally, in that order. |
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| Black/White Enhancer | Produces higher contrast level, increases brightness and details in bright or dark images to provide customers high detail image quality. |
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| Blu-ray disc (BD) | A next-generation optical disc format developed specifically for recording and rewriting high-definition video, with enhanced storage capacity (25GB single-layer or 50GB double-layer). Thus named because it uses a blue-violet laser rather than the standard red laser used by CDs and DVDs. Jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association and several consumer electronics and PC companies, including HP. |
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| Bridging | Combining two channels of an amplifier to make one channel that's more powerful. One channel amplifies the positive portion of an audio signal and the other channel amplifies the negative portion, which are then combined at the output. |
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| Brightness | For video, the overall light level of the entire image. A brightness control makes an image brighter; however, when it is combined with a contrast, or white level control, the brightness control is best used to define the black level of the image (see Black Level). For audio, something referred to as bright has too much treble or high-frequency sound. |
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| CableCARD | A device built into new-generation televisions that allows digital cable reception without a set-top cable box. |
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| Cascading Crossovers | Two crossovers used in series on the same signal in the same frequency range causing greater attenuation of the out-of-band signal. For example, using the crossover in a receiver's bass management setting and the one in a subwoofer simultaneously will create an exaggerated loss of signal. |
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| Cathode Ray Tube | (CRT) Analog display device that generates an image on a layer of phosphors that are driven by an electron gun. |
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| CATV | Refers to cable television. Originated from "community antenna television." |
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| CD | Compact Disc. Ubiquitous digital audio format. Uses 16-bit/44.1-kHz sampling rate PCM digital signal to encode roughly 74 or 80 minutes of two-channel, full-range audio onto a 5-inch disc. |
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| CD-R | Recordable Compact Disc |
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| CD-RW | Rewritable Compact Disc |
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| CEA | The Consumer Electronics Association. An association of manufacturers of consumer electronics products. |
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| Center Channel | The center speaker in a home theater setup. Ideally placed within one or two feet above or below the horizontal plane of the left and right speakers and above or below the display device, unless placed behind a perforated screen. Placement is important, as voices and many effects in a multichannel mix come from this speaker. |
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| Channel | In components and systems, a channel is a separate signal path. A four-channel amplifier has at least four separate inputs and four separate outputs. |
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| Channel Leakage | This occurs with matrix-surround encoded material. What happens is that sound meant to be heard from one channel is also heard from another channel. Solved with new 5.1-channel Dolby Digital and 6-channel DTS sound systems by virtue of a discrete channel sound system. |
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| Chrominance | (C) The color portion of a video signal. |
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| Coaxial: | 1) A speaker typically with one driver in the middle of, and on the same axis as, another driver. 2) An audio or video cable with a single center pin that acts as the hot lead and an outer shield that acts as a ground. |
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| Codec | Mathematical algorithms used to compress large data signals into small spaces with minimal perceived loss of information. |
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| Color Enhancer | Epson AccuCinemaTM Color Management provides a color enhancer that improves color detail with vivid colors in dark scenes. |
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| Color LUT/3DLUT | An algorithmic function that provides customers most live like colors by auto adjusting colors to achieve the most desired coloring. It also provides more color adjustments to product more colors. This feature is included in the Epson AccuCinemaTM Color Management. |
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| Color mapping | An HP feature in microdisplay TVs that permits the display of true colors. |
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| Color Temperature | A method of measuring the color of gray at different levels from black to white. Since color information overlays the black-and-white information in a TV signal, color temperature affects the entire range of color. Epson Livingstation provides five Color Temperature settings that express the level of brightness. |
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| Color wheel | A multicolor (either three-color or the newer seven-color) spinning wheel through which light is passed to create and project an image in digital light processing. DLP is used in HP projectors and microdisplay TVs. |
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| Coloration | Any change in the character of sound (such as an overemphasis on certain tones) that reduces naturalness. |
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| Component | In component (YPbPr or RGB) format, the video signal is separated into three components through three RCA-type jacks for even higher image quality. Component video is typically used with better DVD players and on some HDTV systems. |
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| Component Video | Component Video is the best method of delivering quality video (RGB) in a format that contains all the components of the original image. Composite Video. Composite video is the standard method of connecting video equipment. Composite video combines picture signal, including vertical and horizontal blanking and synchronizing signals. |
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| Component Video connections (Y/PB/PR) | Component video is the best method for connecting analog video signals. Y/PB/PR is ideal for DVD players and compatible sat |
