S
S-VHS: High-quality version of VHS, capable of recording 400 lines of resolution. Requires an S-VHS VCR and special S-VHS tapes. See VHS and S-VHS ET.S-VHS ET: High-quality version of VHS, capable of recording 400 lines of resolution. Unlike S-VHS, S-VHS ET VCRs can record this high-quality signal on regular VHS tapes. See VHS, S-VHS.
S-Video: Analog video signal that separates chrominance (color) and luminance (black and white) information. This bypasses the comb filter and improves image quality vs. RF and composite signals. S-Video image quality is superior to RF and composite video but inferior component video,DVI or HDMI. S-Video cables and connections use a multipin press connector and matching female sockets. See Composite Video, Component Video, DVI, HDMI.
SACD: Super Audio CD. A high-resolution CD format introduced by Sony which still exists in a niche market. Offers better sound quality (and on some discs, multichannel surround) thanCDs, but SACDs do not play on an ordinary CD player. You need a player specifically designed to play SACDs, such as a universal player. See Universal Player.
Sampling Rate: The number of samples per second used in digital audio recordings, given in Hz. For example, CD audio uses a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz, or 44,100 times per second. This means each second of sound is broken up into 44,100 segments, and a specific sound is assigned to each segment. The higher the sampling rate, the higher the resolution. For example, DVD audio uses a 48 kHz sampling rate, higher resolution than CDs.
Satellite Dish: Antenna used to receive signals from orbiting satellites. See Satellite TV.
Satellite Radio: See Sirius Satellite Radio, XM Satellite Radio.
Satellite Speaker: Satellite is a term typically used to describe any very small speaker used in conjunction with a subwoofer as part of a left/right pair. Though the term is usually used with small speakers, any speaker used with a subwoofer can be considered a satellite.
Satellite TV: See C-Band, DirecTV, Dish Network.
Scaling: Resizing of a video image to a higher or lower resolution. This is commonly confused with deinterlacing. For example, converting an image from 720p to 1080i or 1080p involves scaling, as image resolution changes from 720 to 1080. Converting an image from 1080i to 1080p involves only deinterlacing. See Deinterlacing.
Scan Rate: The number of times a video image is scanned per second. The most common scan rates for HDTV are 24 Hz (used mostly with Blu-ray DIsc and HD DVD movies, corresponding to the 24 frames per second used by a motion picture camera), and 60 Hz (HDTV.) Newer LCD TVs utilize a 120 Hz scan rate to compensate for motion blur with fast moving objects. See Motion Blur.
Scene Modes: Fully automatic digital camera modes intended for specific shooting situations. For example, by selecting the “Landscape” scene mode, the camera will set a small aperture to achieve great depth of field, rendering as much of the landscape in focus as possible. In “Action” or “Sports” mode, the camera will set the highest possible shutter speed to freeze fast-moving objects. Other common scene modes are Portrait, Nighttime, and Candlelight, among many others, which vary by camera model and manufacturer. Scene modes are selected by icons located in the camera’s menus or on a dial. See Program Mode.
SD Picture Card: SD stands for Secure Digital. SD Picture Card is the most commonly used digital camera memory card format.
SDA: Stereo Dimensional Array. Polk Audio technology which creates a 3-D soundfield through the use of signal processing and special SDA drivers incorporated into the speaker. See Sonic Holography.
SECAM: Analog television system used in France. See NTSC, PAL.
Secure Digital: See SD Picture Card
Selectavision: See CED
Sensitivity: Loudspeaker specification given in decibels per watt at one meter, or dB/Wm. A speaker with a sensitivity of 91 dB/Wm will produce 91 decibels of sound one meter away from the speaker when powered by 1 watt, as measured in an anechoic chamber. For every 3 dB of volume increase, power must be doubled. So for the 91 dB/Wm speaker to produce 94 dB, 2 watts is required, for 97 dB, 4 watts. Choosing speakers with high sensitivity will drastically reduce the power requirements of your receiver or amplifier, but many of the best sounding, exotic speakers have low sensitivity. Sensitivity of 90 dB is often considered a median level; speakers below 90 dB are considered less sensitive than average, above 90 dB, more sensitive than average.
Separates: A combination of amplification and control components, such as an amplifier and a preamplifier, or an amplifier and an audio/video preamplifier. To be considered separates the amplifier must be a completely separate, standalone component that does nothing but drive the speakers; a system with an integrated amplifier is not considered separates. Separates provide the greatest performance and highest flexibility of all amplification and signal processing components and are preferred by those seeking the best quality. Cost is typically higher than a receiver, but separates systems tend to pay off as investments as they tend to be more future-proof. For example, to add new surround-soundcodecs like Dolby TrueHD or DTS -MA the owner can upgrade by simply replacing the processor and keeping the amplifier. If new speakers require more power or if additional channels are needed, the processor can be kept and the amplifier upgraded to a new model, or an add-on amplifier can be used to drive the extra channels. See Amplifier, Preamplifier, Preamplifier (A/V).
Shadow Mask: Heat-resistant metal grill located in the front of a CRT tube. The grill has tiny holes which selectively allow electrons from the tube’s red, green and blue electron guns to strike the corresponding red, green and blue phosphors in the front of the tube. These phosphors emit light when stimulated by the electrons, producing the image on the television screen. See Invar, Trinitron.
Shake Reduction: Term used by Pentax to describe their sensor-based image stabilizer. See Image Stabilizer, Image Stabilizer (Sensor-based.)
