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Analogue	The traditional electrical signal of video or audio, based on frequency information as opposed to data bits (or bitstream) as used in digital. There is a myth amongst many that analogue signals are more prone to interferences than digital, but both are electrical signals which can be subject to external (environmental) or internal (within the cable) distortions, which is why very high quality cables are advantageous for both.
AWG	Short for "American Wire Gauge". This is a worldwide standard for measuring the thickness of a wire or cable. The smaller the number, the larger the cable. A reduction of 3 AWG represents a doubling of the overall thickness of a carrier, and vice versa - eg a 12AWG cable is twice as thick as a 15AWG cable.
Bandwidth	Bandwidth referes to the amount of information that can be transmitted either through a cable or wirelessly (eg RF, wi-fi, bluetooth etc). Much like the size of a hose that determines the amount of water that can pass, greater bandwidth means more data can pass. Refer to out bandwidth page for more information on how it relates to HDMI.
Bitstream	The data flow of a digital signal, transmitted either by light (optical) or electricity (coaxial). The signal is made up of millions of bits of data with each as a "1" or "O". Interferences can cause data bits to drop out or change order, which will in turn alter the end result, even if in a subtle way.
Blu-ray	An optical storage format which was designed for high definition video and audio. It uses a short wavelength blue-violet laser @405nm, compared to DVD's red laser @650nm. Storage capacity for Blu-ray is up to 50Gb (12cm dual layer), enabling sufficient capacity to store true HD formats up to 1080p resolution. Drives are already available, with Blu-ray being the basis of Sony's Playstation 3. For more information, please go to www.blu-ray.com
Capacitance	The ability of a cable's dielectric or insulation to store electrical energy. The lower the number, the better - see also Dielectric Constant. In video cables, high capacitance will cause additional interferences in the signal as the dielectric absorbs some energy from the conductor, only to release it again milliseconds later, essentially adding it to a latter part of the signal (where it shouldn't be!!). In audio cables, high capacitance will result in an attenuation (or tapering off) of the lower frequencies, which is bad! Remember that the main component in your loudspeakers' crossover that restricts bass frequencies from going to the tweeters is a capacitor. High capacitance in line audio cables and speaker cables can have a similar effect as a small capacitor in the crossover.
CEC	"Consumer Electronics Channel". Component of HDMI signal which enables remote control capabilites between AV devices. Mandatory specification for cables from specification 1.2a. Actual use of the feature depands on the manufacturers of AV devices, and its inclusion in their firmware.
Chrominance	The color component of an analogue video signal, usually designated with the letter "C". Transmitted parallel to the Luminance ("Y") signal in S-Video and Component Video, and combined in the same carrier in a Composite video cable.
Coaxial Cable	A type of cable construction which sees the center conductor housed within a circular dielectric (see "dielectric" further below) and wrapped with a shielding material, usually copper and/or mylar foil. The impedance of a coaxial cable is determined by the relative sizes of the core and dielectric - the thicker the dielectric in relation to the core, the lower the impedance. 75ohm coaxial cable is used for both analogue video and coaxial digital audio signals. Analogue audio is less affected by impedance, and is more concerned with other specifications like resistance and capacitance.
Coaxial Digital	The method of transmitting a digital data bitstream using an electrical signal (as opposed to optical). The construction of a coaxial digital cable requires the same principles as an analogue video cable, hence they are generally interchangeable. Some believe that coax digital cables differ in some respects, but they don't really (both 75ohm, both benefit from low capacitance and resistance, good shielding etc). Coaxial digital is generally the preferred connection over the common plastic type TOSlink optical cables, due to the greater bandwidth and electrical grounding of coax. However many believe that TOSlink is a serious contender when you start to look at the true glass fiber cables, as these offer significantly more bandwidth with less errors, when compared to the plastic variety, however they are usually a lot more expensive than the equivalent coaxial cables.
Colour Depth	The term used to define the number of colors that can be transmitted or displayed. DVD standard is 24-bit colour, being 16.7 million colours total. The new HDMI 1.3 standard, used in conjunction with the potential capabilities of Blu-ray and HD-DVD, can support 30-bit (1 billion colours), 36-bit (69 billion colours) and 48 bit (2800 trillion colours). Even though the human eye cannot really differentiate this many colours, the benefits of extended colour depth are most evident in smoother tones and greater perceived depth of field.
