HDMI –A cable used for transmission of High Definition digital video up to 1080p and digital audio.
Component Cables – A set of three video cables used to send red green and blue video from a source to your TV. Can be used for progressive scan devices (DVD) and up to 1080i HDTV devices (cable box) but will not work for 1080p devices (BluRay).
Composite Video – The standard single (usually yellow) video cable only used for 480i devices (old DVD players standard video devices or VCRs)
S-Video – The red headed stepchild of video cables; A digital version of the composite cable, barely improving the signal if at all, and still only capable of displaying 480i.
DLP – (Digital Light Projection) Developed by Texas Instruments, this technology uses a small chip with tiny moving micro mirrors that reflect light through a color wheel to display video. Used in rear projection DLP screens and front projectors also.
LCD – (Liquid Crystal Display) A display technology used to make this type of flat screen TVs, rear projection TVs and front projectors.
L.E.D (Light Emitting Diode) An old technology taken in a new direction to be used in Rear Projection TVs
5.1, 6.1, 7.1 – The names for the different surround formats. (# of speakers . # of subwoofers) 5.1 is 2 front speakers 1 center 2 rear speakers and a subwoofer. 6.1 has an additional rear center, and 7.1 has an additional rear pair.
Dolby Digital – The standard digital surround mode created by Dolby Labs. The difference between pro logic surround and digital surround is that digital has a separate channel of sound for each speaker whereas pro logic uses only stereo sound and simulates the other channels.
DTS – An alternative digital surround mode (in my opinion better than Dolby Digital)
Distributed Audio – A name for a system that distributes or powers speakers in multiple locations.
Zone - The name for each location in a distributed audio system.
Zone 2 – the name some brands of surround receivers use when the receiver can power an additional set of speakers. Usualy it is a choice between the additional rear speakers for 7.1 or a separate zone.
Lighting Control – The ability to program and control the lighting in scenes and or by remote.
Automation – A system that automatically controls other systems interactively or based on user settings. For example, an automated home system would turn on lights when you walk into a room, set the temperature, and turn on the sprinklers if it hasn’t rained.
Universal Remote – A remote control specifically designed to combine all of your remote controls into one easy to use remote that will control your whole system.
HDTV – High definition TV: The new standard in picture quality (resolution) for TV. There are different levels of standard and HDTV resolutions. See below.
480i – The old standard in TV resolution: 480 horizontal lines of resolution interlaced
480p – The resolution used for DVD and any “Progressive scan” device. 480 true lines of resolution (progressive)
720p – A basic HDTV resolution using 720 true lines of resolution (progressive)
1080i – Another basic HDTV resolution commonly compared equal to 720p but using 1080 lines of resolution interlaced.
1080p – Currently the best HDTV resolution using 1080 true lines of resolution (progressive)
Interlaced – A technology used to increase the perceived resolution by displaying only half of the lines of resolution at a time (every other line) then rapidly displaying the other half. The TV never displays more than half at one time but gives the illusion of double the resolution.
Progressive – Any resolution that does not use interlacing but rather displays every line of full resolution at once, giving a more accurate, smooth picture.
Acoustic Treatments – Alterations or enhancements made to a room to improve the environment for the desired sound. These can be fabric panels using acoustic absorbing foam, in ceiling or in wall insulation, or even special construction or specific construction materials. There are two purposes for these treatments, isolation (when you want to contain the sound only in one room, and absorption (when you want to hear more accurately the sound produced in a room).
16x2 – The term used to describe wire, where 16 is the gage and 2 is the number of conductors.
16x4 – The term used to describe wire, where 16 is the gage and 4 is the number of conductors.