6.1 or 7.1 Setup
The most advanced home theater systems feature six (with Center Back) or seven (with Left Back and Right Back) full-range channels that allow viewers to take advantage of Dolby Digital EX soundtracks and Dolby Pro Logic®; IIx matrix-surround decoding technology. Both of these processes add surround information for greater realism and more dramatic effects.
Speaker Placement Tips
Of course, it's not always possible to place your speakers exactly as shown in our diagrams. The diagrams give a range of placement angles, so you have some flexibility. Sometimes you'll have no choice but to mount the surrounds directly behind you, but if you follow the guidelines as closely as you can, you'll have good sound.
Ideally, your front speakers, high-frequency drivers, or tweeters should be positioned at ear level (when you're seated). Our recommended height for the surrounds is above ear level, as soundtracks are likely to be optimized for that location.
Beyond keeping it on the floor, there's no specific rule for placing the subwoofer, as bass sound is nondirectional. However, the amount of bass may vary depending on room location. You might want to try a few different places to determine what's best for you (sometimes moving the speaker even a few inches can change the sound).
Speaker Shopping Tips
Most speaker manufacturers offer complete home theater systems, usually based on a satellite/subwoofer configuration. You're assured of speakers that match sonically (and cosmetically). Generally, the satellite speakers in these systems are shielded, so they can be placed close to your TV set. If your stereo speakers are not shielded, don't place them too close to the TV. (They're too close if the picture starts to distort.)
If you're expanding a stereo system and want to keep the speakers you have, try to stick with the manufacturer of your current speakers when you choose your subwoofer and Center and surround speakers. Most speaker manufacturers can offer advice on complementary models.
Room Acoustics
The shape of your room and how it's furnished will affect the sound you hear. For instance, too many bare surfaces can cause reflections that may add harshness to the sound. Adding carpeting and drapes can help.
If you have a choice of rooms, avoid ones that are perfectly square or have one dimension exactly twice another. These rooms can aggravate resonances that color the sound.
If possible, center your seating area between the surround speakers.
The closer you place a speaker to intersecting room surfaces (corners, wall and ceiling, wall and floor), the stronger the bass output. This can help bass-shy speakers, but it can also add too much bass. Again, just moving a speaker a few inches can often make a big difference in sound.
Graphical guide from dolby labs can be accessed at
http://www.dolby.com/consumer/home_entertainment/roomlayout2.html
All the receivers that support more than 5.1 channels will also work fine with a 5.1 channel setup. Obviously, 7.1 will provide better surround sound than 5.1, but at the expense of two extra speakers. If you have a limited budget you will have to decide whether to buy 5.1 higher quality speakers, or go for cheaper speakers to allow for 7.1 channels. By the way, the .1 channel is the home theater sub-woofer. The sub-woofer is, in my opinion, really needed for home theater. A system will work without it, but I don't recommend going without for home theater. The center channel is also very important for home theater, serving to anchor the sound to the video screen. If you go to our site by the link at the bottom of this article you can see images for the descriptions following. These are the recommended placements according to Dolby Labs.
5.1 surround system:
A). Center speaker centered on video source
B). Sub-woofer(s) in arc with the main L & R speakers between speakers and video source
C). L & R front on a 22-30 degree angle from the sitting, on an equidistant arc connecting the center channel and subs
D). L & R surround equidistant and on a 90-110 degree angle from the sitting position
6.1 surround system:
A). Center speaker centered on video source
B). Sub-woofer(s) in arc with the main L & R speakers between speakers and video source
C). L & R front on a 22-30 degree angle from the sitting, on an equidistant arc connecting the center channel and subs
D). L & R surround equidistant and on a 90-110 degree angle from the sitting position
E). Rear center 180 degrees (directly behind) the sitting position
7.1 surround system:
A). Center speaker centered on video source
B). Sub-woofer(s) in arc with the main L & R speakers between speakers and video source
C). L & R front on a 22-30 degree angle from the sitting, on an equidistant arc connecting the center channel and subs
D). L & R surround equidistant and on a 90-110 degree angle from the sitting position
E). L & R rear equidistant and on a 135-150 degree angle from the listening position.
Sub-woofer Setup Read More
Also works very well for generating five-channel surround from two-channel stereo music recordings, such as CDs. Highly desirable. If you could have only one surround decoding option, this would be the one to choose.
Dolby Pro Logic IIx: enhanced version of DPL II that can deliver up to 7.1-channel output. Nice if you can put one or two back-surround speakers in the room in addition to the standard left and right surrounds, but useless otherwise.
Dolby Digital: Dolby Digital decoding is the best choice for multichannel Dolby Digital soundtracks delivered in that format, as they are on DVD, HDTV, and some satellite transmissions. But it's useless for things like VHS releases or analog TV programs that can't carry Dolby Digital but can deliver Dolby Surround. For those you need Dolby Pro Logic or Pro Logic II, which are, in effect, universal sound decoders. And, if you have to choose just one, choose DPL II.
Dolby Digital EX: enhanced version of Dolby Digital that allows a back-surround channel in soundtracks in addition to the usual left and right surrounds. Nice to have if you can accommodate the extra speaker or two at the back, but useless otherwise. Works well with Dolby Digital EX and some regular Dolby Digital soundtracks.
DTS: an alternative surround encoding/decoding format that is functionally equivalent to Dolby Digital. It offers no advantage, however, and is not as widely used. Not really needed except for certain special DTS-encoded multichannel CDs.
Frequency Response
Frequency response measures both the range of frequencies that can be reproduced, from lows to highs, and the evenness of their reproduction. For example, you might see something like this: 40 Hz to 20 KHz, +/-3 dB. That means low frequencies from 40 Hz (cycles per second) to high frequencies up to 20,000 Hz (the approximate upper limit of human hearing) are reproduced with no more than 3 decibels of deviation from perfect accuracy ("flat" response).
The part of all this that is worth paying attention to is the low-frequency limit. For most music and many movies outside the action and sci-fi genres, a lower bass limit of 50 Hz will do. Pushing the bass down to 40 Hz will ensure that you never feel seriously deprived. And if you get it down to 30 Hz or below, you can feel some pretty bone-rattling effects.