Component video	A very popular type of analogue video connection with enough bandwidth to carry a High Definition video signal. It comprises a Luminance channel ("Y" - green plug) and two separate Chrominance ("C", red and blue plugs) channels. In an interlaced video signal, the Luminance channel is essentially the same as that in S-Video; ie - the black and white picture info. The difference is that Component Video keeps the color info more accurate than S-Video by keeping the colors separate - Cr for Red and Cb for blue. The sum of these two colors is then subtracted from the whole (Y) by your display device, and the difference is inserted as green. This is why Component video is sometimes called "Color Difference". Not to be confused with RGB (even though the plugs are red, green and blue). RGB is entirely different again...There is another type of Component video which is labelled "YPbPr". This is a scaled version of YCrCb, offering a progressive video output. *** Did you know? *** The picture information on a DVD is stored in Component Video format, hence for your DVD player component video is the preferred method of connection over RGB.
Composite Video	The lowest quality form of direct video connection. It is a combination, or "composite" of all picture elements. Composite is one step below S-Video, but the difference between the two is very noticeable. If you have a choice to use S-Video instead of composite then do so, but if you have no other option then a superior quality Composite Video cable will still enable you to make the most of the available signal.
Conductivity	The ability of a material to transmit electrical energy efficiently. In an interconnect cable, high conductivity is essential in passing the signal cleanly and quickly. The relative conductivity of various metals is shown below (the higher the number, the better); Silver 106 Annealed Copper 100 Gold 65 Pure Iron 17 Nickel 16 Tin 13 Steel 7 This table clearly shows that silver is the best of conductors, followed by copper. See also 'Skin Effect' further below in the Glossary to see why either Pure Silver or Pure annelaed copper offers the best value for audio cables, but Silver plated copper is best for video cables.
DDC	"Display Data Channel", a required component the of HDMI bitstream. This channel enables a display device to communicate with a source in order to convey its optimum resolution and picture format settings. The HDMI source can then output the appropriate optimum format automatically.
Dielectric Back to top	In the context of a cable, the dielectric is the material which surrounds the core of a coaxial cable, separating it from the shield. However the use of the word 'dielectric' in a cable is somewhat of a misnomer because a good quality cable will use a 'dielectric' material which is intended to store as little energy as possible. Technically speaking however, a dielectric is designed to store energy, not minimze it! Think of a capacitor, which is an electrical component whose primary job it is to store energy. The bit inside that does the storing is called - one guess... - a dielectric. The amount of energy it can store is quoted as 'capacitance'. Makes sense, doesn't it? In a cable, using a dielectric material which stores too much energy will increase capacitance in the cable, which in turn causes all sorts of problems with the signal, resulting in distortion and overall reduced performance. Nitrogen Injected Polyethylene (it's a mouthful to say, but it's good stuff!) produces the lowest capacitance of all dielectric materials, even lower than Teflon. The result? - the best possible overall performance.
Dielectric Constant	The dielectric constant is a relative value which represents the ability of a material to hold charge, or hold capacitance. As mentioned above in the Capacitance definition, the holding of charge is undesirable in AV cables. The lower the dielectric constant, the better. The dielectric constants of some common AV cables materials are as follows, in order from best to lowest; Polyethylene - Nitrogen Injected 1.5 Polypropylene 1.6 Teflon 2.0 Polyethylene - solid 2.2 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) 2.4 As can be clearly seen, Nitrogen Injected Polyethylene is the best material to use as a dielectric - much better than Teflon.
Digital	The method of storing data in numerical terms. For both video and audio signals, the digital storing of data sees information reduced to a collection of billions of "1"s and "0"s. Digital is superior to analogue in that the signal is full on/off, resulting in potentially lossless performance with more information and superior dynamics. It also allows multiple datastreams through one cable, without cross-interferences. The analogue equivalent stores the information as frequencies. Both analogue and digital are subject to interferences and anomolies both inside the cable and from the environment surrounding it, and should only be trasmitted through the highest quality cables as practically available.
Dolby®	Brand of Dolby Laboratories. Originally became a household name with their development of noise reduction systems, most commonly seen in the market as a standard with compact cassettes (remember them!). Home page www.dolby.com
Dolby® Digital	Compressed multi-channel digital surround sound format. A single digital bitstream, when connected to a Dolby Digital decoder, results in 5 discrete channels of 20-20,000Hz, and one "LFE" channel of 20-120Hz, hence the term 5.1
Dolby® Digital-EX™	Dolby Digital soundtrack with enhancements co-developed with Lucasfilm THX. It includes the addition of one extra non-discrete channel for the centre rear, namely the rear wall in a commercial cinema (the rear left and right speakers are on the side walls). This channel is derived from a matrixed mix of the rear left and right discrete channels, with a Dolby EX decoder being able to redirect some of these signals to the centre rear channel to create of more encompassing surround sound. Often referred to as 6.1
Dolby® TrueHD™	Developed by Dolby Laboratories, "TrueHD" is a lossless multi-channel sound format which was based on Meridian's "Lossless Packing". Full 24 bit, 96kHz audio performance is supported with the commercial specification allowing for up to 14 channels, although Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats restrict the number of channels to 8. Requires the use of HDMI 1.3 in the source device, cable specification and decoder for TrueHD to be applicable.
