Jargon Buster

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1 4 6 A C D F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X

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100hz
A 100Hz television scans the picture across the screen twice as fast as a conventional 50Hz set, producing a clearer, less flickering picture. This helps reduce the strain on the viewer’s eyes which can be caused by watching a conventional 50Hz set for extended periods.

16:9
Provides a picture close to that of which you would see in the cinema. The Widescreen shape (16:9) allows a greater picture size to that of traditional (4:3) television when displaying modern films or DVDs. Many digital channels now broadcast programmes in widescreen format.

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4:3
Traditional television picture format found predominately on smaller compact televisions. Larger Televisions are now adopting the Widescreen picture format (16:9).

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6.1 Channel Input
Applies to amplifiers, receivers, Hi-fis and Surround Sound processors Allows the connection of a Dolby Digital/DTS source such as a suitably equipped DVD player which handles the processing of the Dolby Digital / DTS signal itself.

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A/D converter
Converts an analogue signal into a digital signal.

AC-3
The former name of Dolby Digital.

ANSI Lumen
ANSI (American National Standards Institute) Lumens - Standard for measuring light output or brightness

Auto Set-up
Automatically tunes in all channels in the correct order on TVs and video recorders (BBC1 on Channel 1 etc) and on a VCR suggests solutions to common problems, such as "check aerial connected"

Auto Tuning
Automatically tunes in the channels that the aerial can receive. An advanced auto tuning system will sort the channels into a sensible order (i.e. BBC1 on channel 1, BBC2 on channel 2 etc.). When applied to Hi-Fis an Auto Tuning system does the same for radio stations.

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CD-R
CD-Recordable disc that can written on once only, but when finalised can be played on most CD players.

CD-RW
Re-writeable CD disc that can be written on over and over, can only be played back on some standard CD players.

CDR/RW Playback
A CD or DVD Player that can play back audio compact discs recorded on a CDR or CDRW recorder.

Co-Axial Cable
Used to send digital sound from a DVD player to an AV amplifier, or connect a CD player to the amplifier.

Colour Detail Enhancer
Corrects any colour detail lost in the transmission path

Common Interface
Allows connection of additional equipment for ugrades and servicing

Component Video
Used to send very high quality signals from a DVD player to a Television. Higher quality than SCART but carries video signal only, a separate cable must be used to carry sound.

Composite Video
Standard video signal used to send pictures down a cable e.g. from a TV to a VCR or camcorder to a TV.

CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)
The heart of a TV, consisting of a phosphor panel and electron gun

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D/A Converter
Converts a Digital signal into an analogue signal.

DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting)
Can offer better and distortion free sound, most BBC stations and many independent stations now broadcast using this method as well as traditional radio.

DAC (Digital Analogue Converter)
Converts the digital information on a compact disc to analogue format for playing through an amplifier.

DBB (Dynamic Bass Boost)
A system for bass enhancement in portable audio players

Digital Comb Filter
Clear separation of the combined colour and black and white signals, preventing smudging, vibrating edges and ensuring precise details

Digital Effects
A range of screen effects built in to the camcorder that allow various mixes, wipes, image stabilizing and digital zooms. (see Camcorder specification for precise effects available).

DSP (Digital Surround Processing)
TV sound system which artificially creates surround sound effects on normal stereo or mono programmes or videos

DNR (Digital Noise Reduction)
A feature built into many TVs and other visual equipment designed to reduce picture grain.

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital (5.1) is a six channel home cinema system. It consists of a front channel for on-screen dialogue, Left & right front stereo channels, Left & right rear surround effect channels and a subwoofer channel for dedicated Bass effects. It is the ultimate home cinema system which gives the best quality cinema experience from DVDs.

Dolby HX Pro
Dolby HX Pro makes it possible to record loud musical passages with fewer high-frequency losses and less distortion.

Dolby Pro Logic II
An enhanced version of Dolby Pro Logic, uses sophisticated processing to produce a sound more like Dolby Digital.

Dolby Pro-Logic
Home Cinema surround sound format that consists of a front or center channel for on-screen dialogue, front left and right channels and a rear surround channel to carry the rear surround effects.

DTS (Digital Theatre System)
An alternative to Dolby Digital, DTS encodes six-channel digital surround sound and is used in some cinemas and on some DVDs.

DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television)
The name given to digital broadcasts received through a standard TV aerial.

DV (Digital Video)
Recording format adopted on most camcorders, provides better images and sound quaility than traditional analogue formats such as 8mm and VHS-C.

DV Out
Enables the camcorder to download still images to a home computer. Moving images can be downloaded with the appropriate software and hardware.

DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting)
Used to indicate a signal that is received via a standard TV aerial in digital form as opposed to the traditional analogue broadcast format.

DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)
A digital format that provides superior picture and sound quality to that of Video Cassette.

DVD-Audio
Audio Format which provides multi channel surround and high quality stereo sound.

DVD-R/DVD+R
Recordable DVD discs that can only be written to once. Some DVD recorders are compatible with DVD-R discs, some are compatible with DVD+R discs.

DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW
Different types of DVD disc that can be rewritten more than once. Check DVD recorder compatibility before purchase.

DVI (Digital Video Interface)
A video connection that provides digital images between components.

Dynamic Quadra Focus
Technology on projection TVs which ensures clarity to the very edges of the screen

Dynamic Range
The distance between the quietest and loudest audible sounds.

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Fastext
A version of Teletext that uses coloured keys on the remote control as shortcuts to pages.

Firewire
Also known as firewire or i-link. This is a high speed data link for computers to communicate with devices such as Digital Video Cameras and MP3 players. It supports data transfer rates of up to 400 Mbps.

Frequency Response
Speakers & Headphones : - The wider the range of the frequency response the better the range of sound from low bass (20Hz) upwards to High treble (20KHz). The human ear can generally perceive between the range of 20Hz-15KHz.

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GB
A gigabyte is equal to 1000 megabytes.

Graded/Coded/As New Stock
This is stock which may have remained or returned to the manufacturers for a number of reasons.

• Unwanted Gift
• Undelivered Mail Order
• Trade Return
• Small chance of cosmetic blemish
• Missing remote/ Manuals (Which will be replaced)
• Missing accessories i.e batteries
• Surplus Stock
• Re boxed
• End of line stock

Full 12 month Manufacturers Warranty still applies and have all been officially checked and tested by the manufacturer.

Graphic Equaliser
An electronic device for adjusting the frequency response of an audio system, selectively altering the level of sound allowed in discreet frequency bands from bass to treble. Often accompanied by a dynamic LED display.

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HDCD
High Definition Compatible Digital. A compact disc coding system that provides better quality of sound.

HDMI
High Definition Multimedia Interface. Allows full quality digital audio and video to be shared between equipment.

HDTV
High Definition Television. Holds more than double the number of lines on a standard TV signal.
Click Here for a full explaination of HDTV.

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I.Link
IEEE 1394 is a high-speed external port that is used to connect computer peripherals such as a digital camera to the laptop. This allows budding cinematographers to quickly and easily transfer their footage from their digital video camera to the laptop for editing. IEEE 1394 is also know as Firewire, iLink or simply 1394.

IDTV
Television has a built-in ITV Digital decoder allowing the Television set to receive terrestrial digital channels without a set-top box. Free Channels include BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 , Channel 5. Picture and sound quality tends to be superior to that of Analogue due to a more robust signal.

IEEE1394
Also known as firewire or i-link. This is a high speed data link for computers to communicate with devices such as Digital Video Cameras. It supports data transfer rates of up to 400 Mbps.

Image Stabiliser
Camcorder function that reduces picture shaking when filming. Optical stabilisers provide the highest level of picture quality, digital stabiliser use circuitry to reduce picture shake at the expense of some picture resolution.

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JPEG
A file format that stores digital images enabling large data files to be stored and save memory space.

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KB
A kilobyte is equal to 1000 bytes.

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LCD
Liquid Crystal Display. Flat display technology which is more energy efficient than a standard CRT. LCD products are increasing in demand due to their light weight and positioning flexibility in comparison to traditional CRT sets.

Long play
Using compression the video player is able to extend the length of the recording/ playing time beyond that of standard recording/ playing time of the tape cassette

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MB
A megabyte is equal to 1000 kilobytes.

MP3
Shorthand for MPEG Audio Layer 3, a set of standards for storing and compressing digital audio files. Essentially MP3 takes a CD file, and compresses the sound to a much smaller file by removing the bits that the human ear cannot actually detect.

MPEG
Motion Picture Experts Group. A method of compressing moving pictures to make them smaller thus making them easier to transfer and store.

MPEG2
Motion Picture Experts Group.The compression standard for digital video.

MPEG2 5.1 Surround
Alternative digital audio system to Dolby Diital available on some DVD discs, delivering six independent channels of sound: stereo front left and right,centre dialogue and stereo rear channels, plus ddedicated super woofer

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NICAM
NICAM is the acronym for Near Instantaneous Companded Audio Multiplex. This simply means that the sound that you hear is broadcast in digital stereo.

Notebook PC
A small portable PC that has a keyboard and screen all built into one unit, also known as a laptop.

NTSC
American and Japanese Television picture format. Any TV with this capability can receive NTSC signals from VCR or DVD. Video Recorders with this function allow playback of NTSC video tapes.

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Optical Audio Terminal
Enables digital audio signals to be sent from digital sources such as DVD and laser disc players to digital play-back equipment such as Dolby Digital TVs, via a fibre-optic connection

Optical Cable Used to carry digital sound from a DVD player to an AV amplifier. Can also be used to connect a CD player or Minidisc player to an amplifier.

Optical Digital Out
This allows a very high connection to another digital device such as a CD/Minidisc recorder or Digital-capable amplifier.

Optical Zoom
Creates a zoomed in picture by physically moving two lenses. Creates a closer image without any loss of quality as occurs when electronically magnifying the image (Digital Zoom). Most modern digital camcorders have an optical zoom up to about 20x - digital zoom of up to 800 x then takes over.