Audio Inputs
The number and type of audio inputs available in the control center or audio/video receiver determines how many sources you can connect to it and what you can do with their outputs.
Line-level stereo: Your ordinary, everyday analog audio connection, normally consisting of two RCA jacks. Any audio or audio/video source will have compatible outputs. These are fine for stereo or Dolby Pro Logic reproduction.
Coaxial digital: One of two types of digital audio connections. This type uses an RCA jack; the cable should be 75-ohm coax (any cable labeled for video or digital audio). A digital audio connection--either coaxial or optical--is necessary for Dolby Digital (or DTS) decoding. The type doesn't matter; you just have to match input to output.
Optical (Toslink) digital: The other type of digital audio connection, which uses fiber-optic cable for signal transmission.
Speaker Configuration
Surround encoding and playback is defined according to a number system.
For example, Dolby Surround is a 4.0 system, with front left and right, center, and mono surround channels. Dolby Digital is a 5.1 system, with front left and right, center, left and right surround, and low-frequency effects channels. (The LFE is the ".1 " channel.)
Dolby Digital EX is a 6.1 system. The speaker systems used to reproduce these formats are usually 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1, with the latter two adding one or two back-surround speakers, respectively, in addition to the standard left and right surrounds. In this context, the ".1 " refers to a subwoofer (which will usually reproduce deep bass from the main channels in addition to the LFE). In some cases one surround channel may be routed through two surround speakers, as in a Dolby Pro Logic decoded Dolby Surround soundtrack in a 5.1 system or Dolby Digital EX in a 7.1 system.
5.1: This is pretty much the base format now, capable of excellent performance.
6.1: This system adds a third surround speaker directly behind the seating area, which is nice when the room can accommodate the extra speaker, but generally not practical when the seats are against the back wall.
7.1: Two back-surround speakers are positioned behind the seating area instead of just one. A 6.1-channel soundtrack usually sounds better with 7.1 playback than with 6.1, so it's not gilding the lily.
Video Inputs
These are only somewhat important because you usually don't have to route video signals through the audio control center. But video inputs can be a convenience.
Composite-video: This provides the lowest quality but broadest compatibility. Any device that has video outputs will include composite-video among them. The connection is made with a single 75-ohm coaxial cable between RCA jacks.
S-video: For better quality, most video sources except standard VCRs now have S-video outputs. This is connected with a special cable and multipin sockets.
Component-video: This high-quality spec is the minimum standard for connecting HDTV tuners and progressive-scan DVD players. It requires three 75-ohm coaxial cables of the same type used for composite video.
DVI: This digital RGB connection, the highest-quality option, is commonly used for HDTV tuners and occasionally for DVD players. It requires a special cable and multipin sockets. You're not likely to find this one on current integrated home-theater audio systems.
HDMI out: The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a compact audio/video connector interface for transmitting uncompressed digital streams. It represents a digital alternative to consumer analog standards such as Radio Frequency (RF) coaxial cable, composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, D-Terminal, and VGA. If you wish to enjoy full power of your LCD TV this is a must interface.Amplifier Power
Surprised? A speaker's ability to reproduce sound loudly depends on both amplifier power and the sensitivity of the speakers, which is seldom specified for this type of system. Highly sensitive speakers don't need nearly as much power as less-sensitive ones to sound just as loud. For example, a speaker with 91-dB sensitivity will sound just as loud with a 50-watt amplifier as a speaker with 88-dB sensitivity will with a 100-watt amp. And because amplifier power is cheap these days, it's rare for any systems, other than very low-end ones, to be underpowered. The shortcomings tend to be elsewhere.
Listen: When it comes to evaluating sound, there's no substitute for your own ears. The quality of a system's speakers will make or break its performance, and you can't gauge that from specs or descriptions alone. Take your own discs so that you can listen to material you're familiar with. And even if you intend to use the system only for movies and TV, include some music CDs. They will make it a lot easier for you to spot problems with tonal balance.
Push the subwoofer: Calling Arnold! Here's where you will need a DVD, preferably a noisy thrill-fest. Find a scene with some heavy bass action and see how the system's subwoofer holds up when you really crank it. You want one that won't wimp out on this sort of material at the volume levels you like to hear.
Don't hesitate to go digital: Even if all you've got right now is a VCR and a 10-year-old TV, chances are you're going to wind up sooner or later (probably sooner) with a DVD player or HDTV that will really benefit from Dolby Digital decoding in the sound system. It's not a big premium anymore.
Look before you leap: Take a good, hard look at the room where you plan to use the system. What has to go where, what can go where, and how big can it be and still fit? There's no point in paying extra for a 7.1-channel system if you've got no place to put the two extra surround speakers, for example. If cabinets are involved, make measurements and carry them with you. A small pocket tape measure can be very handy.
Don't get caught up in numbers games: A thousand watts into crummy speakers is just really loud bad sound. And 20 surround modes is 17 too many if you're going to use only three of them. Stay focused on good sound and ease of use.Refer this article for the better listening experience of your home theater.Sound quality Dolby vs DTS
The first thing you should do is take some measurements of the area where the LCD TV will be located. These numbers will help you determine the size of screen that's right for you. Consider what seating and furniture setup will work best for viewers of the LCD television. If you like where your furniture is now, leave it as is and think about screen size according to the current configuration. If you want to make changes, now is the best time to do so, before you select and bring home the LCD TV.
Measure the distance from the viewing and seating area to the place you want to put the LCD television. 35-inch or smaller LCD TVs should be placed 10 feet away, while anything larger needs a longer viewing distance. For instance, a 60-inch LCD television requires a distance of 15-20 feet.
The angle of viewing is also an important consideration. Certain models provide better viewing angles than others. What exactly is an LCD TV viewing angle. Simply, it's the angle the television can be viewed from the side before the quality of the picture starts to degrade.
When looking at LCDs in the store, focus on the television under consideration, and inspect for picture quality. Does it produce the quality of picture you desire? Is the screen size what you are looking for. The best size of LCD screen is easier to determine if you stop comparing to the other models in the store and concentrate on the models you want to buy.