DTS®	"Digital Theater Systems", developed by DTS, Inc. Development began in 1991 after major investment by Steven Spielberg (amongst others), and after release DTS became the higher end option for multi-channel digital surround sound. Superior to Dolby Digital in commercial cinemas due to the use of an optical storage system for audio, as opposed to a magnetic stripe along the film's edge (as is the case with Dolby). Less of a difference in domestic applications, as the source format is the same (eg DVD), but still considered preferentail by many.
DTS®-ES™	6.1 channel version of DTS. Similar to Dolby Digital EX in that it uses a matrix mix of the two rear channels to create a 6th centre rear channel. DTS-ES Discrete on the other hand offers a fully discrete centre rear channel, being true 6.1.
Dual Link	High bandwidth version of DVI or HDMI. Single Link uses one channel per TMDS bitstream ,whereas Dual Link uses two parallel channels. Higher resolutions may result form the use of dual link, as may be required when using some of the 30" cinema style computer displays. Dual Link HDMI was specified with a 29 pin type "B" connector which we are unlikely to ever see in use. HDMI 1.3 now surpasses the specifiaction of Dual Link, and is expected to become the new premium HD connectivity format. How about dual link 1.3 you ask? 1440p at 48 bit colour depth is already far beyond the scope of current sources and displays, so let's just wait and see...
DTS® HD Master Audio™	Extended format of DTS, allowing up to 8 channels of lossless 96kHz, 24 bit audio. This is an optimum sound format which is becoming available on HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs, and will be best accessed with the use of a HDMI 1.3 compliant cable and decoder.
DVD	Originally known as "Digtial Video Disc", its name evolved to "Digital Versatile Disc" with its extensive IT applications. DVD is an optical storage system which most commonly uses a 12cm disc, similar in appearance to a CD. Storage capacity varies from 4.7Gb for a single layer, single side, up to 17.1Gb for dual layer, double side. It was developed in the early 1990s as a modified version of the "Super Density Disc", which had been under developed by Toshiba, Time-Warner, Matsushita Electric, Hitachi, Mitsubishi Electric, Pioneer and Thomson.
DVD-Audio	Digital surround sound format which can support up to 96kHz audio in full 5.1 channel format, or 192kHz in stereo. Released in 2000, DVD-A is still supported today with new titles still being released continually. The format war with SACD is unlikely to be resolved, with the formats co-existing, and both are supported by HDMI, from version 1.2a.
DVI	Short for "Digital Video Interface". This interconnect was developed as a multimedia interface for the transmission of High Definition video signals in the digital domain. Available in "Single Link" with a max bandwidth of 4.95Gbps (1280x1024 @80Hz), or "Dual Link" with a bandwidth of 9.9Gbps (1920x1080 @80Hz). Single link cables are easily identified by the two-row gap in the block of pins, whereas dual link has all pins present. DVI can also be used for analogue transmissions. These cables are called DVI-I (as opposed to full digital DVI-D), commonly available as an alternative to VGA (analogue RGB), or even as an adapter cable from DVI-I to the common 15 pin D-Sub VGA. A DVI-I cable can be identified by the presence of four additional pins, two top, two bottom, on the horizontal fin (located towards the left side of the male connector, viewed head-on). A DVI-I cable is quite different in configuration to DVI-D, and the two should not be confused.* Note: DVI-D, whether single link or dual link, can be adapted very effectively to HDMI, although only the single link bandwidth will be passed. DVI-I cannot be adapted to HDMI.
Dynamic Range	By definition: "the ratio of the strongest to the weakest sound intensity that can be transmitted or reproduced by an audio or broadcasting system" (Source Merriam Webster Online - www.m-w.com). When we refer to a sound being "dynamic", we refer the speed at which it can go from quiet to loud, and vice versa, and the intensity it produces. High dynamics, as experienced with digital sound, is often referred to as sounding more 'powerful'. Similarly, dynamics in video refers to the reltive difference between dark and light in a scene. A very dynamic picture can be seen as having intense whites, rich blacks and exceptional detail. Today's digital sources for both audio and video are capable of producing exceptional dynamics, with the limiting factor often being the cables used to connect components. Many people are still using the same types of cables that they used for their old analogue devices, and yet expect superior results!! Superior interconnects = superior results.
