How Home Theater and HDTV Work

$29.99 US 256 pp. ISBN 0789734451 Published November 2005 Que Michael Miller, Author Michael Troller, Illustrator

A full-color, illustrated adventure into the high-tech wonders inside the world of home theater and HDTV!

How Home Theater and HDTV Work is the first book to actually show you how your high-definition TV and home theater components work. See how different HDTV technologies produce crystal-clear images, and learn why having high-quality audio equipment is just as important as having a big screen.

With clear and simple explanations that say, "You, too, can understand this," and brilliant, full-color illustrations, How Home Theater and HDTV Work gives you detailed information on the hidden workings of home theater equipment and high-definition televisions. How Home Theater and HDTV Work is a four-color, highly visual explanation of all aspects of HDTV and home theater systems. This book covers a variety of topics that both interest and confuse consumers, including:

• Broadcast vs. cable vs. satellite television
• Standard-definition vs. high-definition TV
• Technical jargon like aspect ratios, anamorphic widescreen, and surround sound
• Dolby Pro Logic IIx vs. Dolby Digital vs. DTS vs. Dolby Digital EX vs. DTS-ES
• Rear projection vs. front projection vs. flat-screen vs. direct view televisions
• LCD vs. DLP vs. LCoS vs. CRT vs. plasma display technologies
• DVD and TiVo recorders
• Digital media servers and home theater PCs
• CD and DVD media -- including the next generation of HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc high-definition DVDs
• Remote control systems
• VCR technologies (yes, these still exist!)
• Digital camcorders
• The wide array of available audio/video connections and cables

Here's what you'll find in the book:

    I:    How Television Works
          1. How Broadcast Television Works
          2. How Cable Television Works
          3. How Satellite Television Works
    II:   How High-Definition Television Works
           4. How Digital Television Works
           5. How HDTV Works
           6. How Screen Aspect Ratios Work
    III:  How Video Displays Work
           7. How Direct-View Televisions Work
           8. How Rear Projection Televisions Work
           9. How Front Projection Televisions Work
          10. How Flat-Panel Televisions Work
          11. How to Choose a Video Display
    IV:   How Audio Works
          12. How Audio Equipment Works
          13. How Speakers Work
          14. How Surround Sound Works
    V:    How Audio/Video Sources Work
          15. How Videotape Recorders Work
          16. How CD and DVD Players Work
          17. How Digital Video Recorders Work
          18. How Digital Media Servers Work
    VI:  How Home Theater Systems Work
          19. How to Set Up a Home Theater System
          20. How Video Cables Work
          21. How Audio Cables Work
          22. How Remote Controls Work

How to Buy This Book

How Home Theater and HDTV Work is available at bookstores everywhere, or you can order the book online by clicking the button to the left.