It?s best to purchase an LCD with an anti-glare coating if light reflection from outside is something you have to worry about, although a lot of light can still cause some glare, no matter what model you choose. Keep this in mind when setting up the room in your house that is going to contain the LCD television.
When selecting an LCD TV the question of HDTV also comes up. If enjoying HDTV entertainment is important to you, than you have to purchase an LCD with HDTV capabilities. Prices differ depending on the brand and size, so do some research before you make a final decision.
Sharp and Samsung are two of the main competitors in LCD TVs. Whether you buy a Sharp or a Samsung doesn't really matter, as long as you find a television that fits your specifications, you should be able to find something that works well for you.
]]>Sit too close to your big screen TV and you will be able to see the image build-up structure - scanning lines or pixels forming the image – thus distracting your attention and spoiling your home theater experience. Yet, sit too far away, and the impact will be lost.
There are differing opinions on the best way to determine the optimum TV viewing distance for a specific screen size. Just go to the movie theater and you will soon realize that it is all a question of personal preference - some would sit at the very back. Others would go straight to the front row, as they prefer the bigger picture and a wider angle of view, while some would simply choose their seat randomly somewhere in between these two extremes.
The truth is that there are no scientific rules her. This does not mean that there aren't any guidelines that you should follow when planning a big screen purchase or a would-be home theater room.
SMPTE Recommendations and the THX Certification standards:
The Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers (SMPTE) recommends that the screen size for home theater use should occupy a 30 degrees field of view - in the horizontal plan - for the audience. Alternatively, the ideal TV viewing distance should be such that the screen width occupies an angle of 30 degrees from the viewing position.
This 30-degrees viewing angle seems to have been accepted by many as the standard in home theater and motion picture viewing.
This SMPTE guideline is also in line with the THX certification standards in that these recommend that the back row of seats should have at least a 26 degrees viewing angle and while recommending an optimum viewing angle of 36 degrees.
It is believed that within these viewing angle limits, the viewer will get better immersed into the action movie itself.
Vision System limitations:
There is also the issue of TV viewing distance based on visual acuity. This does not represent the optimum viewing distance - rather, this relates to the maximum viewing distance beyond which some picture detail will be lost.
Technically speaking, visual acuity is a measure of the eye spatial resolving power and indicates the angular size of the smallest detail that a person visual system can resolve. A person with 20/20 (or 6/6 when expressed in meters) normal vision can resolve a spatial pattern separated by a visual angle of one minute of arc angle i.e. 1/60th of a degree, at the eye when viewed at 20 feet away. Expressed differently, a person with normal 20/20 vision is capable of identifying an object with a height of 1.76mm at 20 feet way.
In terms of TV viewing distances, these represent the point beyond which some of the picture detail will no longer be resolved by the viewer vision system.
So How Does All This Translate In Practical Terms?
A few rules-of-thumb can help put in practice the guidelines detailed above. These rules for viewing distance refer to the screen width rather than the screen diagonal and therefore apply to both 4:3 and 16:9 display formats.
A general rule for the TV viewing distance based on the SMPTE and visual acuity guidelines, is that the nearest TV viewing distance between you and your big screen TV should be limited to approximately twice the screen width (more precise 1.87 x screen width for a subtended angle of 30 degrees), while the furthest distance being no more than five times the width of your screen.
This rule of thumb should give you a fairly good approximation for your TV viewing distance. It does not necessarily represent the ideal home theater viewing distance but rather the limits within which your TV viewing distance should theoretically be out of the trouble zone.
In other words, move closer than twice the screen width size, and the picture scanning lines, pixels and any other video artifacts will become too visibly intrusive - leading to distractions that will spoil your movie watching experience. Move further away than 5 times the screen width and your vision system will no longer be able to resolve all the picture detail.
But…
It is also important to realize that these maximum and minimum viewing distances should be seen in the light of the video signal definition.
A fully resolved high definition TV (1080i, 1920x1080) supports a closer viewing distance than standard analog TV. Thus while twice the screen width would be the ideal TV viewing distance for a HDTV display, it would be a bit too close for standard TV; in the later case, a three times the screen width would be a better option.
Similarly, the five times the screen width as the maximum view distance, while more than adequate for a standard analog TV picture, is a bit too far away for a person to see the fine detail supported by a HDTV picture – a three to four times the screen width represents a more practical limit for the maximum viewing distance in the case of HDTV.
These rules-of-thumb work best with big screen TV sizes in the range 42-inches and over.
When it comes to the use of regular-size standard definition analog TVs in the home theater, i.e. up to 36” / 40” diagonal, the optimum viewing distance range is between 8 feet and 12 feet. TV sets smaller than 36-inches aren't big enough to qualify for Home Theater use; their smaller screen size will not provide the desired impact on the viewer.
Vertical Angle of View & Screen Height:
For optimum viewing, the eyes of the viewer should be level with the center of the screen.
Maximum vertical angle of view: In those home theater set-ups where this is not possible, the SMPTE guidelines suggest that the maximum vertical angle measured at the seated eye height from the front row center seat to the top most part of the projected image should not exceed 35 degrees.
This does not represent the optimum viewing angle but rather the limit beyond which the viewer will be subject to an increased neck strain.
This maximum vertical angle limit is always measured from the front row as this represent the extreme angle of view.
Minimum angle of vision: While there do not appear to be any specific SMPTE or THX guidelines in this respect, yet studies have shown that if the screen size occupies less than 15 degrees of the viewer's vertical field of view, than that image appears small.
Practical Considerations:
In a typical home theater set-up, you do not need to really worry about neither the maximum vertical angle of view, nor about the minimum vertical angle of vision for an effective movie theater experience.
If one were to adhere to the recommended TV viewing distance of twice the screen width (as further detailed above based on the SMPTE guideline of 30 degrees horizontal field of vision), you would automatically be complying with the minimum angle of vision. The reason being that there is a fixed relation between screen height and width in accordance to your home theater screen aspect ratio of either 16:9 or 4:3.
Further more, in a typical home theater setup, it would be very difficult to exceed the maximum vertical angle of view beyond which you will be subject to an increased neck strain.