EMI	Abbreviation for "Electro-Magnetic Interference". This refers to the ambient magnetic raditiation which is commonly produced by electrical appliances, the presence of which can adversely affect the electrical signal travelling through and audio or video interconnect. You can't really do much to stop EMI as such, but you can effectively shield your cables from it. To do this, only use interconnects which have a copper braid shield which covers in excess of 90%. Avoid cables with copper spirals instead of braid, or which use braids less than 90%, or even worse, no braid at all!! IMPORTANT NOTE:  A foil wrap does not shield against high frequency EMI. A foil wrap is only an effective shield against low frequency EMI and full range RFI. The combination of both types of shield in an interconnect is the most desirable combination, giving effective 100% shielding against full EMI and RFI.
HD Back to top	See "High Definition"
HDCP	"High- Bandwidth Digital Content Protection" ,developed by Intel Corporation LLC, is a standard which was introduced originally to DVI-D as a means to protect software copyright owners from digital piracy. The later development of HDMI connectivity saw HDCP introduced as a standard feature. It is a digital code, or rather a set of keys, which the source and display devices must combine and unlock in order to show a picture. It is sometimes thought that a HDCP enabled DVI-D output requires a different cable to standard DVI-D, somehow being wider bandwidth or something of the sort, but this is not the case. The only difference is that set of digital keys which are present.
HD-DVD	Short for "High Definition DVD". A version of DVD which is higher in capacity and output resolution, capable of video up to 1080p. Currently at war with Blu-ray. Key supporters include Toshiba, and several other brands to a lesser degree. JB Hifi have announced that they do not intend to stock or support HD-DVD in either hardware or software, but many boast it's superiority to Blu-ray. We'll wait and see, but everyone agrees that it's Beta vs VHS all over again....
HDMI	Abbreviation for "High Definition Multimedia Interface". The latest standard for HD digital sources, allowing true high bandwidth HD signals as well as eight channels of digital audio. This bi-directional BUS style cable will ultimately replace separate video and digital audio cables, producing an 'all-in-one' alternative. It differs from DVI in that it is capable of even wider bandwidth, as well as having the inclusion of the digital audio bitstream, whilst maintaining full HDCP compliance. It is however fully backwards compatible with DVI-D, allowing DVI-HDMI adapters and cables to function properly. However, DVI-I cannot be adapted to HDMI, as this would require digital/analogue conversions.
High Definition	The term used to describe a video picture with resolution above the standard formats. "High definition" encompasses a few different formats, and three distinct performance levels. Entry level HD is 720p (720 vertical lines with progressive scan), next best is 1080i (1080 lines of interlaced video), and the best is 1080p (1080 lines of progressive scan video). 1080p requires roughly double the bandwidth of 1080i or 720p, so the transmission requirements are huge. 1080p is fully supported in the HDMI specification, although care must be taken to ensure that your choice of HDMI cable (and other accessories) actaully supports 1080p.
Hot Plug	The term used to describe a connection with active power. In relation to HDMI, pin 19 is "Hot Plug Detect", which enables a HDMI supporting device to detect the presence of connected HDMI device when it is turned on. This may be used to trigger an automatic priority switcher, or show which outputs are active on a distribution amplifier.
Inductance	Inductance is the term given to an 'electromotive' force which is created by the travelling of a current through a cable (sorry, I couldn't really avoid this terrible jargon here!). All audio and video cables have a positive and negative carrier. The current which travels in both directions along these opposing carriers creates a type of magnetic field, the excessive presence of which can be a noticable loss of detail and high frequency information, especially in audio cables. Remember that the main component in your loudspeakers' crossover that restricts high frequencies from going to the woofers is an inductor (conductive coil). High inductance in line audio cables and speaker cables can have a similar effect as a small inductor in the speaker's crossover.TIP: Never coil up speaker cables or line audio cables whilst they are in use, as this amplifies the inductance of the cables. By doing so, you are creating a large inductor, much like the construction of the inductor in your speaker's crossover, which is a coil of wound copper. Instead try to purchase the correct length of interconnect, especially with your speaker cables.
