I can't believe I took 2 years off and now I'm way behind in regards to new DVD tech :)

I know progressive scan is a general term for digital video (HDTV) but current televisions won't benefit, unless you purchase a HDTV? And what are the following features, I've checked several manufacturer's websites and haven't found a suitable answer:

- 12 bit 54 MHz progressive scan video D/A converter

- 96Khz,24 bit linear PCM decoding <- that's the audio sampling rate?

- DVD-Audio <- huh?

And one last tech question:

- Any difference between Coaxial and optical digital out for the sound my receiver gets?

Progressive scan means that the entire screen is drawn (top to bottom, all lines at once) unlike a standard "interlaced" TV, which draws half the lines, then draws the other half (e.g., odds, then evens). Interlacing causes a few picture problems that prog-scan eliminates. (BTW, HDTV and prog-scan are not interchangeable: HDTV sets have progressive scan, but progressive scan sets are not necessarily HDTV.) At any rate, normal TVs are incapable of drawing every line, so they cannot benefit from a prog-scan DVD player.

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- DVD-Audio <- huh?

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This is a new audio format (like "CD") that has a higher audio resolution. DVD-Audio discs can only be played in DVD-Audio players.

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Any difference between Coaxial and optical digital out for the sound my receiver gets?

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For all intents and purposes: no. Optical seems to be more widespread, but many people prefer coaxial because the cable is cheaper and more sturdy. Both are digital connections that tranfer identical digital signals.

Progressive scan put simply sends the picture as a full frame at 1/60th a second, giving the picture a more filmlike quality(more sharp and less jitter). A normal TV signal is interlaced, meaning it scans all the even lines at 1/30th a second and then all the even lines at 1/30th a second to build the picture. It is not relegated to the world of HDTV however. It can be used on any display that will except a progressive input, which, at this point is 480p.

DVD-Audio is a new audio format akin to SACD. DVD-Audio has 2 formats. The first is the 2 channel format which has audio at 192Khz/24 bit rate, so very high quality. Most DVD-Audio is in the form of 5.1 surround at 96kh/24 bit rate, also very high quality. Your DVD player must be able to decode DVD-Audio and your receiver must have a set of 5.1 analog inputs in order to use utilize DVD-Audio as it is intended. There may be receivers in the future that will decode DVD-Audio but I don't know of any now. Also another thing about DVD-Audio that most people don't understand is that it sends a full range signal to the 5 surround speakers. So if you truly want to experience DVD-Audio, again the way it is intended, then you would want full range speakers all the way around. You will not get the same effect with a small speaker package or with a HT in a box.

As far as optical and coaxial is concerned it is a matter of preference on your part. They both transmit the same digital signal it is just 2 seperate forms of media, glass and copper. Some people claim you get a marginal better sound from a coaxial cable, I say they are full of crap and would put them to the Pepsi challenge any day.