Taking into account that most home theater rooms are approximately 10 feet (3m) high, the resultant vertical viewing angle is normal well within the maximum of 35 degrees detailed in the SMPTE guidelines – all you have to do is just remain within the twice the screen width guideline for your viewing distance.
Andrew Ghigo – A Telecoms/Electronics engineer by profession, with specialization in digital switching and telecoms fraud management systems.
Editor and publisher of http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com - a site dedicated to all home theater enthusiasts with the scope of serving as a comprehensive home theater guide to home theater systems, product reviews and home theater design.
This article is an excerpt from a series of articles appearing under the home theater design section of the site.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Ghigo
]]>Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround - Identifying the main differences between these multichannel sound formats
Many audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts argue that DTS surround sound formats can deliver higher quality audio in comparison to their corresponding Dolby formats, with improved dynamic range, better representation of subtle detail in audio content, and improved signal-to-noise ratio.
Partly, this reasoning arises because DTS surround sound is usually encoded at a higher data rate than Dolby Digital and its lineup of associated formats.
This is more than understandable. We are dealing with lossy compression techniques. A higher bit-rate for the same format should normally implies superior sound during playback, as less compression in the encoding process should..
]]>Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround - Identifying the main differences between these multichannel sound formats
Many audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts argue that DTS surround sound formats can deliver higher quality audio in comparison to their corresponding Dolby formats, with improved dynamic range, better representation of subtle detail in audio content, and improved signal-to-noise ratio.
Partly, this reasoning arises because DTS surround sound is usually encoded at a higher data rate than Dolby Digital and its lineup of associated formats.
This is more than understandable. We are dealing with lossy compression techniques. A higher bit-rate for the same format should normally implies superior sound during playback, as less compression in the encoding process should..
..result lt in a better representation of the original sound source.
In this Dolby vs DTS debate, DTS people argue that they are after 'sonic perfection, not space consumption' - hence the higher bit rate and lower compression.
Dolby would counteract that their codec is more efficient and therefore, it can run at a lower bit rate.
In other words, one cannot simply draw conclusion on sound quality based on raw bit rates and compression figures alone; it also depends on how well designed are the encoding and decoding algorithms. And this makes sense too, but then...
There are relatively big differences in raw bit rates and compression levels when comparing Dolby vs DTS sound formats, implying a too wide a difference in codec efficiency - about 3 times as much - in favor of Dolby. Is it possible that Dolby sound formats achieve this level of codec efficiency?
The truth is that when dealing with different sound formats, the whole equation starts to get extremely complicated; it is not that easy to define what makes better sound.
This Dolby vs DTS is a much debated issue, but in reality is it true that one is better than the other?
To understand why this Dolby vs DTS surround sound controversy, it is necessary to have an understanding of the main differences between these formats. In particular, there are significant differences in bit-rate and compression levels as applicable to Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround. There are also important differences in the way these formats are implemented in movie house applications and in home entertainment.
It is not the scope of this write-up to go into these details; for the relevant information on the differences between Dolby and DTS, please read the full article appearing on Practical Home Theater Guide at http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/dolby-vs-dts.html.
At the same time, it is important to realize that these same differences between these two formats have actually given rise to this Dolby vs DTS controversy.
So where does this Dolby vs DTS debate leads? Sound quality is an extremely subjective issue and therefore it is not easy to define what constitutes better sound. Opinions vary when comparing Dolby vs DTS and range from 'DTS is better' to 'Dolby Digital and DTS Surround Sound are pretty much the same'.
..and what do we say about this Dolby vs DTS debate?
Both Dolby Digital and DTS Surround are capable of achieving similar results in delivering surround sound, even though the lower compression and higher bit-rate of DTS Digital Surround should theoretically yield apparent benefits in sound quality.
At the same time, one cannot ignore the fact that these two formats make use of different coding schemes and syntax to perceptually compress audio.
This means that efficiency in terms of data utilization between these two formats is different. Therefore, direct comparison of the respective Dolby and DTS sound formats based solely on their raw bit rates, cannot be taken as an objective measure of sound quality.
Thus, while it is objectively possible to compare the resultant sound quality for the same audio format encoded at different bit rates, say in a movie house application and in home entertainment, yet it is not so straightforward when dealing with different formats.
Rather, for identically sourced audio content, it would be much easier for the listener during Dolby vs DTS 'blind' listening tests to notice a change in sound quality when changing the playback equipment between different brands, than when changing from Dolby to DTS. In other words, you need a thoroughly refined audio playback setup to bring out that subtle difference in sound quality between these two formats.
(c) 2004/2007 www.practical-home-theater-guide.com. All rights reserved
Andrew Ghigo – A Telecoms/Electronics engineer by profession, with specialization in digital switching and telecoms fraud management systems; a keen home theater enthusiast, with a lifelong interest in home electronics and a devoted audiophile for the last 25-yrs.
Editor and publisher of http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com - a comprehensive home theater guide to home theater systems, product reviews and home theater design.
This article is an excerpt from a series of informative guides appearing under the Home Theater Sound section of the site at http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/surround-sound.html.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Ghigo
]]>There are currently a number of different HDTV formats as adopted by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), based on 720p, 1080i, and 1080p - using refresh rates that vary between 24 Hz and 60 Hz.
The main difference between these HDTV formats is one of image resolution.
The 720p is on the lower-end of the scale with an image resolution of 1280 pixels by 720 lines. The other two formats both support 1920 pixels by 1080 lines. In other words, both support the same image resolution but there is a significant difference in the way the 1080i (interlaced) and the 1080p (progressive) formats build up the image.
Surely, image resolution in fixed-pixel displays is a very HOT topic with many HDTV buyers. For many, the obvious choice is to opt for the latest 1080p HDTV - also referred to as ultra-HD or full-HD by some manufacturers ....
]]>There are currently a number of different HDTV formats as adopted by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), based on 720p, 1080i, and 1080p - using refresh rates that vary between 24 Hz and 60 Hz.
The main difference between these HDTV formats is one of image resolution.