Interlaced	The traditional format for broadcast video, and identified with an "i" on the end of the quoted resolution. eg 480i, 576i, 1080i etc. Australian TV, due to our power supply of 240V 50Hz, requires the picture to be displayed at 50Hz. With 25 frames per second, each frame is comprised of two separate scans of the picture, from top left to bottom right. In the first scan, only every second line is displayed, with the second scan filling in each alternate line. The second scan is "interlaced" with the first scan, hence the name. Even though the scans are shown in series, it all happens so fast that the human eye sees it as one image, and by the time you have 25 frames per seond, it's a moving image. Interlaced video has the disadvantage of some motion blur and flicker, but requires far less bandwidth than the progressive scan alternative. See "Progressive Scan" for the higher quality alternative
LFE Back to top	Abbreviation for "Low Frequency Effects". This refers to the ".1" channel in your 5.1 or 6.1 channel digital surround sound system - ie. the subwoofer. This mono channel is low enough in frequency that it allows some flexibility on the placement of your subwoofer, due to the non-diectionality of the low bass information. A digital surround soundtrack contains some extraordinarily dynamic bass info, so a good quality, low resistance subwoofer interconnect can certainly make an enormous difference to the sub's performance.
Luminance	The resolution/contrast/brightness channel of a Component Video or S-Video connection. Luminance is represented with the letter "Y" (which is most commonly seen in conjunction with the Chrominance "C", or color channel/s). S-Video comprises two channels - "Y" luminance and "C". Component Video further breaks the color info into two channels, hence being "Y" for luminance (green plug), "Cr" for red, and "Cb" for blue. If you connect just the Luminance channel of either an s-video or component video interconnect, you'll get just a high quality black and white picture.
Matrix	The term "matrix" is used in two different contexts in the world of home cinema; To describe the processing of analogue surround sound - eg the centre channel speaker in Dolby Pro-Logic is a matrix of the front left and right, and. To describe the indepenantly selectable outputs on a AV switcher. For example, a HDMI matrix switcher will enable different input sources to be able to be independantly swithced through to any numbr of outputs (depending on the model)
Mylar Coated Foil	A foil wrap shield which has an applied layer of Mylar, a conductive polyester film which permits the integration of the foil wrap and surrounding copper braid. The results are a more effective overall shield for the cable. See also "RFI", "EMI" and "Shield -100%".
Nitrogen Injected	In the context of Polyethylene as a dielectric, the injecting of the material with nitrogen (often referred to as "foaming"). The dielectric constant of the dielectric is greatly reduced as the thousands of tiny bubbles in the polyethylene further reduce it's ability to store energy, resulting in extremely low capacitance. The best method available to achieve this result.
NTSC	"National Television System Committee", as established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the USA in 1940. In brief, it originally used scanning system with a straight forward interlaced pair of scans for every frame. As colours may shift during transmission (due to interference and atmospherics etc), the result was a colour system that sometimes lacked in colour accuracy. For this reason NTSC was nicknamed "Never The Same Colour". The inherent problems with NTSC are not relevant to digital formats like DVD, where this common colour shift does not occur. The alternative is PAL.
OFC	Abbreviation for "Oxygen Free Copper". This is one of the most misunderstood terms in the interconnect field. Oxygen free simply refers to a copper which meets a stringent standard of processing to remove all of the naturally occuring oxygen particles. Oxygen causes copper to oxidize, much like rust with iron - a bad thing for AV interconnects, so it's removal is crucial! The percentage number often accompanying an "OFC" label actually has nothing to do with it's OFC status, but rather with the level of purity of the copper, the balance amount of which is made up of other elements (such as iron, zinc, tin etc).EG:- "99.9998% OFC" means that it is high purity copper with only a 0.0002% component of minerals and alloys other than copper, and it has been processed to compress out all Oxygen particles from within the core, enhancing longevity.
Optical	In the context of digital audio signals, Optical refers to an interconnect which trasmits a digital bitstream by way of light, as opposed to electricity. The most commonly used optical cable in AV systems is the TOSlink fiber optic cable. There are genreally two different types of TOSlink cables - plastic and glass. Plastic cables don't vary much. Some are better because they may have polished ends (reducing light refractions from the end of the cable), but even the best plastic fiber optic cables limit bandwidth to below that of coaxial digital audio. Glass fiber cables on the other hand offers superior bandwidth and accuracy than any plastic core cable, but is really only of any noticable benefit with cable lengths measured in kilometres... yes, KILOmetres. A short length in your home theatre system will not benefit necessarily from glass, but it will still benefit from a well made cable.
