Three conductor input with two signal conductors that are directly out of phase with each other. This cancels each other out when they pick up electromagnetic interference along the path but doesn’t affect the signal. The third conductor is ground.

A type of speaker wire plug with a expanded single shaft that looks like a banana. Inserts in 5-way binding posts and offers a large contact area, which helps performance.

The number of cycles per second (Hertz) expressed as the difference between the lower and upper limits of a frequency band; also, the width of a band of frequencies. Practically speaking, bandwidth is the amount of data that can pass through a given connection per unit of time.

Distortion where screen image expands outward towards edges of the screen. Instead of being square, edges are curved outward like the edge of a barrel. Opposite of pincushion.

Sony’s competing home recording standard to VHS in the 1970s. It produced etter quality than VHS, but at a higher price.

The frame or face of a device, such as, a projector grill, or CRT or LCD display frame.

Type of amplifier or speaker connection.

The darkest part of a picture. This can vary between display devices and viewing environments. NTSC black is set at 7.5 IRE, which is very slightly gray. The white level divided by the black level gives a contrast ratio for a particular display device.

The period of time that an electron gun is turned off to reposition itself to paint the next part of the video onto the CRT screen.

Video distortion where color “bleeds” from an object onto other parts of the image which are not supposed to be that color.

Video distortion where an overly bright screen object causes phosphors near it to excite therefore enlarging the object and softening its edges.

Color of the laser used with Blu-ray high definition DVDs. Blue laser light has a shorter wavelength than red, which is why blue lasers can retrieve and store more data in a given physical area.

Bayonet Nut Connector or British Naval Connector. A high quality, locking cable plug which is used extensively in professional video.

Video distortion where lines which should be straight are curved. See barrel distortion and pincushioning.

Overall light output from an image. While a brightness control can make an image brighter, it is best used to better define the black level of the image.

A set of status bits or flags that are included with a television program that dictates whether or not the program can be recorded. It may also indicate other restrictions on the recorded content such as prohibiting the viewing of the content on an analog display.

Image distortion where phosphors are discolored at a differing rates in a display device such as a plasma, CRT or SED TV. Usually caused by displaying a static image for extended periods. Screensavers are used to prevent burn-in on CRTs and plasma displays use a periodic dynamic single pixel shift of the image to avoid burn-it.