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NTSC (National
Television
System(s)
Committee)
The standard video broadcast format used in North America.
Output Device
A device that produces the sound or picture, for example, a TV
or speakers.
PAL
(Phase
Alternating
Line)
A video format that is used in the UK, and parts of Europe and Asia.
Passthrough
A device that routes video or audio from one device to another device.
Personal Video
Recorder (PVR)
Contains an internal recorder and player that records and plays video without the
use of a removable tape or disc. Typically PVRs can pause, rewind, instantly replay,
and play slow-motion for live or recorded TV. Examples of PVR service providers
are TiVo, ReplayTV, UltimateTV, and Keen PM. Many satellite and cable providers
also provide PVR services and have PVRs included in some of their set-top boxes.
Pre-amplifier
A control and switching component that may include equalization functions.
Pre-amp Sound
Processing
Takes a small signal and amplifies it sufficiently to be fed into the power amplifier
for further amplification. A pre-amp includes all of the controls for regulating tone,
volume, and channel balance. This task is known as sound processing.
Receiver
Also referred to as a tuner or a stereo receiver. A receiver can be any component
that receives or tunes broadcast signals, or AM/FM radio. Typically refers to the
single component that includes a preamplifier, surround processor, multi-channel
amplifier, and AM/FM tuner.
RF (Radio
Frequency)
Used by some remote controls, to control devices that are out of sight (e.g.
behind cabinet doors) because it doesn’t have the same line-of-sight restrictions
as IR (infrared) signals.
SACD (Super
Audio CD)
A read-only optical audio disc aimed at providing much higher quality of digital
audio reproduction than the compact disc.