PAL	PAL (Phase Alternating Line) evolved from the shortcomings of NTSC. It also uses the interlaced scanning system to limit bandwidth requirements, but PAL reverses the phase of every second scan in order to cancel out the colour shift that may occur in analogue braodcast. That is, if the the first scan contains a positive shift in green (common), then the second scan will also contain the same shift in green, but in the opposite direction as it is reverse phased. This cancels the shift in green, returning it back to the centre where it should be. The result? More accurate colour and consistency. Countries like the USA and Japan were already too committed to NTSC by the time PAL was developed, so it was not feasible for them to change. For this reason, the countries which adopted TV the earliest with NTSC are generally still using this format to this day. With the advent of digital TV and digital video sources, the problems associated with NTSC have become somewhat redundant - ie: no longer an issue.
Pixel	A single dot on a digital based display. Every pixel can show only one colour at one brigthness level per frame. The combination of all of the pixels then makes up the picture as we see it. For example, a single pixel in an LCD is measured in its abiity to block light (black) or luminesce (white - red, green and blue combined). The latter determines the brightness of the panel, whilst the difference between the level of black and white is called contrast. A plasma or LCD panel is specified in its native resolution, being how many pixels make up the entire screen. The higher the number, the better the resolution. For example a 1280x720 panel contains 720 lines of pixels (yes, the same as 720 video lines) x 1280 pixels wide, being 16:9 format. The number of pixels does NOT solely determine the quality of a display. Other elements like real constrast ratio, colour gammut, image processing, and in the case of projectrs, the quality of the lens and screen, all play important roles in determining the actual video performance.
Polyethylene Back to top	A type of material as commonly used in producing dielectrics or insulation in AV interconnects. Usually abbreviated to "PE", this material has a very low dielectric constant and is hence preferable to PVC. However it is not as durabe as PVC and melts very easily. For this reason it is not commonly used as the outer jacket of an interconnect - PVC is better for this. The nitrogen injected version of PE produces even better results when used as a dielectric material (see "Dielectric" and "Nitrogen Injected").
Progressive Scan	To best understand Progressive Scan, please read "Interlaced" first, if you haven't already. The presence of progressive scan in a video signal is identified with the a lower case "p" at the end of the stated reolution. eg 480p, 576p, 720p ,1080p. In operation, each scan in a progressive video signal displays the entire frame in one pass, rather than just alternate lines like interlaced video. Therefore every frame is shown twice at full resolution, making the required 50Hz signal from a 25 frame video (PAL). For NTSC, the total number of frames is 30 per second, making 60Hz, but usually at a lower resolution (eg 480p). Progressive scan has the distinct advantage of a more stable picture with greater perceived sharpness due to the lack of motion blur/jitter which is inherent in the interlaced video scanning system.
Resistance	This is an important specification in an interconnect. As the name suggests, the value of resistance refers to the amount by which the signal travelling through a cable's carrier is restricted. The primary factors which affect resistance are conductor material and size. The more conductive the material, the lower the resistance; the larger the conductor, the lower the resistance. It's sort of like a water hose. A large hose can carry more water than a small hose, as it offers less 'resistance'. Likewise an interconnect with a larger conductor can carry more current as it offers less resistance than a samller carrier.NOTE: Don't assume that "the bigger the better" will be the case. It's true that the larger the cable, the lower the resistance, but other issues come into play. For example, larger conductors usually produce more internal inductance, which can adversely affect high frequency performance. A high quality interconnect should reflect the best overall balance of compromises between such phenomena by minimizing each effect by clever design.
Resolution	The number of pixels or video lines that can be resolved by a video display, or output by a video source. eg - 480, 576, 720, 1080. This is a most misunderstood term, as many think that a 720 line display will always display high definition 720p. This is not the case, as a 576 line source such as PAL DVD will need to be scaled up to 720 line by the display in order to fill the screen. This does not include more information than is being supplied by the DVD player or disc, but rahter the same information being spread out over the size of the screen. In the context of audio, resolution also referes to the overall clarity of sound. The higher the resolution, the better the dynamics, cleanliness and frequency range of the sound.
RFI	Abbreviation for "Radio Frequency Interference". This refers to the ambient multitude of radio frequencies which are present in our environment, the presence of which can adversely affect the electrical signal travelling through and audio or video interconnect. You can';t do anything to stop RFI from 'floating' around you home and your system, but you can effectively shield your cables from it. To do this, only use interconnects which have a foil wrap shield. Avoid cables which offer only copper braid or spirals as shielding. IMPORTANT:  A foil wrap does not shield against high frequency EMI. A foil wrap is only an effective shield against low frequency EMI and full range RFI. The combination of both types of shield in an interconnect is the most desirable combination, giving effective 100% shielding against full EMI and RFI.