Shutter Priority: An automatic exposure mode where the user selects the shutter speed, and the camera automatically selects the correct aperture to match. By using shutter priority the user can freeze action by selecting a high shutter speed, or create a deliberately blurred image by selecting a slow shutter speed.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: Given in audio specifications as S/N, a measurement of noise versus the incoming signal. Low signal-to-noise ratios are very desirable. Signal-to-noise is relative. A S/N ratio of 85 dB would be outstanding (off the charts, actually) for a cassette deck, but very poor for a high-end audio amplifier, which usually have S/N rations above 100 dB.
Silver Sensor: High-performance, unpowered UHF set-top antenna used to receive HDTV programming. The Silver Sensor is extremely effective and one of the very best antennas of its type. Once known as the “Zenith Silver Sensor.” See Rabbit Ears, UHF.
Sirius Satellite Radio: Subscription satellite radio service sold throughout North America. Though Sirius has over 130 exclusive staions, it is best known for carrying the NFL and Howard Stern. See XM Satellite Radio.
“Slow” lens: Term used to describe a lens with a small maximum aperture, requiring a great deal of light for its use. “Slow” is a relative term. For example, on a 35mm camera a 50mm normal lens with a maximum aperture of f/4 would be considered extremely slow. On a 600mm telephoto lens, f/4 would be considered extremely fast. See “Fast” lens.
SLR: Single Lens Reflex. SLR cameras use a reflex mirror located in the camera body directly behind the camera lens. The reflex mirror sends the image from the lens through a prism to the viewfinder. This allows the photographer to focus and compose through the taking lens to see exactly what the lens is seeing. The mirror flips out of the optical path at the moment of exposure, allowing light to reach the film or digital imaging sensor.
Smartmedia Card: Defunct memory card format that used very thin, rectangular cards with exposed electrical contact area.
SMC: Super Multi Coat, Pentax’s proprietary lens multicoating technology. SMC lenses are held in high esteem for their beautiful color rendition.
Snake Oil: Products of dubious or no benefit, sold at high prices and very high profit margins. The audio (and increasingly video) market is filled with such products, such as expensive power cords, “CDdemagnetizers and clarifiers,” “cable burn-in machines,” as well as overpriced connecting cables and “power conditioners.”
Sonic Holography: Signal processing technology developed by Carver Corporation. Sonic Holography creates a more expansive, three dimensional stereosoundstage from two speakers by incorporating a differential signal into each speaker . It is analogous to an electronic version of Polk Audio’sSDA. See SDA.
Soundstage: The soundstage is the psycho-acoustical, physical area (created by stereo speakers) where the performance takes place. The soundstage can extend beyond the walls and outside the area defined by the speakers- in fact, the ability to project beyond their location is a hallmark of a speaker with an excellent stereo imaging. Ideally the soundstage should re-create the environment where the recording took place, such as a sports stadium or a small jazz room.
Speaker: See Loudspeaker
Spot Meter: A light meter that measures only a small spot, usually in the exact center of the frame. Spot meters are used by expert photographers to achieve very precise exposures. See Exposure and Light Meter.
Squawker: Name given to midrange driver in speakers with three or more drivers. Squawker is derived from “squawk,” as in a bird squawking and between tweet and woof in terms of its pitch. Squawker is a much less common term than woofer or tweeter, but is still used at times. See also Woofer and Tweeter.
SteadyShot: Sony’s brand name for their implementation of image stabilization. Steadyshot usually refers to a digital stabilization system. See Image Stabilzer, Image Stabilizer (Digital), Super Steadyshot.
Stereo: Sound reproduction using two channels of discrete information played through separate left and right loudspeakers, to create a three-dimensional effect with a sense of space. See Soundstage.
Stylus: The stylus is the actual “needle” that rides the record groove and extracts information. The stylus is attached to the cantilever, as part of aphono cartridge. See Cantilever and Phono Cartridge.
Subjectivist: An audiophile who believes that all audio components have specific sounds which can be easily discerned and described. Most subjectivists believe speaker wire and interconnects also have distinct sonic characteristics. See Golden-Eared Audiophile, Objectivist.
Subtractive Primary Colors: Yellow, Magenta and Cyan. An example of use of the subtractive primaries is found in inkjet ink or subtractive color printing in a darkroom. Each subtractive color has an opposite additive color: Yellow-Blue, Magenta-Green, Cyan-Red. See Additive Primary Colors.
Subwoofer: Speaker devoted to reproducing very low-frequency sounds. Subwoofers can be standalone speakers or incorporated into a main speaker.
Super SteadyShot: A Sony brand name for their implementation of image stabilization. Initially Super SteadyShot was used to designate optical image stabilization, but the term is now used to describe versions of their digital stabilization, as well. See Image Stabilzer, Image Stabilizer (Digital), Image Stabilizer (Optical), Steadyshot.
Supersonic Wave Filter: Proprietarty dust reduction system found only on Olympus digital SLR cameras. The Supersonic Wave Filter is activated whenever the camera is turned on and uses a supersonic vibration to shake dust from the sensor. By removing dust, dark dust spots in the final image are avoided. The Supersonic WaveFIlter is the very effective- the best dust reduction/removal system currently on the market.
Sweet Spot: The best listening spot in the room, where stereo imaging and sound quality are optimum. With certain speakers such as planar speakers and speakers that have very narrow sound radiation, the sweet spot can be so small that it can onlyaccommodate a single listener.
SXRD: Silicon X-Tal Reflective Display. Sony’s version and brand name for its LCoS technology. See LCoS.
