Read Harman Kardon DVD 30 (serv.man6) User Guide / Operation Manual online
4 TERMINOLOGY
Terminology
Since they share some of the characteristics and
technology of CD players, many of the terms and
operational concepts used in a DVD player are
similar to what you may be familiar with from CD
players and changers, or older video disc formats
such as Laser Disc. However, if this is your first
DVD product, some of the terms used to describe
the features of a DVD player may be unfamiliar.
The following explanations should solve some of
the mysteries of DVD, and help you to enjoy all
the power and flexibility of the DVD format and
the DVD 30.
technology of CD players, many of the terms and
operational concepts used in a DVD player are
similar to what you may be familiar with from CD
players and changers, or older video disc formats
such as Laser Disc. However, if this is your first
DVD product, some of the terms used to describe
the features of a DVD player may be unfamiliar.
The following explanations should solve some of
the mysteries of DVD, and help you to enjoy all
the power and flexibility of the DVD format and
the DVD 30.
With the arrival of DVD, disc data capacity has
increased dramatically. On a DVD Video disc most
of this capacity is taken up by MPEG 2 video and
the multichannel movie soundtrack in Dolby
Digital and/or DTS. This information is com-
pressed. But with DVD Audio, most of this capaci-
ty is available for music only, without any com-
pression. This allows us to put the audio informa-
tion on the disc in the same quality as the origi-
nal mastering in the studio, in PCM up to 24
bit/192 kHz.
increased dramatically. On a DVD Video disc most
of this capacity is taken up by MPEG 2 video and
the multichannel movie soundtrack in Dolby
Digital and/or DTS. This information is com-
pressed. But with DVD Audio, most of this capaci-
ty is available for music only, without any com-
pression. This allows us to put the audio informa-
tion on the disc in the same quality as the origi-
nal mastering in the studio, in PCM up to 24
bit/192 kHz.
DVD-Audio's 24-bit system provides substantially
improved resolution of fine detail, because it
describes a specific point in the musical informa-
tion using a 24-digit long string of one's and
zero's with 16,777,216 possible combinations,
while CD's primitive 16-bit system offers only
65,536 options. The 192 kHz frequency allows us
to have fast changes in music made audible,
which results in more dynamism, and also allows
us to obtain a higher bandwidth, up to 96 kHz.
Although that is far beyond the human audible
spectrum, it still improves the musical realism.
improved resolution of fine detail, because it
describes a specific point in the musical informa-
tion using a 24-digit long string of one's and
zero's with 16,777,216 possible combinations,
while CD's primitive 16-bit system offers only
65,536 options. The 192 kHz frequency allows us
to have fast changes in music made audible,
which results in more dynamism, and also allows
us to obtain a higher bandwidth, up to 96 kHz.
Although that is far beyond the human audible
spectrum, it still improves the musical realism.
Aspect Ratio: This is a description of the width
of a video image in relation to its height. A con-
ventional video screen is four units wide for every
three units of height, that’s why the ratio is called
”4:3”. Newer wide aspect ratio video displays
are 16 units wide for every nine units of height,
making them more like the screen in a movie the-
ater. The program material on a DVD may be
recorded in either format and, in addition, you
may configure the DVD 30 to play back in either
format, depending on the features recorded on a
disc. (For details about TV Aspect Ratio see page
18).
of a video image in relation to its height. A con-
ventional video screen is four units wide for every
three units of height, that’s why the ratio is called
”4:3”. Newer wide aspect ratio video displays
are 16 units wide for every nine units of height,
making them more like the screen in a movie the-
ater. The program material on a DVD may be
recorded in either format and, in addition, you
may configure the DVD 30 to play back in either
format, depending on the features recorded on a
disc. (For details about TV Aspect Ratio see page
18).
Title: For a DVD, a title is defined as an entire
movie or program. There can be as many chapters
within a title as the producers decide to include.
Most discs include only one title, but some may
have more than one, to give you a “Double
Feature” presentation. Press the MENU button on
the remote to see the Menu of the DVD where you
can find all titles available on the DVD or all chap-
ters, if the disc has only one title.
movie or program. There can be as many chapters
within a title as the producers decide to include.
Most discs include only one title, but some may
have more than one, to give you a “Double
Feature” presentation. Press the MENU button on
the remote to see the Menu of the DVD where you
can find all titles available on the DVD or all chap-
ters, if the disc has only one title.
Chapter: DVD programs are divided into chap-
ters and titles. Chapters are the sub-sections pro-
grammed into a single title on a disc. Chapters
may be compared to the individual tracks on an
audio CD.
ters and titles. Chapters are the sub-sections pro-
grammed into a single title on a disc. Chapters
may be compared to the individual tracks on an
audio CD.
RGB Video: This is a new form of video signal
that eliminates many of the artifacts of traditional
composite video signals by splitting the signal
into the three fundamental colors Red, Green and
Blue (RGB). With an RGB connection (via SCART),
you will see greater picture resolution and elimi-
nate many picture imperfections such as the
moiré patterns often seen on checkered pat-
terned cloths. However, in order to benefit from
RGB video, you must have a video display with an
RGB compatible SCART input.
that eliminates many of the artifacts of traditional
composite video signals by splitting the signal
into the three fundamental colors Red, Green and
Blue (RGB). With an RGB connection (via SCART),
you will see greater picture resolution and elimi-
nate many picture imperfections such as the
moiré patterns often seen on checkered pat-
terned cloths. However, in order to benefit from
RGB video, you must have a video display with an
RGB compatible SCART input.