RGB-HV	Abbreviation for "Red, Green, Blue with Horizontal and Vertical Sync". This is a five channel interconnect which utilizes all of the fundamental components of a full analogue video signal. Red, green and blue are of course the three primary colors, and the horizontal and vertical sync channels dictate the positioning and scanning information to properly place the image on your TV/display device. RGB can also be used as a four channel connection, whereby the horizontal and vertical syncs are combined on one channel. This is usually referred to as "RGB - Composite Sync", and is the form of RGB used in European SCART connectors. There is also another method which places the H&V sync information in with the Green channel. This is quite obvoiusly called "RGB - sync on Green". If your system requires this form of connection, simply purchase a component video cable, as it already contains the correct number of channels with the right color coding (the signal is however vastly different).
SACD	"Super Audio Compact Disc". A high resolution digital audio format which was developed after DVD-A, and is now in a long war with DVD-A. Both offer unsurpassed high res audio, although SACD has a greater frequency range and utilizes a 1-bit DSD ("Direct Stream Digital") bitstream, as oppposed to DVD-A's PCM system (like CD, but higher res and more channels). DVD-A was supported from HDMI specification 1.1, and SACD was added with version 1.2.
SCART	SCART stands for Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs. Doesn't sound too Aussie, does it? It's a predominantly European format for the simplified interconnectivity of AV sources and TVs. It was a great idea, but evolved to create too many variables and too many questions. Also, it's not greatly applicable to Australia as the use of SCART devies here invariably leads to the need for adapters. Well and truly outdated by HDMI.
Shield - 100%	Please refer to "Shield - Braid" and "Shield - Mylar Foil". In brief, it's the combination of the two forms of shielding, which produces an overall shield which is 100% effective against external interferences.
Shield - Braid	A shield wrap which comprises a braid of conductive material, most commonly copper. The tightness of this braid determines the total coverage achieved - that is a loose braid might only achieve 60% coverage, whereas a tight bradi could be 90-95%. By contrast, the alternative of a copper spiral instead of a braid usually only produces 40-60% sheilding, even if there's a fair bit of copper. A braid shield is critical in blocking low frequency EMI (see "EMI" and "Shield - 100%").
Shield - Mylar Foil	An aluminum foil wrap which is coated in a layer of mylar, for greater conductivity. The foil wrap should be slightly overlapped at the join,. so as to eliminate leakage of interferences through potetial gaps. This shield layer is important as it blocks the harmful RFI as well as high frequency EMI (see also "RFI", "EMI" and "Shield - 100%").
Silver Plated (commonly SPC)	A conductor (normally OFC) which has been coated in a thin layer of silver, hence creating "SPC" (Silver Plated Copper). In a video cable, the signal travels entirely on the surface of the conductor due to the very high frequencies involved, so the use of silver plating ensures that the signal is travelling through silver, not copper (as silver is a better conductor). This is so due to the "Skin Effect" - see below. This methos is quite ingenious as it is far more cost effective than using solid silver, but effectively produces the same result.TIP: Do not use a silver plated cable for audio applications. In an audio cable, "skin effect" is far less prevalent (in fact virtually non-existent in the lower frequencies) and so the entire cconductor is used for the signal, right down to the center of the core. Using a silver plated conductor would then make the signal travel through two different materials simultaneously, producing a somewhat confused result with compromised timing. Some people still like the sound of silver plated conductors, but it's really not ideal. I agree that silver is the best, but for audio, use either all-silver or all-copper.
Single Link	The term used to describe DVI or HDMI with standard bandwidth and single TMDS channels. Single link DVI-D is compatibel with HDMI, whereas dual link DVI-D is not. Single link HDMI with its Type "A" connector can pass up to 4.95Gbps bandwidth, whereas the Dual Link cable with type "B" was specified at 9.9Gbps bandwidth. Dual link HDMI was never used, and has now been made redundant by HDMI 1.3 with 10.2Gbps capacity.
