Zenith C32V37 32-Inch HDTV Integrated TV

A built-in digital cable tuner (QAM) receives unscrambled digital cable signals, while a dedicated DVI input grants an optimal (and copy-protected) pure digital connection with an external high-definition device such as a stand-alone receiver (not required). The set's advanced 8-VSB chipset technology offers better indoor reception of DTV broadcasts than earlier receivers and also enables reception of broadcast programming data.

A shadow mask is a thin sheet of perforated metal behind the screen that restricts electron flow, each hole in the sheet corresponding to a single pixel. An Invar mask uses an alloy that's especially resistant to the high temperatures generated by the electron beam, allowing in a brighter, clearer picture.

The C32V37 performs 3:2 pulldown detection, a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. Digital video mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.

Special 16:9/4:3 aspect-ratio correction lets you view feature-length movies in either their original widescreen format (16:9) or in regular TV format (4:3), with no loss of resolution--the set devotes all available lines to the letterboxed image, wasting none on the black bars above and below. Even more fun, the set's dual tuners let you view two channels at the same time, without the need for an extra external source such as a VCR. Split screen (unlike PIP, which has a smaller inset) shows two channels of equal size, side-by-side.

A 3D Y/C comb filter combines the adaptive digital processing of a three-line digital comb filter with 3-D motion detection. This eliminates hanging dots and color noise on stationary images, as well as reducing "dot crawl" and overall picture noise. Scan velocity modulation dynamically varies the scanning speed of the electron beam to create clear, well defined images for the sharpest picture possible. Finally, Zenith's Dynamic Focus aligns the red, green, and blue color beams in the center of the screen to ensure accurate side-to-side focus.

Inputs include the above-mentioned DVI digital in, three S-video/composite-video sources (including stereo audio for each), and two high-definition component-video inputs. A set of convenient front-panel inputs (with S-video) fosters easy hookups with a camcorder or gaming console, and a set of composite-video/stereo analog-audio outputs lets you route a signal to a VCR, DVR, or surround receiver.

And speaking of surround sound, the C32V37 offers that, too--in the form of an optical digital-audio output to route an immersive, 5.1-channel Dolby Digital surround signal to a compatible AV receiver and speaker system. If you're set up for good old two-channel stereo for the time being, you'll appreciate the set's SRS TruSurround processing, which simulates a surround effect from any two speakers.