DVD Player Terms

Sure, everyone knows what a DVD is. They're those little round discs that have movies on them, right? But how many of you actually know what "DVD" stands for? Would you have guessed "Digital Versatile Disc"? Many of you might have guessed "Digital Video Disc". Close, but no cigar.

The word "versatile" is particularly appropriate because DVDs are used to store much more than just video images. DVDs can hold audio, still images, and even computer data. Here is a list of other important terms that you need to be aware of when it comes to DVD players:

Progressive Scan - This refers to the way the image is displayed on screen. The image lines, or pixel rows, are scanned in numeric order, from top to bottom. This allows for a smoother picture.

Interlaced Scan - The image lines are scanned in alternate order. Interlaced scanned lines are more susceptible to flickers.

Universal DVD Player - This type of DVD player can play SACD, or Super Audio CDs, DVD-Audio Discs, and Standard DVDs. They feature-channel analog audio outputs.

DualDisc - DualDiscs are a controversial new disc that features a DVD layer on one side and CD-type layer on the other. Most do not meet official CD specifications and some do not have complete playback compatibility with DVD players.

HD  Compatible - Refers to a unit that is equipped with a Digital Visual Interface (DVI), or a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). It can transfer the video signal from the DVD to your HDTV.

Region Coding - The Motion Picture Association of America controls the distribution of DVDs in the world market based on movies' release dates as well as other factors.

Anamorphic - This refers to the process of compressing widescreen images to fit into a standard size television screen. The image is then expanded to be viewed in its original format on a special widescreen display device.

Component Video - These are the elements that comprise the video signal. They have better color purity, detail, and less color noise.

Composite Video - This type of video signal combines chrominance and luminance, the burst signal and the sync data. It has good signal quality, but is inferior to the component video.

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