Skin Effect	Now this is an interesting one... If you can get your head around this, you'll better understand the whole concept of coaxial cables and how they carry an audio or video signal, as well as the true benefits of silver plating. First picture what a coaxial cable looks like in cross section. It comprises a core (conductor) surrounded by a dieltric, then a layer or two of shielding, then the outer jacket. The center conductor is the Positive carrier , the shield is the Negative carrier. As an AC signal (audio or video) travels through the cable there is a magnetic field created between the core and shield. Just like in a magnet, positive and negative are drawn towards each other. A low frequency signal is affected very little by this magnetic field, but as the frequency increases, the effect of being drawn towards the surface, or "skin" of the conductor increases. This is true whether we are talking about a stranded bunch or a solid core of copper - ie it does NOT apply to each strand in a bunch, but the bunch as a whole. Bass frequencies travel through the entire core, and as the frequency increases, the amount of the core that the signal travels through decreases (becomes thinner). Remember the audible audio range for most of us is about 30Hz-18kHz. The whole carrier is used in varying degrees for a full range audio signal. It is important for this reason that the entire carrier be consistent in material and quality in order to obtain a linear result. On the other hand, a video signal is measured in Mhz or above. When these frequencies are transmitted, all of the signal is travelling on the extreme outer surface of the carrier. For this reason, the inner conductor has less bearing than the quality of the outer skin. This is why silver plating is beneficial for video, as it puts the silver where it is being entirley used, without spending all that extra money getting solid silver when the inner core isn't even being used! A solid core of silver plated copper also produces a smoother surface through which to conduct, as opposed to a stranded bunch where the signal may 'jump' strands.
Solder	A critical element in the production of a high quality interconnect. The solder used is often overlooked, but is really just as important than the choice of cable and plug. The signal does, after all, travel through the solder as it passes from plug to cable, then back to plug again. A high quality solder should be ultra-conductive with a clean flux core (the flux cleans the surfaces that are being bonded together, producing a superior joint). We use only the very highest quality solder from TRT in the USA. "Wonder Solder" has received many rave reviews from around the world as the only solder to use in any serious audio or video cable. We won't compromise, as we feel that you probably wouldn't want to either! Some have asked us about crimp or compression type joints, as opposed to soldered. These alternatives are convenient and faster to produce, but don't give the same degree of oxygen free termination as a good soldered joint. A professionally soldered joint should last at least 50 years without noticeable degradation, free from oxidization.
S/PDIF	Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format. This is a format which evolved to become part of the greater IEC-958 type II standard, and includes the common digital audio interconnectivity formats of TOSlink optical and 75 ohm coaxial digital audio.
Subwoofer	The speaker in an audio system which is designed to produce only bass frequencies. In the modern system the subwoofer should have it's own dedicated amplification, usually with more power than the other full range channels, in order to produce the powerful low frequency dynamics. Some powered subwoofers have a single RCA type input, in which case a mono line audio cable of low resistance should be used. If your subwoofer has a "stereo" input, try using a "Y" cable (1x RCA to 2x RCA), which can produce a sensitivity boost of up to 3dB, depending on model - ie: more volume!. (See also "LFE").
S-Video	A video signal that comprises two parts, Luminance ("Y") and Chrominance ("C"). S-Video is essentially the result of combining the two chrominance channels of Component Video (the Cr & Cb channels) . That is, it's one step down from Component Video, but remains one step up from Composite Video.It is often mistakenly referred to as "Super Video", or "Super VHS". This is due to its common use with the S-VHS format, the predominant high band format during the 80s and early 90s. The "S" in S-Video actually stands for "Separate", referring to the separate elements - Luminance and Chrominance - that make up the picture.
TMDS Back to top	"Transition Minimized Differential Signalling", the digital bitstream format of both DVI-D and HDMI. It comprises a total of four channels, being TMDS 0, TMDS 1, TMDS 2 and TMDS clock. In DVI-D this bitstream carries the digital video information, whereas in HDMI the signal is interspersed with digital audio pulses as well.
TOSlink	The digital audio connection standard for fiber optic cables. TOSlink refers to the type of end on the cable, not the cable itself. That is, TOSlink is the name of the square plug which fits into the optical sockets on an AV receiver, amplifier or DAC. The plug can be metal or plastic, the quality of which determines the accuracy of the fit into the socket. The cable itself can be plastic or glass, as discussed in the glossary entry for "Optical".
VGA	Short for "Video Graphics Adapter", VGA comprises a full analogue RGB signal. The most common application for VGA is a computer monitor, although many LCD and plasma displays as well as projectors also make use of this connector, as it saves valuable space over the 5x RCA jack alternative. VGA uses a 15 pin 'DB' (HD-15) type plug, with three rows of 5 pins. Only ten of the pins are used, being for red, green, blue and their respective grounds, as well as horizontal and vertical sync, and two extra ground pins.
YUV	A color space of which is Luminance/Chrominance based, as distinct from RGB. This includes Component Video (YPbPr), S-Video (Y-C) and Composite Video. Be careful with the application of this format, as it does not specify which actual format is being referred to. That is, you may assume that a labelled YUV output (common on Foxtel via SCART) is referring to Component video, but this may not necessarily be the case. Check first with your hardware manufacturer.