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2
Introduction
Part 2: Why RCA HDTV is better
DLP technology is just part of the story. You have chosen to embark on the next generation of TV viewing–HDTV. There are many
technological advancements that make HDTV better than analog TV, but there are basically three things about HDTV that bring you a
superior viewing experience: (1) resolution, (2) aspect ratio, and (3) digital signal and sound.
Resolution (it’s math...that works for you)
The crisp, lifelike picture that people rave about when experiencing true HDTV is due to the resolution this technology provides. The
resolution is measured by calculating the number of pixels. A pixel (which stands for picture element) is a small dot. The picture you see on
your TV is composed of these dots.
A regular, analog television only has a resolution of about 200,000 pixels (480 vertical pixels x 440 horizontal pixels = 211,200 pixels). The
HDTV format is capable of more than 2 million pixels (1,920 x 1,080 = 2,073,600).
More pixels equal more detail. In summary, HDTV is capable of resolution that is up to almost 10 times the resolution of the picture on a
regular, analog TV!
Aspect Ratio
Aspect ratio is simply the width and height of the picture. Regular TVs use a 4 x 3
aspect ratio, which means the picture is a little wider than it is tall (a screen that is 20
inches wide is about 15 inches tall).
When the standards were being developed for television broadcasting in 1941 by the
NTSC (the National Television Standards Committee), it made sense to adopt the
4 x 3 aspect ratio the fi lm industry was using at that time.
As TVs dropped in price and people prospered in the 1950s, the movie industry had
to fi nd a way to get people out of their living rooms and back to the movie theatres.
That’s when they created the 16 x 9 aspect ratio (also called widescreen format). When
the standards for HDTV were being developed by the ATSC (Advanced Television
Standards Committee), the 16 x 9 aspect ratio was chosen as the format for HDTV.
This widescreen format makes sense because it’s much closer to the way we see. Our
fi eld of vision is actually much wider than tall because of our peripheral vision. Not
only is it closer to the way we see, but the pictures are crisper and cleaner with more
detail in the close-up and panoramic views.
Feature Analog (NTSC) HD Digital (ATSC)
Total Scan Lines 525 1125
Effective Scan Lines 480 1080
Aspect Ratio 4 x 3 (Standard) 16 x 9 (Widescreen)
Max Resolution 720 x 480 1920 x 1080
Sound 2-ch Stereo 5.1 ch Surround
16 x 9 Aspect Ratio
4 x 3 Aspect Ratio