FAQ

Jump to: TVs VCRs DVD

TVs

Q: What’s the optimum size TV for my viewing area?
A: Choose your TV size carefully, taking into consideration the dimensions of your room. It is recommended that a television audience view the TV from a distance approximately three to four times the screen size (measured corner-to-corner).

Q: What is the difference between Picture-in-Picture and 2-Tuner Picture-in-Picture?
A: A television with standard Picture-in-Picture does not contain a second TV tuner for showing the PIP window. This means that a VCR is needed to serve as a second tuner. A TV with 2-Tuner Picture-in-Picture has two built-in tuners, with one dedicated to the PIP window.

Q: What is a comb filter?
A: A composite video signal is a combination of the individual black & white (Y) and color (C) components. In order to minimize the bandwidth used by a composite video signal, the frequency ranges of the Y and C signals are designed to overlap. This overlapping makes it difficult for each component to be separated completely upon entering the television, resulting in a lack of clear image definition.

A comb filter is used to separate the Y and C components of a broadcast TV or cable TV video signal, which ensures color integrity and clearly defined images.

A TV’s comb filter is bypassed when S-Video or component video is used as the input signal. Because S-Video and component video signals are comprised of separate Y and C elements already.

Q: What are the various types of Comb Filters, and how do they differ?
A: A 3D Y/C (also known as 3D Digital Comb Filter) is the best type of comb filter available today. In addition to separating the Y (black and white) and C (color) elements of a video signal, a 3D Y/C filter performs two additional key functions. While comparing three consecutive horizontal scan lines within a single video frame, it also analyzes each frame in advance, ensuring the best possible picture.

A 3-Line Digital Comb Filter separates the Y and C signals while simultaneously processing three consecutive horizontal scan lines. This type of comb filter does not pre-analyze individual video frames.

A 2-Line Digital Comb Filter separates the Y and C signals while simultaneously processing two consecutive horizontal scan lines.

Analog Comb Filters are found on less expensive large-tube televisions and on models smaller than 27”. The two most common types are CCD (charge coupled device) Comb Filters, found on more recent models, and Glass Comb Filters, which are not as common today.

Q: How is a TV’s image resolution measured?
A: Image resolution defined by the number of horizontal lines a TV is capable of producing. The more horizontal lines within an image, the better the resolution. However, most of today’s TVs are capable of producing more resolution than any common source signal can deliver.

Q: What is the difference between interlaced scanning and progressive scanning?
A: A television image is created when a device known as the CRT (cathode ray tube) scans a constant stream of electrons across the inside of the picture tube. Each image is created with a series of horizontal lines.

In interlaced scanning, the CRT starts with the top line and scans every other line all the way to the bottom of the image. The CRT then returns to the top and scans all remaining lines. This process constructs a complete image 30 times per second.

In progressive scanning, the CRT scans every horizontal line consecutively, thus creating a complete image 60 times per second.

Q: What is component video and do I need a TV with component video inputs?
A: The chrominance (color) and luminance (black and white) elements of a video signal are separated into three discreet video components, resulting in the purest possible video signal. If you plan to connect a DVD player with component video output, it is recommended to look for a TV with component video input, because this combination will ensure the best picture quality.

To find out if your current TV or DVD player has component video input/output, look for three female RCA jacks labeled Y, PB, and PR.

Q: What are the differences between composite video, S-Video and component video? Which provides the best picture?
A: A composite video signal consists of chrominance (color) and luminance (black and white) information carried in a single signal. Because the signal combines two separate video elements, a certain degree of image detail is lost because the signals are sharing bandwidth. Composite video is the method of signal transfer from most sources, including VHS VCRs, camcorders, video game systems, etc.

S-Video splits the signal into separate chrominance and luminance elements, resulting in greater image detail and color definition. Every S-VHS VCR uses an S-Video cable as its output connector, and all DVD players provide S-Video output as an option.

Component video, like S-Video, separates the signal into separate chrominance and luminance elements. In addition, component video separates the chrominance into two discreet elements, resulting in a total of three video signal components.

Of the three video signal formats listed here, component video provides the best overall picture quality. However, if connecting your DVD player via component video is not an option, S-Video will perform almost as well, with only a slight loss of image definition.

Q: What is Digital Television, and do I need a TV that is digital TV compatible?
A: Digital Television (DTV) encompasses all digital television formats: HDTV (High Definition Television), SDTV (Standard Definition Television) and Data. Each format has its own set of minimum performance standards, including image resolution, aspect ratio and audio capabilities. The innate makeup of a digital signal means there can be no noise, interference or degradation. The signal is received either in its entirety without distortion, or not at all.

Current TV models will not become obsolete when digital television becomes standard in 2006. You will be able to purchase a set-top digital TV receiver that will configure the digital signal to work with your TV.

Q: What is the difference between a digital television and a television that is digital ready?
A: A digital television is manufactured with the ability to support at least the minimum resolution required to display a digital signal. A digital-ready TV requires the addition of an external digital receiver to display digital content.

Q: What is SDTV?
A: SDTV stands for Standard Definition Television. SDTV is a standard under the digital television umbrella. SDTV televisions must display image resolutions of either 480 x 640 in a 4:3 aspect ratio, or 480 x 704 in 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios.

