What Is a Progressive Scan TV?
If you're looking for a home entertainment system, a TV is the place to start, but the variety of TV features can become overwhelming. You may find yourself wondering what a progressive scan TV is and how it differs from other types.
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Definition
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A progressive scan TV is one that can convert traditional interlaced content to progressive scan, non-interlaced content to reduce flickering and display a clearer picture. Most modern TVs, especially HDTVs, LCDs, and all computer monitors use progressive-scan technology.
In the traditional interlaced display, every odd line illuminates first, and then the even lines fill in. With progressive scan screens, the screen displays lines sequentially from top to bottom.
Pros
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The main advantage of a progressive scan TV is that it displays twice as much information as an interlaced-display TV. Progressive-scan TVs display a higher-quality picture that shows finer detail. Even if you are watching a lower-source video, such as from a VHS, most progressive scan TVs will automatically upgrade the video signal.
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Cons
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One disadvantage of progressive scan TVs is that they can be more expensive, since they are typically newer models. As of October 2010, comparable models of the same brand of progressive scan TV versus an interlaced TV list the progressive-scan model at around $200 more.
How to Identify
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If you're looking for a TV, you'll know if it is progressive-scan or interlaced based on the lowercase letter after the screen resolutions in the product specs. Any screen resolution followed by a lowercase "p" means the TV is progressive scan, while a number followed by a lowercase "i" means the TV is interlaced-display.
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References
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