Since its introduction, DVD technology has rapidly gained acceptance and become the medium of choice among home-theater buffs as well as the general electronics consumer market. DVD delivers video content such as feature films from a disc that's the same size as the familiar audio CD. Because of their expanded storage capacity, a single DVD disc can contain an entire feature-length movie, plus extras. One of those extras may include offering the viewer a choice of picture formats: wide-screen (letter-box) presentation -- so the movie is seen in its original aspect ratio just as it was on the movie screen -- or standard format in which the picture has been "formatted to fit your TV screen." Movie purists prefer the wide-screen presentation since it presents the "whole picture," with each frame complete and exact, just as the director and cinematographer shot it. Viewers who prefer the conventional broadcast version of movies (with a third or more of the picture chopped off at the edges) simply opt for standard format. In standard-format presentation, the movie-images fill the entire standard-size TV screen just as they do when they're broadcast on network television. DVD extras may also include subtitles sub-titles or audio-overdubs in one or more languages, behind-the-scenes documentaries about the making of the film, original theatrical trailers, actor and director interviews, production notes in text files, and an optional audio commentary by actors or filmmakers. DVD also offers audio quality that is superior to conventional television and VHS. Whether you plug your DVD into a a/v receiver as part of a home-theater system (figure A) or just your two-channel stereo, the sound quality is at least equivalent to that of audio CDs. When use with a surround system, DVDs may utilize a single digital-audio output (figure B). The audio signal is then decoded and processed by the surround-sound receiver to deliver the multi-channel audio effects used in most contemporary films. Hearing the clean, multi-dimensional sound from a DVD played through a surround system for the first time offers a striking contrast over what TV-viewers are accustomed to from just a TV set with internal speakers. According to Dave Workman, president of Ultimate Electronics, DVD-audio is actually superior to CD audio. "The difference with DVD audio," he says, "is the signal-to-noise ratio [a measure of sonic accuracy] that you simply can't get out of CD. But the biggest difference is that DVD is a multi-channel sound format." In summary, the audio from DVDs is strikingly clear and crisp, and it also offers a more spatial and immersive sound because of the multi-channel surround capabilities. Once the DVD disc is loaded into the player and accessed by the TV or home theater system, the viewer uses the remote control to select from a program menu. You may opt to simply watch the movie straight through from the beginning, or you can jump forward or backward to specific scenes -- just like selecting a particular song from a CD. The menu is also used to select from language options such as overdubbed dialog or subtitles. With DVDs that include an audio-track commentary feature, you can opt to listen to an actor, director or producer talk about individual scenes as you're watching the movie. Commentary might include how scenes were shot, comments on actor performances, special-effects techniques, background on the film, etc. Some industry experts are predicting that DVD will be the replacement medium for the VCR in the home-entertainment market. Even high-end VCRs cannot offer the same picture and sound quality as DVD, or the range of feature benefits. But don't throw out your VCR just yet. At present, DVD is primarily a playback-only medium. Although there are a few models that do allow users to record onto DVD-discs, those models are currently priced so high as to be beyond the reach of most consumers. For now, you'll still need your VCR to record programs from off-air or cable. Moreover, many consumers have amassed libraries of VHS tapes that they'll be hesitant to see go the way of the 8-track tape. As DVD technology progresses, however, it's expected that recordable DVD will probably be available and affordable to consumers before long.
RESOURCES :
Ultimate Electronics
Ultimate Electronics was featured in the DIY Home Technology workshop.
Ultimate Electronics
Thornton, CO 80260
Phone: 303-412-2500
Website: www.ultimateelectronics.com
Crutchfield home audio and video
Crutchfield is not only a catalog retailer specializing in a wide array of popular audio and video equipment, they excel at providing information and resources for audio-system installation. Their free catalog offers advice on selecting the best type of system for your tastes and the most suitable equipment for your audio and home-theater needs.
Stereo Review's Sound and Vision magazine
Stereo Review's Sound and Vision is a magazine dedicated to home audio and video equipment and home-theater entertainment.
Web site: www.soundandvisionmag.com
The Perfect Vision magazine
The Perfect Vision is a magazine devoted to high-performance and audiophile level equipment used in home theater systems.
Web site: www.theperfectvision.com
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