I refer to the letter Plasma and LCD TV buyers beware!

I totally agree with the writer that buyers should be aware of technologies involving High Definition Televisions (HDTVs or rather, ‘tricks’ in stores. However, I wish to point out some mistakes.

The writer wrote: ‘The sharp and crystal clear images you saw in store which enticed you to buy the plasma or LCD TV in the first place was actually fed with a DVD source.

DVD being digital in format would feed a digital content to the flat-panel TV which is also a digital device, thus producing super sharp images.’

Generally, there are two types of DVD players. A traditional DVD player will output an analogue source through component or RCA video of up to 420p (420 horizontal lines.

Secondly, an upscale DVD player can output up to 1080p through both digital (HDMI/ DVI and analogue sources (component video, RCA video. A component video is not digital but however, it can support high definition content.

Contrary to what the writer said, most of the beautiful sharp images you see in the stores are actually being fed through hard disk video players or Blu-Ray players outputting high definition content source through HDMI (digital or component video (analogue.

The writer further wrote: ‘But Astro, being analogue, transmits the picture in a 4:3 format, thus resulting in images elongated. You will see images of human beings as being thin and tall, sort of stretched unnaturally.’

Astro receives its signal digitally, but will output through S-video (other than RCA with the quality almost matching a traditional DVD player.

Astro transmits video in a 4:3 format which is supported by virtually all HDTVs. It’s just a matter of setting the correct picture size.

HDTVs can display Astro’s transmission beautifully with the correct distance, depending on the size of the HDTV. It also depends on the model of the HDTV as most manufactures use their own picture processing engine.

Do not ‘test’ the picture quality by sitting only one foot away. You will never get the contrast and colours as good as a standard definition CRT TV.

To improve the picture quality of your Astro programme, get a proper shielded S-video cable.