Q: What is HDTV?
A: HDTV stands for High Definition Television. HDTV is a standard under the digital television umbrella. HDTV televisions display image resolutions of either 720p x 1280 or 1080i x 1920 and are capable of receiving, reproducing and outputting Dolby® Digital 5.1 surround sound. All HDTV television screens must possess an aspect ratio of 16:9.

VCRs top

Q: What are the differences between a VHS VCR and an S-VHS VCR?
A: S-VHS (also known as Super VHS) is superior to the standard VHS format because it offers significantly improved picture quality. All standard VHS VCRs produce 240 lines of horizontal picture resolution, whereas the S-VHS format produces 400 horizontal lines. To enjoy the full benefits of this format, an S-VHS VCR needs to connect to a television with S-Video input.

Q: What is the major advantage of a 4-head VCR as opposed to a 2-head model?
A: Each head is used for either playback or recording. In a 2-head VCR you have one head for recording at all different speeds and one for playback on all different speeds. With a 4-head VCR you have one set of heads for playback and recording at regular speed and one set for playback and recording at slower speeds (giving you more recording time from the same length tape). The result is higher quality recording and playback.

Q: Why do some VCRs have six heads?
A: Most of today's VCRs have the ability to record in EP (extended play) or SLP (super long play) modes. These settings are used to triple the amount of content that can be contained on a standard 120-minute cassette. However, when recording in either of these modes with a 4-head or 2-head VCR, the audio and video is degraded.

A six-head VCR is designed to allow recording in EP or SLP modes without losing audio and video quality

Q: What does a 4-head hi-fi VCR provide in addition to a regular 4-head model?
A: A 4-head hi-fi VCR produces stereo audio, whereas a regular 4-head model only produces mono. If you wish to integrate a VCR into a surround sound system, you must choose a 4-head hi-fi model.

DVD top

Q: Do I need a DVD player with a built-in Dolby Digital® 5.1 decoder?
A: If you plan to connect the DVD player to a surround-sound receiver that is Dolby Digital ready, then a built-in decoder is necessary. If the receiver has a built-in decoder, the DVD player only needs to have the Dolby Digital passthrough.

Q: What are the differences between a coaxial digital audio cable and an optical digital audio cable?
A: A coaxial digital audio cable uses copper wiring as its signal conductor and dual-RCA jacks as connectors. An optical digital audio cable uses fiber optic wiring as its conductor and dual Toslink connectors. Both types of cables perform the same function; however, an optical digital audio cable is immune to external interference because its conductor is non-metallic.

Q: Can I record DVD movies onto a videocassette?
A: No. VCRs have built-in copyright protection circuitry which make recording from DVD to videocassette impossible.

Q: Can I use a DVD player to record video content?
A: Not at this time. The technology exists to record to a DVD but is not currently available for consumer purchase.

Q: Can I connect a DVD player to an old TV that has a RF (coaxial) antenna connector as its only input jack?
A: Yes. This can be accomplished with the addition of a unit called a RF Modulator, which adapts the DVD output signal to one that is compatible with a TV's RF input. However, connecting a DVD player to a TV in this manner will compromise picture quality.

Q: Can I connect a DVD player to my VCR's A/V inputs?
A: The connection can be made, but the picture quality will be diminished greatly because of the DVD player's copy guard protection circuitry.

Q: Do I need to purchase a DVD player with Component Video output?
A: If you own a TV with component video input, then yes, it makes sense to use this type of connection. Component video provides the best possible video signal transfer, delivering unsurpassed picture quality.

Q: Do all DVD players play audio CDs?
A: Yes. However, CD players cannot play DVDs. Also please note that most DVD players are not capable of playing back CD-R or CD-RW discs.

Q: Why is the picture distorted when I watch DVD movies?
A: The disc is scratched and/or dirty.

The DVD player is connected to your TV through a VCR, which creates a distorted picture because of copy guard protection circuitry. In this case there is no way to eliminate the distortion.

The DVD is from a country that uses a different video standard.

Q: What is DTS™, and is it important to purchase a DVD player that is DTS compatible?
A: DTS stands for Digital Theater System. It is a six-channel surround sound format developed as an alternative to Dolby Digital 5.1. A DTS-compatible DVD player and receiver are necessary if you wish to play DTS-encoded movies and hear six-channel surround sound.

Q: What are the differences between Dolby Digital® 5.1 surround sound and AC-3 surround sound?
A: There are no differences.

Q: Can I play movies from another country on my DVD player?
A: No. At this time DVD movies are region specific, which means a movie purchased in Europe is not compatible with a North American DVD player, and vice-versa.

Q: Will DVD players replace VCRs?
A: Not for a long time. There are simply too many videocassettes in the world for VCRs to become obsolete. Keep in mind, DVD recorders are not currently available, so VCRs will continue to fill that need well into the future.

Remember when CD technology first became widely available? There was a general belief that CDs would quickly replace audio cassettes. However, almost 20 years later, the audio cassette remains a popular format.

Q: What does anamorphic mean?
A: An Anamorphic DVD is enhanced for use with 16:9 displays. Anamorphic DVDs are encoded to give you the highest possible horizontal resolution when played back on a 16:9 aspect ratio TV.