The 720p is on the lower-end of the scale with an image resolution of 1280 pixels by 720 lines. The other two formats both support 1920 pixels by 1080 lines. In other words, both support the same image resolution but there is a significant difference in the way the 1080i (interlaced) and the 1080p (progressive) formats build up the image.
Surely, image resolution in fixed-pixel displays is a very HOT topic with many HDTV buyers. For many, the obvious choice is to opt for the latest 1080p HDTV - also referred to as ultra-HD or full-HD by some manufacturers ....
.but there is a price to pay to get the latest in HDTV technology.
On the other hand, the way the 1080i and the 720p formats build up the image may render the lower resolution 720p format more suitable to display certain image content.
In other words, do not simply jump to conclusions as to which HD format is best. As we will see in this article, each of these different HDTV formats has got its strengths and weaknesses.
1080i: Up to a few years ago, this was considered as the reference standard in HDTV . Nearly all first-generation HDTVs were rear-projection sets that supported this standard.
This format boasts a picture resolution of 1920 pixels by 1080 horizontal lines that are painted on the screen in two interlaced halves (hence the 'i' in the '1080i' format) - by first painting all 540 even-numbered lines on the screen (also referred to as the even-field), and then proceed with the painting of the odd-numbered lines (odd-field). These two fields together form a single frame of 1080 lines.
In the process, the screen is painted 60 times per second (50 times in a PAL signal) - each time painting only half of the lines per frame, with the entire screen being painted in two passes 30 times every second.
Because of the way the interlaced process paints the screen, all picture information contained in adjacent odd and even lines in an interlaced image is 1/60th of a second out-of-synch with the next or previous line. This difference between the two halves of the picture would show up in what are referred to as 'interlaced artifact'. This in itself will impact on the type of image content that is best displayed on an interlaced display.
720p and 1080p HDTV: In contrast, in all progressive-scan formats - 480p (EDTV), and 720p and the 1080p HDTV displays - all scanning lines in a single frame are displayed sequentially in a single pass. This means that a progressive scan image is complete in itself. This also explains why progressive images look better when objects in the pictures are in motion.
The Bottom Line
The 1080i format is more widely supported by manufacturers and broadcasters; broadcasters however would normally broadcast only in either 720p or 1080i but not both. This should not be much of an issue in that any HDTV set you buy should be able to display pictures in any HDTV format by up-converting or down-converting to its native format, i.e. the one in which it's designed to produce a picture.
Theoretically, from a pixel-count perspective, 1080i supports better spatial resolution than a 720p HDTV. In theory, 1080i supports a pixel count of over 2 million pixels as against the 0.92 million pixels supported by 720p HDTV , but due to limitations associated with interlacing, the actual difference in effective resolution between 720p and 1080i is almost negligible. What's more, a 720p display is capable of a better flicker-free picture when it comes to fast moving action movie scenes and sports.
The situation with 1080p HDTV is totally different than that of 1080i. 1080p supports the full 1920 x 1080 pixels (2.07 million pixels) while at the same time, enjoys the added benefit that all 1080 lines are displayed in a single pass.
In other words, 1080p HDTV combines the superior resolution of the 1080 format with the smooth stable image of a progressive scan format.
N.B: It is worth mentioning here that interlaced formats aren't really an option in fixed-pixel displays (DLP and LCD rear-projection as well as plasma and LCD flat-panel). This also explains why display manufacturers are shifting away from the 1080i and instead moving directly from 720p to 1080p HDTV.
And What about 1080p HDTV Sets?
Surely, 1080p HDTV represents the latest developments in HD Television technology. A few of these sets have already started to hit the market.
Not surprisingly, there is a premium one has to pay to get the latest and best in the HDTV world. 1080p HDTV sets do not come cheap but the price gap between a 720p and a 1080p has already fallen below the $500 mark from an average of $1,000 to $2,000 a year ago.
Should you opt for a 1080p HDTV Set, and are these sets worth the extra expense?
Well, there is no straight answer here. It all depends on what are your requirements, yet there are a few facts you should know before making any decision:
* Surely, these sets are capable of producing spectacular results with ultra sharp images. But whether you will be able to see the difference in image quality between a 720p display and a 1080i signal displayed on a 1080p HDTV display depends on your TV viewing distance and screen size, more than on the screen native resolution. (It is not the scope of this article to discuss the TV viewing distance but more info in this respect is available at our site at http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/Tv-viewing-distance.html)
* In reality, it would be very difficult to detect any difference in image detail between 720p and 1080i/p HDTV material on the smaller sets from 10-feet away. Sit closer and feed your 1080p HDTV set with a good quality HD source, and you will start to see the difference.
* Further more, with most of today HD broadcasts, you will be hard pressed to see a difference in picture quality when you compare the image on current 720p sets versus the latest 1080p HDTV models. Surely, if you are thinking of going really big, then the extra image resolution would make the difference. But keep in mind that at present, true 1080p HDTV material is almost non-existent. What's more, none of the major networks has announced 1080p broadcasts - and it is unlikely that they will make such a move in the near future considering the bandwidth requirements.
Nevertheless, one cannot but remark that the whole equation in favor of 1080p HDTV sets has started to change. There are a number of factors that are pointing towards the latest in HDTV - and it is not just the marginal difference in price between 720p and 1080p HDTV sets. In particular, there is the advent of high definition movie players; these will be taking a dominate role in the distribution of off-air HDTV mcontent. It is true that present day first generation HD-DVD do not output in 1080p but first generation Blu-ray will offer it, so HD-DVD will surely have to follow suit at some point in the near future. Meanwhile, 1080p is quickly becoming the new de-facto gold standard for HDTVs, and while - ironically - most pre-2006 1080p HDTV sets did not support a 1080p connection, 1080p inputs are set to become among the basic common supported features in nearly all 2006 HDTVs.
(c) 2004/2005 www.practical-home-theater-guide.com. All rights reserved.
Andrew Ghigo – A Telecoms/Electronics engineer by profession, with specialization in digital switching and telecoms fraud management systems.
Editor and publisher of http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com - a site dedicated to all home theater enthusiasts with the scope of serving as a comprehensive home theater guide to home theater systems, product reviews and home theater design.