OSD
On Screen Display - graphic displays which appear on the TV scrren to guide through the various settings and controls.

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PAL
TV broadcast system used in the UK and some other countries

Parental Lock
Allows parents to "lock" out certain content so that children cannot see unsuitable channels - commonly using a PIN number system for access to locked channels.

Phono Cable
Used to send analogue sound from one component to another.

Picture in Picture
Facility on TVs to view more than one channel within smaller windows on the TV, can also be used to display picture and text where indicated.

Pixel
Picture Element. A point of light that forms part of a video or photographic image.

Pixel Plus
Noise reduction system used by Philips to produce sharper and grain free images on TV sets.

Plasma
Technology that uses electrical impulses that react with gases contained to produce pixels. Plasma televisions are increasing in demand due to their light weight and positioning flexibility as opposed to traditional CRT television sets.

Plug and Play
Generic term for any equipment that can be used without a complicated set up.

Preamp out
A line level (standard) output that can be fed into a separate amplifier.

Progressive Scan
An advanced method of viewing video images that provides better quality than traditional interlaced images.

PS/2
A small connector found on a PC to connect a mouse or other PS/2 equipped component.

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RAM
Random Access Memory - this is the working memory used by a computer to process data.

Random/Repeat Play
Applies to CD Players. The disc can be set to play tracks in a random order or to repeat either one track or all tracks.

RECONDITIONED
Products that have had a change of ownership and may have had repair work involving parts from original supplier.

Product returned under current returns procedure.

Product standards:

• No Cracks
• Cabinet may have up to 2 minor scratches or similar blemishes which are not noticeable by the naked eye at a viewing distance of 100 cm
• Pedestal Stand may have up to 2 minor scratches or similar blemishes which are not noticeable at a viewing distance of 100 cm
• LCD Screen may have minor scuff marks and scratches which are not noticeable when tv is being viewed. Scuffs and scratches will not be noticeable at a distance of over 150 cm
• No bright or dark pixels to be visible within two thirds of the area from the central point of the screen. One bright or dark pixel permissible in outer third of screen
• Product will be clean and free of dirt or greasy marks
• No component damage
• All aspects of the product will operate in accordance with the original design and specification
• All labelling will be in place for the product. For LCDs a "RECONDITIONED" designation will be clear
• Packaging will be the original packaging or plain cardboard packaging designated by TIU for Reconditioned products

The back of the product will be marked with a label RECONDITIONED, this label being of a type that will break up if removal attempted. The outside of the packing will have a label at each end indicating the category.

RGB
Transmission system that splits the Red, Green and Blue signal to provide a clearer and more defined picture.

Rising Time
This is the length of time it takes for the food temperature in the freezer to rise from -18°C to -9°C in the event of a powercut, with the door remaining closed.

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S-VHS
Super VHS is a higher quality video cassette format giving better picture resolution than a standard VHS tape.

S-VHSC
Super VHSC is a higher quality video camcorder cassette format giving better picture resolution than a standard VHSC tape.

S-Video
Carries picture signals only from a component to a TV. Superior to SCART or Composite connection but inferior to Component or RGB SCART. Carries picture only so a sepapate connection must be used for audio signals.

SACD
Super Audio Compact Disc - a higher quality CD format giving improved sound quality.

SCART
A SCART cable carries the video, audio and system control signals, to and from the VCR, TV , Games Console or other equipment.

SECAM
Tv broadcast system used in France and some other countries. Only multi-standard TV`s can receive these signals in the UK - normal TV sets for this country can only receive the PAL standard used here.

Sleep Timer
Function that allows the unit to turn itself off after a set period of time. Usually applies to TVs and Hi-fis.

Subwoofer
Used for the reproduction of low sound frequencies, typically from 20Hz to 200Hz. Whether in the car or at home, the subwoofer is critical for filling out the "low end" of the audible spectrum, as well as ground pounding bass.

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THX
Lucasfilm set of standards for Dolby pro logic equipment that ensures THX approved surround sound.

Tweeter
Part of a loudspeaker or separate speaker that generates treble sounds.

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USB
Universal Serial Bus. Unlike serial connectors it can be plugged in without having to restart the computer. Found on an increasing number of digital cameras for downloading pictures to a PC or Mac

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Video Plus
A fast and easy way of setting up the video to record a TV programme. Simply type in the number next to the programme in the TV guide and the rest is done for you. Video Plus deluxe brings together VideoPlus and Satellite control - allows for easy Video Plus recording of satellite channels once initial set-up has been completed.

Virtual Dolby
System used on TVs to produce a surround sound without the use of additional speakers.

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Watts per channel
This is a measure of the power output of a system or loudspeakers. It can be quoted in a number of ways - see also RMS and Peak Power Output.

Widescreen
Provides a picture close to that of which you would see in the cinema. The Widescreen shape (16:9) allows a greater picture size to that of traditional (4:3) television when displaying modern films or DVDs. Many digital channels now broadcast in widescreen format.

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XGA
Extended Graphics Array. A display resolution of 1024x768 pixels.

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