Thought I'd start a thread where the basic terminology used is given a quick definition or explanation. Will help those of you who are new to work your way around the forum. If anybody wants a definition added...I'll oblige...
STB. Set Top Box. The tuner you get from your satellite/cable provider.
OTA. Over-the-Air. Using the internal tuner of your TV with an antenna.
AVR. Audio Video Receiver
HTiB. Home Theatre in a Box. This differs from a "pre-package" in that these are typically not upgradeable. Once something breaks...you throw it all away.
Pre-Package. An "in a box" system consisting of a real AVR with a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker set. These are always preferred over HTiB.
Toslink. Toshiba-Link. One of the various types of S/PDIF.
Digital Coax. One of the various types of S/PDIF.
S/PDIF. Sony/Philips Digital InterFace. An audio connection nestled between Analog(RCA) and HDMI. There are three main types. Note an actual S/PDIF cable is different than Toslink. (S/PDIF is round and fits all optical sockets. Toslink only fits Toslink)
Optical. Slang term (used by manufacturers anyway) for S/PDIF. Optical usually refers to Toslink.
Mini-Toslink. Digital audio connection usually used for computers. Doubles as an analog mini-jack(3.55mm).
1/4 Phone jack. Otherwise known as "headphone jack". These come in three flavors...
TR. Mono.
TRS. Stereo.
TRRS. Video with stereo.
1/8th Phone jack(also known as 3.5mm mini-jack). Also know as "headphone jack". Typically used on portable devices. Also comes in...
TR
TRS
TRRS (most common use for this is Ipods/iphones for video and audio output)
DD. Dolby Digital. Usually 5.1, but can be anything 2.0 to 5.1
DD+. New Streaming codec based on DD(currently, as of this post, fluctuating)
DTS. Digital Theatre Systems(now just ubiquitous DTS). Sound format created in 1990, showcased with Jurassic Park. DD major competitor.
DRC. Dynamic Range Compression. Almost every piece of equipment has this...often called "night mode" on AVR. Players themselves will just call it DRC.
Discrete. Is used to denote "separate" audio. Be it an amp or a soundtrack. A discrete amplifier has channels that share nothing with the other 5/7/9. As used with a soundtrack, it means each channel is mixed independently. Matrix is the other side of discrete.
Matrix. Audio that is encoded so that channels share space on the track and the codec(DPL usually) reassembles the audio for playback for each channel.
DPL. Dolby Pro Logic. The original matrix codec used when home video relied on 2.0 sound. Still used for 2.0PCM and can be used for DD/DTS 2.0 tracks to create 5.1.
DTS Neo(numerous versions). Primarily the codec used for DTS 2.0 to create 5.1.
MCH. Multi-CHannel sound. Can also be used to mention MCH inputs/outputs on various DVD/BD players and AVR.
DIY. Do-It-Yourself. Usually refers to subwoofer building.
Driver. When talking about speakers. The actual woofer/tweeter used in the speaker.
Bass Management. The ability of an AVR(and some DVD/BD players) to redirect frequency response to accommodate various speaker abilities. Automated examples being YPAO, Audyssey, MCACC, DCAC, EZSet and Anti-Mode.
Large/Small. The setting inside Bass Management to decide if a set of speakers is included in the bass management...or left alone. Has nothing to do with "size of the speaker".
Lossless/Lossy. Terms used(usually with either Blu Ray or downloaded music) to describe audio. Lossless means original integrity is upheld. Lossy means it is "less than original".
ARC. Audio Return Channel. A new HDMI feature that allows some TV to relay audio into AVR/HTiB without the need for S/PDIF. Used in conjunction with CEC.
CEC. Consumer Electronics Control. This is a way for remote codes to pass along HDMI from a TV to another device that is hidden from view of the remote. Called Simplay, VieraCast, RIHD amongst other names by the various TV/BD/AVR manufacturers.
Multi-Zone. The ability of an AVR to relay one source to the main room, while playing something entirely different somewhere else.
Zone B. "Like" Multi-Zone, except it is the same source in both locations.
HDCP. High bandwidth Digital Copy Protection. (often confused as High Definition Copy Protection) Often times this is the reason why your "New AVR" or your "New TV" isn't working in your system like your "old one". HDCP requires a handshake.
Handshake. A HDMI/HDCP protocol where EDID is known between devices so your "Pioneer AVR" knows it is connected to a "Sony TV".
EDID. Extended Display Identification Data. What allows your "Sony TV" to tell your AVR/BD player that it is a TV...and not a DVD/BD recorder.
IR(remote). InfraRed. Been around for ages.
RF(remote). Radio Frequency. One way to make a remote work without line of sight.
IR(plasma and LCD). Image Retention. A byproduct of stationary images on screen that stay visible for a short time. Sports ticker on ESPN being an example.
OAR. Original Aspect Ratio. When you see 16:9 for a television...that is the AR(Aspect Ratio) of the TV. The OAR is the source material necessitating the use of black bars on the side...or more often, the top and bottom of the display.