This article is an excerpt from a series of guides appearing under the Rear Projection TV Reviews section of the site.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Ghigo
]]>Plasma uses a matrix of tiny gas plasma cells that are charged by precise electrical voltages to emit light and hence to create the picture image. Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) panels - work by trapping a liquid crystal solution between two sheets of polarized glass. When an electric current is passed through the liquid crystals, they change the polarization of the light passing through them in response to the electric voltage – as a result of which, more or less light is able to pass through the polarized glass on the face of the display.
]]>Plasma uses a matrix of tiny gas plasma cells that are charged by precise electrical voltages to emit light and hence to create the picture image. Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) panels - work by trapping a liquid crystal solution between two sheets of polarized glass. When an electric current is passed through the liquid crystals, they change the polarization of the light passing through them in response to the electric voltage – as a result of which, more or less light is able to pass through the polarized glass on the face of the display.
It is not the scope of this article to go into the actual details of how these different display technologies process the image – after all, what really matters is not what is going behind the screen but rather how these different display technologies perform as a television screen. At the same time, it is worth taking note that it is these same differences that give each of these display technologies, its strengths and weaknesses, and that therefore render one more suitable than the other in certain circumstances.
The list below highlights the most important differences between these two flat panel display technologies:
Size: For the time being, collision between plasma television and LCD TV occur in the 40 to 50 inch screen range. In reality, most LCD TVs top out at around 50 inch; larger screen sizes are also available though choice is still very much limited. This means that for anything larger than 50-inch, a plasma display is your only real option if what you are after is a direct-view TV system. On the other hand, at the smaller end of spectrum, namely 15” to 36” TVs, LCD is the way to go if what you want is something stylish and slim (at under 4-inches in depth).
Price: Here, the playing field is leveling at a fast rate. Up to very recent, plasma was the obvious choice for all screen sizes where collision between these two technologies occurs; this is no longer the case. In general, plasma still leads by a good margin only at the bigger screen sizes – 50-inch and upwards. At the smaller end (up to 44-inch), the price advantage when it comes to plasma vs LCD TV sets, starts to shift more towards LCD TVs.
Overall Picture Performance: Both plasma and the latest TFT-LCD flat panel displays are capable of producing excellent picture quality – with bright, crisp clear images. However, plasma flat panel displays are more suitable for basic home theater usage than LCD. The gas cell structure within a plasma display is such that there is no light leaking between adjacent cells (or pixels). This renders plasma displays capable of displaying deeper blacks – hence more suited to television and movie scenes where lots of dark and light content is shown simultaneously.
In comparison, the nature of LCD technology – where a backlight shines through the LCD layer – means that it is hard for it to achieve true blacks (i.e. true absence of light) as there is always some light leakage from adjacent pixels.
This does not mean that LCD panel s are not suitable as TV screens; today’s LCD TV sets make use of extreme high contrast panels that are capable of displaying very deep blacks, yet the latest plasma TV sets still have a slight edge.
Viewing-angle: What used to be a clear advantage for plasma displays is becoming more and more a non-issue especially with the latest generation of LCD televisions, however...
Do not always assume that viewing angle is no longer an issue when comparing plasma vs lcd TVs. The tendency – in particular with the cheaper LCD TV sets - is that the deterioration in picture quality with off-axis viewing is more accentuated with LCD than with plasma displays.
Image Retention and Burn-in: LCD TVs enjoys a technological advantage; they are not prone to burn-in, and image retention in LCD TVs – referred to as ‘image sticking’, is often completely reversible.
It is important to realize here that while burn-in in plasma displays and image sticking in LCD panels both lead to image retention, yet these are two completely different phenomena.
Burn-in is no longer much of a concern as it used to be with plasma televisions up to the recent past, especially for people with normal TV viewing requirements. Similarly, image sticking with LCD TVs is unlikely to take place under normal home entertainment use.
Viewing Distance: It seems that the pixel size and shape of an LCD panel renders a smoother picture than an equivalently sized plasma panel for the same pixel count.
This means that even if your viewing distance falls within the recommended distance of approximately twice the screen width for an HDTV, if this is less than at least nine feet, most probably you will be better off with an LCD TV.
Life-time: This is a non-issue with either technology. In fact, both plasma and LCD TV sets come with a quoted half-lifetime of around 60,000hrs. Even if this were just 30,000hrs, it would imply more than 14 years of use at 6 hours a day. And this when the average household in the US replaces the TV set every 7 years!
In other words, both plasma and LCD TV sets make use of extremely stable and reliable display technologies. As such, lifetime is more dependent upon manufacturer quality rather than upon display technology.
Response: Plasma TV sets carry an advantage here because even though LCD technology has improved to the extent that this is becoming less of an issue, yet LCD has still some way to go to achieve the same level of pixel response times as phosphor based displays.
Power Requirements: The advantage here goes to LCD panels as these consume less electricity. Estimates show that the use of LCD panels can result in some 30% power savings for the same screen size than plasma display.
Making the Choice
There is a market for both plasma and LCD displays - Plasma gives you a bigger screen for your dollar, deeper blacks, but then LCD do not suffer from burn-in and at the smaller end of the market (less than 40-inch screen size), LCD is your only way forward if you want something slim and stylish.
It is all a question of knowing what are the advantages and limitations of each with respect to your specific needs.
This article is an excerpt from a series of informative guides appearing on Practical-Home-Theater-Guide.COM under the Plasma and LCD TV sections of the site.
It covers only the very basics when it comes to compare plasma vs LCD TVs. There are a lot more considerations one has to take into account when selecting the display technology for a flat screen TV.
To find out more, please refer to the detailed guides appearing on the same site at http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/plasma-vs-lcd-TV.html.
Last updated on 10th May 2007. Copyright (c) 2004/2007 www.practical-home-theater-guide.com. All rights reserved.
Andrew Ghigo – A Telecoms/Electronics engineer by profession, with specialization in digital switching and telecoms fraud management systems; a keen home theater enthusiast, with a lifelong interest in home electronics and a devoted audiophile for the last 25-yrs.
