Progressive Scan

Progressive scan equipment creates a video signal with double the number of scan lines of a conventional interlaced video signal resulting in a noticeably sharper image. With an interlaced signal an image is constructed in two passes (displaying the odd lines first and then the even lines), taking 1/30th of a second, while with progressive scan an image is constructed in a single pass taking 1/60th of a second.

Progressive scan, therefore, results in greater sharpness and image stability with dramatically diminished motion artifacts of an interlaced signal.

The Arcam DiVA DV88 comes in both progressive scan and standard versions.

• Here is Panasonic's explanation on progressive scan.