OTHER TECH

Mystery Display

Q. Some time back, you wrote about a new high-definition TV technology being developed. It was described as being somewhat thinner than plasma or LCD and as having greater contrast and blacker blacks. Since that time, nothing further has been reported regarding this new technology. Has any progress been made? Gerald L. Miller Tipp City, OH

A. Al Griffin says: It sounds as though you're talking about SED (Surface-conducting electron-Emitter Display). Canon and Toshiba, the two companies that had formed a joint venture to bring this promising technology to market, recently announced an indefinite postponement of the U.S. SED introduction. There are two likely reasons. The first is a successful lawsuit brought against Canon by a Texas-based firm that had originally agreed to license a key component of SED technology to the company. The second is bruising competition in the flat-panel TV market - a situation that would have made things tough for any first-generation technology, especially one projected to have a higher cost than plasma or LCD.

Although it's true that SED TVs would have been thinner than plasma and LCD models, another emergent technology called OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) holds the promise of even skinnier sets. In fact, prototypes shown at recent trade shows by Sony and other companies were only a few millimeters deep.

Hissing Fit

Q. With my surround system, when the volume is low or it switches from one track to another, I hear a lot of hissing on all of my speakers. The only way I can get rid of it is to turn the volume all the way down. What am I doing wrong? Jeff Dorscher Glendale, AZ

A. Ian G. Masters says: I doubt that you're doing anything wrong, but you may have some equipment problems. All audio gear produces some thermal noise (hiss), and some conditions tend to emphasize it. Since you can get rid of it by turning down the volume, it's not caused by the power amplifier section of your receiver. The origin of the noise is probably the source components; if so, it should change slightly as you switch from one input to another. Problems with sources can be exaggerated if there's a level mismatch: Low output from a source means you have to crank the level on the receiver, which can make otherwise silent hiss noticeable. This is rare with today's components, however.

I suspect the culprit may be your speakers. They can't actually produce the noise you're hearing - but a rising response in the high frequencies, or resonances in that range, can boost hiss to an unpleasant level. You might be able to tame the problem with your receiver's treble control, which could leave you with noise-free but dull sound. If so, your only recourse might be to try to correct things with an equalizer, or simply replace your speakers.

HDMI Annoyance

Q. I recently started using my Pioneer Elite VSX-74TXVi receiver to do HDMI switching. When I'm watching a TV signal, I notice a significant "stutter" when switching between channels with different resolutions (480p, 1080i, etc.). By "stutter" I mean that the picture comes in immediately and then the audio or video signal drops in and out for a few seconds before the situation settles down and everything is okay. This can last for anywhere from 2 to 20 seconds or longer - something that, as a major channel-surfer, I find really annoying. I don't have this problem when I go direct-ly into the TV with the HDMI cable, so I assume this is caused by either the receiver or by a handshake between the cable box, the receiver, and the TV. Leonard T. Armstrong Riverton, NJ

A. Al Griffin says: Unfortunately, I can't help to resolve your problem, but I can tell you that you're not alone. HDMI "handshake" issues between various source components and switching devices such as A/V receivers have been a continuing headache for consumers and manufacturers alike since HDMI first appeared. And the least reliable HDMI source has proven to be cable boxes - take it from someone whose high-def cable box/DVR stubbornly refuses to shake hands with his current processor/preamp. The answer? Connect the HDMI output of your cable box directly to the TV, and then run a separate digital audio connection to the receiver. And although this advice isn't likely to help you with your cable box, in the future you can shop for products plastered with a Simplay HD logo, which verifies that they have undergone certification tests by HDMI licensor Silicon Image to guarantee interoperability with other HDMI devices.

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