Editor and publisher of http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com - a comprehensive home theater guide to home theater systems, product reviews and home theater design.
More informative guides on LCD TV sets appear under the LCD TV section of the site at http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/LCD-Tv.html.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Ghigo
]]>It will offer you a picture resolution which is as good as a 35mm movie screen and far superior to what you are watching currently. In addition to that, you will also listen to CD-quality sound.
It will also offer you a widescreen format which ensures that cinema movies shown on TV do not come with the jarring black bars on the top and the bottom of the screen.
High-definition television (HDTV) is all set to make an entry into India by the end of this year. Direct to home operators (DTH) . Dish TV and Reliance Communications. are planning to offer HDTV set-top boxes to customers, of course at a premium, to have a glimpse of HDTV channels on their television sets.
]]>It will offer you a picture resolution which is as good as a 35mm movie screen and far superior to what you are watching currently. In addition to that, you will also listen to CD-quality sound.
It will also offer you a widescreen format which ensures that cinema movies shown on TV do not come with the jarring black bars on the top and the bottom of the screen.
High-definition television (HDTV) is all set to make an entry into India by the end of this year. Direct to home operators (DTH) . Dish TV and Reliance Communications. are planning to offer HDTV set-top boxes to customers, of course at a premium, to have a glimpse of HDTV channels on their television sets.
Broadcasters like Peter Mukherjea-promoted INX Media and Star TV are already producing content which is on HDTV technology. And over 16 per cent (2.5 million) of TV sale of consumer electronics companies like Samsung are HDTV-ready.
Jawahar Goel, Dish TV director and part of the Zee group says: All our DTH equipment is HDTV-ready and we are hopeful to sell HDTV set-top boxes by the third quarter of this year. Goel adds the boxes are available at prices ranging between $85 and $100 which is double the price of a normal set-top box.
A Reliance Communications executive also says that the company is in the process of scouting around for content on HDTV and would be offering HDTV set-top boxes to consumers, though the timeframe is still not clear.
Content producers and broadcasters have already jumped into the bandwagon. Says Peter Mukherjea one of the promoters of INX channel: It might be 30-50 per cent more expensive to produce HDTV content, but we have decided to be HDTV-ready with our news channel.
For a new channel it does not make sense for us to buy equipment which is not HDTV-ready.
Even Star TV is taking the first steps in the entertainment arena. Kirten Adyanthaya, general manager, Star Plus, says: Mahabharata an upcoming show on Star Plus will be made in high definition.
We are experimenting at the moment and based on the response we will consider high definition for other shows.
Regional broadcasters have caught on to the potential. Andhra Pradesh chief ministers son YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will launch a HDTV news and current affairs channel by October, which will probably be called Sakshi TV.
Reddy says the cost of an HDTV venture is about 30 per cent higher than television infrastructure in standard definition.
Experts say the push to HDTV has been prompted by the fact that the government has taken a decision that the broadcasting of Commonwealth Games in 2010 will be undertaken only on HDTV technology.
As a result, Doordarshan, which is also expected to launch HDTV on an experimental basis, has stated it will produce content for the Commonwealth in HDTV format.
Source- Business Standard
Subhiksha
Subhiksha offers branded items at a cheaper rate. It offers medicines too at a cheaper rate! But, have you ever got all the items you wanted to purchase from Subhiksha. I bet you. You will not. If you have 20 items to be purchased you will get only 10-12 items from Subhiksha. The items are not arranged in an orderly manner. Most of the Subhiksha outlets are on the busy areas and do not provide parking lots. That becomes difficult for the customers who drive and come for shopping.
More..(FabMall)
I felt it as a ‘ditto’ of Foodworld
Subhiksha
Subhiksha offers branded items at a cheaper rate. It offers medicines too at a cheaper rate! But, have you ever got all the items you wanted to purchase from Subhiksha. I bet you. You will not. If you have 20 items to be purchased you will get only 10-12 items from Subhiksha. The items are not arranged in an orderly manner. Most of the Subhiksha outlets are on the busy areas and do not provide parking lots. That becomes difficult for the customers who drive and come for shopping.
More..(FabMall)
I felt it as a ‘ditto’ of Foodworld
Nilgris
Another old retail store in Bangalore. Mostly, it is a small outlet (space wise) but you will get all items. When I visited it last time, the vegetables were not very fresh
TOTAL
Wow! That was the first word that came out after completing my first shopping at TOTAL (Hope every one will have the same experience!).It has a huge parking space. When I visited it, the entire parking lots were full and we had to park our car in an area which was used to keep their carton boxes. But when we entered the store, we never felt that crowd. It is can house such a big crowd! The price is also affordable. You will get a good choice of brands in all varieties. Under a single umbrella you can have both veg and non veg and liquor shopping.
Monday to Sunday
In the beginning, the vegetables and fruits were sold at a cheaper rate. But now, the quality of the vegetables is not as good as in the beginning. The rate of other groceries is the same as what you get elsewhere.
..when I picked up few decorative lamps for my newly constructed flat. To my surprise those designs are almost obsolete now as they were sold out very quickly. I remember last time when I wanted to have more quantities in a single piece, the sales girl informed that they don't have enough stocks to fulfill my requirement. Later I changed my mind and took another new piece so they were able to provide me sufficient quantities in that piece. As per my observation, they have designs which are available from Chinese makers and they won't keep track of the designs which may be required for existing customers. So be careful with your lamp shades! Once you break it, there is less chance that you can get a same design in future. Else you may need to replace all your lamps for a uniform look/appearance. One more thing to keep in mind is that most of their bulb holders are designed to use with threaded bulbs which may not be available in general market. I had to replace two bulbs and could not locate it in the local market and at last I got it from Lightspro. So there is lot of vendor dependency exists when you choose your lightings from Lightspro. Even though Indian manufactures like wipro, Philips etc started making same bulbs suitable for threaded holders, it may not suit as they design small threaded one. The same thing that had happened to me at billing counter, happened to my friend as well. They were unable to deliver one set of lamps in the chosen design as they don't have stocks! So he had to redo the selection process to pick up another design.