STB. Set Top Box. The tuner you get from your satellite/cable provider.
OTA. Over-the-Air. Using the internal tuner of your TV with an antenna.
AVR. Audio Video Receiver
HTiB. Home Theatre in a Box. This differs from a "pre-package" in that these are typically not upgradeable. Once something breaks...you throw it all away.
Pre-Package. An "in a box" system consisting of a real AVR with a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker set. These are always preferred over HTiB.
Toslink. Toshiba-Link. One of the various types of S/PDIF.
Digital Coax. One of the various types of S/PDIF.
S/PDIF. Sony/Philips Digital InterFace. An audio connection nestled between Analog(RCA) and HDMI. There are three main types. Note an actual S/PDIF cable is different than Toslink. (S/PDIF is round and fits all optical sockets. Toslink only fits Toslink)
Optical. Slang term (used by manufacturers anyway) for S/PDIF. Optical usually refers to Toslink.
Mini-Toslink. Digital audio connection usually used for computers. Doubles as an analog mini-jack(3.55mm).
1/4 Phone jack. Otherwise known as "headphone jack". These come in three flavors...
TR. Mono.
TRS. Stereo.
TRRS. Video with stereo.
1/8th Phone jack(also known as 3.5mm mini-jack). Also know as "headphone jack". Typically used on portable devices. Also comes in...
TR
TRS
TRRS (most common use for this is Ipods/iphones for video and audio output)
DD. Dolby Digital. Usually 5.1, but can be anything 2.0 to 5.1
DD+. New Streaming codec based on DD(currently, as of this post, fluctuating)
DTS. Digital Theatre Systems(now just ubiquitous DTS). Sound format created in 1990, showcased with Jurassic Park. DD major competitor.
DRC. Dynamic Range Compression. Almost every piece of equipment has this...often called "night mode" on AVR. Players themselves will just call it DRC.
Discrete. Is used to denote "separate" audio. Be it an amp or a soundtrack. A discrete amplifier has channels that share nothing with the other 5/7/9. As used with a soundtrack, it means each channel is mixed independently. Matrix is the other side of discrete.
Matrix. Audio that is encoded so that channels share space on the track and the codec(DPL usually) reassembles the audio for playback for each channel.
DPL. Dolby Pro Logic. The original matrix codec used when home video relied on 2.0 sound. Still used for 2.0PCM and can be used for DD/DTS 2.0 tracks to create 5.1.
DTS Neo(numerous versions). Primarily the codec used for DTS 2.0 to create 5.1.
MCH. Multi-CHannel sound. Can also be used to mention MCH inputs/outputs on various DVD/BD players and AVR.
DIY. Do-It-Yourself. Usually refers to subwoofer building.
Driver. When talking about speakers. The actual woofer/tweeter used in the speaker.
Bass Management. The ability of an AVR(and some DVD/BD players) to redirect frequency response to accommodate various speaker abilities. Automated examples being YPAO, Audyssey, MCACC, DCAC, EZSet and Anti-Mode.
Large/Small. The setting inside Bass Management to decide if a set of speakers is included in the bass management...or left alone. Has nothing to do with "size of the speaker".
Lossless/Lossy. Terms used(usually with either Blu Ray or downloaded music) to describe audio. Lossless means original integrity is upheld. Lossy means it is "less than original".
ARC. Audio Return Channel. A new HDMI feature that allows some TV to relay audio into AVR/HTiB without the need for S/PDIF. Used in conjunction with CEC.
CEC. Consumer Electronics Control. This is a way for remote codes to pass along HDMI from a TV to another device that is hidden from view of the remote. Called Simplay, VieraCast, RIHD amongst other names by the various TV/BD/AVR manufacturers.
Multi-Zone. The ability of an AVR to relay one source to the main room, while playing something entirely different somewhere else.
Zone B. "Like" Multi-Zone, except it is the same source in both locations.
HDCP. High bandwidth Digital Copy Protection. (often confused as High Definition Copy Protection) Often times this is the reason why your "New AVR" or your "New TV" isn't working in your system like your "old one". HDCP requires a handshake.
Handshake. A HDMI/HDCP protocol where EDID is known between devices so your "Pioneer AVR" knows it is connected to a "Sony TV".
EDID. Extended Display Identification Data. What allows your "Sony TV" to tell your AVR/BD player that it is a TV...and not a DVD/BD recorder.
IR(remote). InfraRed. Been around for ages.
RF(remote). Radio Frequency. One way to make a remote work without line of sight.
IR(plasma and LCD). Image Retention. A byproduct of stationary images on screen that stay visible for a short time. Sports ticker on ESPN being an example.
OAR. Original Aspect Ratio. When you see 16:9 for a television...that is the AR(Aspect Ratio) of the TV. The OAR is the source material necessitating the use of black bars on the side...or more often, the top and bottom of the display.
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