Velocity-scan modulation improves the definition at picture edges, creating sharper images by slowing the CRT (cathode-ray tube) beam's horizontal scanning during demanding work--say, when rendering transitions from light to dark parts of an image--and speeding it up when scanning easily rendered sections, like broad dark areas. The CT-27SL13's motion-adaptive three-line comb filter further enhances resolution by removing blurred edges between colors and reducing dot crawl (tiny, moving dots of color along a sharp color separation in a vertical line, as in a depiction of a character's striped t-shirt).

The set's horizontal and vertical edge correction sharpens the edges of pictured objects, working in conjunction with the dynamic sharpness control and velocity modulated scan to produce clean, crisp images and reduce video noise. An onboard wideband video amplifier expands the video signal frequency response to more than 10 MHz, granting a horizontal resolution of 700 lines (maximum).

Through channel labeling, you can assign an ID of one to four characters (such as KIRO or WNET) to up to 30 different channels. This feature comes in handy when cable systems assign different channel numbers to familiar network stations. Channel banner captures information transmitted with each program and places it onscreen in a semi-transparent banner. This information includes TV station identification and the V-Chip rating for the current program.

The set gives you stereo audio (with five watts per channel) from broadcast programming via Multi-channel Television Sound (MTS), which permits broadcasters to encode stereo audio within the video portion of TV programming signals. SAP (second audio program, with dbx noise reduction) often offers an additional language track, and BBE High-Definition Sound improves speech intelligibility and restores the dynamic range of compressed musical passages.

A component-video input grants optimum connection with a compatible DVD player, while standard composite- and S-video inputs accommodate all DVD players. You can choose between two sets of rear AV inputs and a set of front AV inputs for extra convenience, as when hooking up a camcorder or gaming console. A rear audio (switchable fixed-/variable-level) output lets you hook the set up with an integrated amplifier or surround receiver. The set also features a trilingual onscreen display (English, Spanish, French), closed-caption display, V-Chip parental control, a sleep timer, auto-off, and a universal remote control.