Progressive scan: DVD 30 offers progressive
scan video outputs for use with compatible high-
resolution televisions and projectors. Before DVD,
no consumer medium could store, transmit or dis-
play video with full resolution. To conserve band-
width, analog compression (interlacing) is
employed: first the odd-numbered lines of a frame
are displayed, followed by the even-numbered
lines. The result is that only half of the video
image is drawn at one time; the viewer's brain
must reassemble the complete image. This is
acceptable, if the monitor is not too large and if
there is not too much motion in the image. Large
displays and fast-moving images reveal the limita-
tions of this system. Thanks to DVD's immense
data capacity, images are now stored intact (pro-
gressively), so that all the lines in each frame (odd
and even) are shown at the same time. But
because most TV's cannot handle a progressive
signal, all current DVD players generate an inter-
laced output for compatibility. Now, Harman
Kardon DVD 30 is among the select few DVD
players with true progressive scan video output
(NTSC and PAL) for use with compatible TV's and
CRT projectors and with all plasma, LCD and DLP
display devices via the component video output.
The result is 40% greater light output than a con-
ventional TV and a stunningly detailed high defini-
tion image, along with an almost complete
absence of visible scanlines and motion artifacts.
Of course, traditional Y/Pr/Pb component video,
SCART, S-Video and composite video outputs are
included for use with conventional televisions and
projectors.
scan video outputs for use with compatible high-
resolution televisions and projectors. Before DVD,
no consumer medium could store, transmit or dis-
play video with full resolution. To conserve band-
width, analog compression (interlacing) is
employed: first the odd-numbered lines of a frame
are displayed, followed by the even-numbered
lines. The result is that only half of the video
image is drawn at one time; the viewer's brain
must reassemble the complete image. This is
acceptable, if the monitor is not too large and if
there is not too much motion in the image. Large
displays and fast-moving images reveal the limita-
tions of this system. Thanks to DVD's immense
data capacity, images are now stored intact (pro-
gressively), so that all the lines in each frame (odd
and even) are shown at the same time. But
because most TV's cannot handle a progressive
signal, all current DVD players generate an inter-
laced output for compatibility. Now, Harman
Kardon DVD 30 is among the select few DVD
players with true progressive scan video output
(NTSC and PAL) for use with compatible TV's and
CRT projectors and with all plasma, LCD and DLP
display devices via the component video output.
The result is 40% greater light output than a con-
ventional TV and a stunningly detailed high defini-
tion image, along with an almost complete
absence of visible scanlines and motion artifacts.
Of course, traditional Y/Pr/Pb component video,
SCART, S-Video and composite video outputs are
included for use with conventional televisions and
projectors.
Multiple Angle: DVDs have the capability to
show up to four different views of the same
scene in a program. When a disc is encoded with
multiple-angle information, pressing the Angle
button will enable you to switch between these
different views. Note that at present, few discs
take advantage of this capability and, when they
do, the multiple-angle technology may only be
present for short periods of time within the disc.
Producers will usually insert some sort of icon or
graphic in the picture to alert you to the availabil-
ity of multiple viewing angles.
show up to four different views of the same
scene in a program. When a disc is encoded with
multiple-angle information, pressing the Angle
button will enable you to switch between these
different views. Note that at present, few discs
take advantage of this capability and, when they
do, the multiple-angle technology may only be
present for short periods of time within the disc.
Producers will usually insert some sort of icon or
graphic in the picture to alert you to the availabil-
ity of multiple viewing angles.
Reading: This is a message that you will see
after you´ve loaded the disc and the tray has
closed. It refers to the fact that the player must
first examine the contents of the disc to see if it is
a CD or DVD, and then extract the information
about the type of material on the disc, such as
languages, aspect ratios, subtitles, number of
titles and more. The slight delay while the con-
tents of the disc are read is normal.
after you´ve loaded the disc and the tray has
closed. It refers to the fact that the player must
first examine the contents of the disc to see if it is
a CD or DVD, and then extract the information
about the type of material on the disc, such as
languages, aspect ratios, subtitles, number of
titles and more. The slight delay while the con-
tents of the disc are read is normal.
Resume: The operation of the Stop Button on
the DVD 30 works differently from what you are
used to on CD players. On a traditional CD player,
when you press the Stop button, the unit does
just that: it stops playback. On a CD player, when
you press the start button again, the disc starts
from the beginning. With the DVD 30, however,
you have two options when playing DVD discs.
Pressing Stop once will stop playback, but it actu-
ally puts the unit in the Resume mode. This
means that you can turn the machine off and,
when you press play the next time, the disc will
resume or continue from the point on the disc
where the Stop button was pressed. This is help-
ful if you are watching a movie and must inter-
rupt your viewing session but wish to pick up
where you left off. Pressing the Stop button twice
will stop the machine in a traditional manner
and, when the disc is played again, it will start
from the beginning.
the DVD 30 works differently from what you are
used to on CD players. On a traditional CD player,
when you press the Stop button, the unit does
just that: it stops playback. On a CD player, when
you press the start button again, the disc starts
from the beginning. With the DVD 30, however,
you have two options when playing DVD discs.
Pressing Stop once will stop playback, but it actu-
ally puts the unit in the Resume mode. This
means that you can turn the machine off and,
when you press play the next time, the disc will
resume or continue from the point on the disc
where the Stop button was pressed. This is help-
ful if you are watching a movie and must inter-
rupt your viewing session but wish to pick up
where you left off. Pressing the Stop button twice
will stop the machine in a traditional manner
and, when the disc is played again, it will start
from the beginning.
In resume mode, the cover of the DVD will be
displayed, if available. Otherwise, the
Harman Kardon screen will appear.
displayed, if available. Otherwise, the
Harman Kardon screen will appear.
Terminology
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