As per the agreement they have to deliver the goods at my friend's place around 12.00 PM Sunday as he hired an electrician for the fittings, but they delivered at 3.00 PM. Thanks to Bangalore traffic! You are the best excuse for any late comers.
So your purchase guidance for LightsPro is,
1. Make sure that enough stock for the chosen design is available with them.
2. If you would like to replace the existing bulb with CFL bulb, be sure your holder is suitable and CFL won't pop out from holder.
3. Keep extra bulbs incase bulb get fused you may not get it in local market and has to visit Lightspro again.
4. Keep the design simple as there is no service or spare parts warranty for long term use.
5. Ask them to deliver at your home so that you are not responsible in case items are damaged while transporting.
6. Make sure that they deliver the items in good condition, as transportation can break some glasses.
7. Last but not least, Handle with care once you break it; you may need to replace entire set for uniform appearance.
Now a days, Indians, especially the IT employees, get a chance to visit foreign countries. Thereby, get an exposure to foreign brands and their way of living. These retail stores also have these foreign brands and imported vegetables and fruits which you may not get in the nearby ‘kirana’.
Here in this piece of writing, I try to jot down my experience at the various retail shops in Bangalore.
Foodworld
Let me first start with Foodworld as it is the first retail store I started visiting. In the beginning, ...
Now a days, Indians, especially the IT employees, get a chance to visit foreign countries. Thereby, get an exposure to foreign brands and their way of living. These retail stores also have these foreign brands and imported vegetables and fruits which you may not get in the nearby ‘kirana’.
Here in this piece of writing, I try to jot down my experience at the various retail shops in Bangalore.
Foodworld
Let me first start with Foodworld as it is the first retail store I started visiting. In the beginning, ...
...when there was no other major retail stores in Bangalore (at least in BTM side, where I spent my first few years in Bangalore)
Foodworld was offering just the groceries. They did not even sell vegetables and fruits. The pulses and cereals being purchased had to be used within a month. Otherwise it becomes of no use because of bugs. Since I moved to another place where we do not have foodworld outlets I do not know the status now.
BigBazar
It was really a like a BAZZAR when it opened its first shop at Hosur Road. People from very far places also used to visit it. On weekends or other holidays we could see a big queue of customers and vehicles seeking a chance to enter the shop.I really wonder why this much of crowd at BigBazar.
Is it really worth shopping at Big Bazar? I feel yes, but you have to do it when they offer some discounts. Otherwise you are shedding a huge amount on something which really is not worth of it.
They do not provide the most trusted electronics brands or any branded fabrics. FoodBazar do not offer a large variety of fruits or vegetables. You may have to spend the same or more time of what you spent on choosing your items, at the cash counter. (Now it is changed. They opened more cash counters).But still the size of crowd is amazing!
FabIndia
Recently I put on weight and my old dresses had to be shelved for long. Somebody recommended that, FabIndia offers good cooton fabrics which are not body hugging. So I visited FabIndia.
True! They got a good collection of Kurtas. But my only worry was the price. It is not that I am unable to afford the price at FabIndia. My concern was the price is not worth of the cloth quality. I had purchased 5 kurtas. But 3 of them cannot be washed along with other dresses. I have to do a hand wash. The color of these dresses also fades away.
But I am surprised with the crowds at FabIndia. I do not know if all have the same experience as me!
See you soon with more retail reviews...
...variety of papads to satisfy the taste buds of people from South and North Indian states. One unusual thing I observed here is that a security person wanders inside the store and peek into every customer for any unusual behavior which never experienced in any other stores. From Nilgiris point of view, it may be correct but from a customer point of view sometimes it may be really embracing.
Now, I reached the Fruits & Vegetables section. Even though entire store is arranged well, chaos starts here. The vegetables' or fruits' price is not displayed and you cannot choose your vegetables. All the vegetables are packed and most of the packets had rotten vegetables along with fresh vegetables. So you have to pay for these rotten vegetables tooL. There is only one weighing scale and two store assistants to weigh the vegetables and fruits you picked up.
Once you reach your bill counter, you realize that you need to collect the vegetable bill from the two assistants who weighed your vegetables. The person at the bill counter shouts at the store boy and the store boy, who would be busy with next customer, leaves the customer and starts taking our inventory again. As the customers behind you start murmuring, you pay and get out of the store only to realize that vegetable and fruits bill is not list itemized. So you never get a chance to know how much they charged for each fruit and vegetable and what is the weight of each vegetable packet since it is not displayed on the packet!
Overall my shopping experience was good as I entered the store around 10 AM as most of the Bangloreans were about to wake up on a Saturday morning.
]]>Emerging markets, the report says, are countries where population, the economy and wealth are growing, as well as health, education and literacy. Additionally, the importance of agriculture to these countries is dropping.
By retail sector, India topped the list for luxury and department stores, and came in fourth place for apparel retailers. Those chains based in Europe, the Middle East and Africa have the strongest interest in the country, compared to those based in other regions.
Rounding out the top-five list of the most sought after emerging markets for retailers were Ukraine, Russia, Malaysia ....
]]>Emerging markets, the report says, are countries where population, the economy and wealth are growing, as well as health, education and literacy. Additionally, the importance of agriculture to these countries is dropping.
By retail sector, India topped the list for luxury and department stores, and came in fourth place for apparel retailers. Those chains based in Europe, the Middle East and Africa have the strongest interest in the country, compared to those based in other regions.
Rounding out the top-five list of the most sought after emerging markets for retailers were Ukraine, Russia, Malaysia ....
and Turkey. “Rising interest and growing expansion into emerging markets globally is being fuelled by rapid growth in consumer spending and the ‘emerging middle class’ in many of these countries,” said Anthony Buono, Executive Managing Director of CBRE’s Retail Services.
Among US-based retailers, the most popular destination is Turkey, Mexico, South Korea, South Africa and India. For retailers based in Asia-Pacific countries, South Africa is the most important market.
The report found that 40% of the retailers surveyed expect most of their growth over the next give years to happen in emerging markets. Retailers are reportedly looking at Chile, Pakistan and Vietnam, but all three of those nations have high barriers to entry.
]]>