Most stereo TVs have special connections designed to connect the TV to a separate stereo system. These are the “audio outputs”. These outputs can be either fixed or variable.

Fixed audio outputs will not alter the sound from the TV before sending this sound to the stereo system. The user would adjust the tone, such as bass and treble, and the volume using the controls on the stereo system.

Variable audio outputs allows the tone controls and volume controls built into the TV to make the adjustments before sending the sound to the stereo system.

Many people do not have a remote controlled stereo system, or do not want to use multiple remote controls when they use their stereo system and TV together.

Allows the use of the TV remote control to adjust the tone and volume of the TV sound when listening through the stereo system. Fewer remotes to learn and easier to use.

This is most likely because of the way you connect your VCR to your TV and the way you view the playback of a video tape.

When VCRs were first introduced the only way to view the playback of a video tape was to select channel 3 or 4 on your TV and to turn on the “video mode” of your VCR. Your VCR would convert the picture and sound information into a channel (like a TV station) and then send this information to the TV. Many people still use this method, even though most newer TVs offer different methods.

This method of viewing a video tape has some problems. One of these problems is when your VCR converts the picture and sound information into a channel (such as channel 3 or 4), then the VCR is not converting the sound information into the special stereo coding system (MTS) TV stations. This means the VCR is sending mono sound to the TV and the TV is sending mono sound to your surround sound receiver.

Most current stereo VCRs have special connections called “outputs”. These outputs allow the VCR to send the picture information and the stereo sound out separately instead of mixed together as a TV channel. Most current stereo TVs have special connections called “inputs” that allow the separate picture and stereo sound information being sent out of the VCR's outputs to enter the TV by using appropriate cables between the VCR and TV. To view the playback of a video tape, you would then select “Input”, “Video” or “Ext.” (the title of this selection will vary by brand and model of TV) on your TV instead of channel 3. Using this method allows your TV to receive stereo sound from your VCR and then the TV can send stereo sound to your surround sound receiver.

Other alternatives, such as connecting the outputs of the VCR directly to the surround sound receiver, are possible.

The video portion of a TV signal contains two major parts. The black and white information which is called the “luminance” and the color information called the “chroma”. These are mixed together in the video signal and must be separated so that your TV can properly use each portion. A color TV that does not have a comb filter can separate the luminance from the chroma by using a “cut off” filter. Using a cut off filter limits the amount of luminance information that can be used and lowers the resolution or detail shown in the picture. A comb filter separates the luminance and chroma in a different more selective method allowing the TV to use more of the luminance and maintain more detail. The better the comb filter used, the better the picture will be.

There are over 20 different types of comb filters used in the industry. Often there are different names from different manufacturers for the same type of comb filter so there are even more names than types of comb filters. This does lead to some confusion when comparing comb filters.

Standard comb filter (glass delay) uses the same formula or method to separate luminance and chroma. This improves resolution; however it can show dot crawl on vertical image edges, hanging dots on horizontal edges and a rainbow effect in tight patterns.

Digital Dynamic comb filter (3 line comb filter or 2D Y/C filter) uses a special memory circuit to compare three scan lines and adjust the filtering method by the content of the signal. This reduces dot crawl, hanging dots and rainbow effects.

3D Y/C Separator (three dimensional comb filter) uses a special digital memory to compare both fields of the video frame (time delay) to adjust the filtering method. This gives sharp edges to images including diagonal edges and improves color rendition.

“Horizontal lines of resolution” is a statement of the amount of detail that can be shown: the number of vertical black and white lines that can be shown horizontally across the screen. The more lines the TV can show, the higher amount of detail can be shown. To figure the horizontal lines of resolution, three major measurements must be made:

1. The number of pixels or picture elements on the screen. A line of resolution cannot be smaller than one picture element.

2. The type of comb filtering used. Because the detail information of a TV signal is in the higher frequencies of the black and white information, the type and quality of comb filter is important in the separation and use of this information.

3. The quality of video amplifier used. Even when there are enough picture elements (pixels) on the screen and a high quality comb filter is used, the final part of the equation is a wide band video amplifier.

Color temperature is an on-screen adjustment to vary the warmth or coolness of the picture.

Why:

Personal tastes vary. This allows a consumer to have more control over the mix of the primary video colors.

Benefit in the home:

Lets the customer adjust between High (for brighter whites and cooler colors, Middle (for a neutral effect) or Low (for warmer whites and pastel colors. Favors skin tones).

Picture in Picture is a function of the TV that requires two independent tuners to supply the large and the small picture. Single tuner PIP TVs require the use of the VCRs tuner to act as the second tuner, while two-tuner PIP TVs have a second tuner built in for this purpose. Some people, using the VCR for the second tuner can be difficult to hook-up and confusing to use. 

It is an intelligent link between select models of TVs and VCRs. This link simplifies many complicated functions down to the push of one button.

Active A/V Network allows the customer much more flexibility and ease of use by providing the utmost in system integration. Some of the functions of Active A/V Network are:

• By simply pressing 'PLAY', the TV will automatically switch to its external input, the VCR will power on and the tape will start to play.
• Automatically turns on the VCR and TV and brings up the VCR's programming menu when the Quick Program button is pressed.
• After entering the program you wish to record, another press of the Quick Program button automatically turns off the TV and VCR.
• For single tuner PIP TVs, a press of the PIP button automatically brings up the PIP box and switches it to the VCR source, and turns on the VCR. When finished watching picture in picture, simply pressing the PIP button again takes away the PIP viewing box and powers off the VCR.