Nicam - Means that the video is capable of handling digital stereo sound. Using a Nicam VCR with a Nicam TV you will get stereo sound on most recordings of the kind of quality you would expect from a CD player.

Dolby Pro Logic - Sometimes called Dolby 3 Stereo. Surround sound. 4 channels usually stereo front, left and right, centre dialogue and mono rear.

Virtual Dolby Pro Logic - A virtual surround sound. This imitates Dolby Pro Logic without needing rear speakers.

Dolby Digital - 5:1 channel surround sound. Six totally independent channels of digital sound - stereo front left and right, centre dialogue and stereo rear channels. Additional super woofer channel.

MPEG2 - An alternative digital audio system to Dolby Digital. It is available on some DVD discs.

100Hz/Double scanning - Double scanning of images. Reduces flicker and is easier on the eye. Noticeable with complex images or text.

Auto setup - makes tuning the TV in very easy. All our TVs have automatic setup.

Wide screen function - this means that the video will work well with wide screen TVs. This is standard on all VCRs we carry.

PAL - Broadcast standard used in Britain, Australia and some other countries.

SECAM - Broadcast standard used in France and some other countries.

NTSC - American and Japanese broadcast standard.

Scart sockets - used for plugging your TV into a video recorder other appliances, for instance a hi-fi or a satellite system.

Scart leads - used for connecting your TV to a VCR, DVD player or satellite system. Vital if you want to get Nicam stereo sound from a Nicam capable VCR or Dolby from a DVD player. See our Scart lead page.

Dark Tint - A treatment of the picture tube so that it absorbs ambient light, enhances black reproduction and gives increased contrast.

Audio out sockets - for connecting the TV sound to a hi-fi system.

Digital Picture Processing - A process that improves the TV picture quality, brightness and colour.

Digital Surround Processing - A system that artificially creates surround sound effects on normal stereo or mono TV programs or videos.

Fastext - Teletext where you can move quickly through the pages by using the coloured buttons on the remote control.

Rear projection - Very large screen TVs often have this. A system where the red, blue and green of TV images are projected onto a mirror which reflects the picture onto the screen.

Super Scene Control - A process that some Toshibas have that improves TV picture contrast.

Super Woofer - A low frequency loudspeaker for more power bass effects.

Tweeter - A speaker that plays high frequency sounds.

Top Up TV - usually used in conjunction with Freeview boxes. You buy a Top Up TV card which goes into your Freeview Box or Top Up TV slot on a TV, it then gives you access to a group of subscription channels that you pay extra for.

See also: HDMI and DVI leads.

Still not sure about something? E-mail us and we will try to help.