Please confirm that I am buying the correct HD-DVD player

[tf1216]

Hi,

I am interested in getting an HD-DVD player. I have a Samsung HL-S6187W television and a Yamaha V661 receiver. I believe that I can not take advantage of HDMI 1.3 or 24fps with my current setup. I would like to have the capabilites of 7.1 some day. Does that mean the cheapest HD-DVD player for me is the Toshiba A35?

What do you guys think?

[PewterTA]

Basically you just need a HD-DVD player with 7.1 analog output and you'll still be able to use your Yamaha V661 since it doesn't decode True-HD and DTS-MA.

The A35 is only capable of 5.1 analog out and does not Decode DTS-MA (only the core)...so you'd be better off with Samsung dual player BD-P5000 (I think it is).

[tf1216]

I apologize to the admin for starting this thread in the wrong place.

PewterTA,

Thanks for the reply. When I was researching my tv and receiver many months ago, I did not dive deep into the different audio formats. i never understood all the different types and what most blu ray discs and other discs would be carrying.

Do you have a good site that will explain some of this to me? I have a PS3 which I use all the time for blu rays discs. I thought about purchasing the dual player from Samsung but I am not ready to spend that much cash.

[littlesaint]

You don't need analog connections with the v661. Any of the HD-DVD players can decode TrueHD and DD+ internally and send it as PCM to the v661 over HDMI. The only thing missing would be DTS-HD MA, but unless you're buying a lot of imports from Europe, you won't be missing anything. I have an XA2 and a v661, and I only use PCM over HDMI.

If you plan on buying a new AVR down the road and think you'll want to utilize HDMI 1.3, get the XA2 or A35, but the other players all handle TrueHD and DD+ just fine with HDMI 1.1 receivers.

7.1 is also very, very rare with the current HD releases and any rear channels are "processed" anyway. You'd be just as well using a 5.1 player and utilizing DPL IIx in the v661.

[Jack Gilvey]

You don't need analog connections with the v661. Any of the HD-DVD players can decode TrueHD and DD+ internally and send it as PCM to the v661 over HDMI. The only thing missing would be DTS-HD MA, but unless you're buying a lot of imports from Europe, you won't be missing anything. I have an XA2 and a v661, and I only use PCM over HDMI.

If you plan on buying a new AVR down the road and think you'll want to utilize HDMI 1.3, get the XA2 or A35, but the other players all handle TrueHD and DD+ just fine with HDMI 1.1 receivers.

7.1 is also very, very rare with the current HD releases and any rear channels are "processed" anyway. You'd be just as well using a 5.1 player and utilizing DPL IIx in the v661.

Bingo. The 661 should serve you well for quite some time, nice piece.

Still lots of confusion over player decoding, it seems.

[tf1216]

Thanks guys,

What confuses me about the different audio formats is how do I know which one the AVR is utilizing. Does each disc come with a particular format, thus if I hear sound, the AVR is utilizing the format on the disc?

Doesn't one's tv also have to have HDMI 1.3 capabilites along with the AVR to get the extra colors?

[littlesaint]

The audio track you select in the disc menu is the one played. The v661 will show MPCM because that is what it receives, but the player OSD will tell you the actual codec being decoded.

The extended color of HDMI 1.3 is a bit of a cart before the horse situation. They players support it and the displays support it, but there's no actual media using it. It's not part of the HD-DVD, Blu-ray, or HDTV specs. Also, AFAIK, no one is even recording anything digitally (or digitizing film) to support the extended color gamut.

[impala454]

Just make sure you get one of the players that plays 1080p native (XA2, A35, A30, A20). I have an XA2 along with that exact DLP you listed and it is amazing. You will not be disappointed!

[Azeke]

Just a quick thought, have you considered Blu-Ray as a purchase possibility?

Peace and blessings,

Azeke

[soundhound]

He has the PS3 Azeke.

[Azeke]

He has the PS3 Azeke.

My apologies then, thanks for the notice.

Peace and blessings,

Azeke

[tf1216]

I think i am going to get a Toshiba A35. It seems like the best deal to me.

[impala454]

Not to throw a wrench in the works, but it may not be a great idea to grab one given the latest news. Not saying HD-DVD is dead or anything, but it might be a good idea to wait and see what happens before investing into the top of the line model.

[Azeke]

Sounds good, depending on where you purchase this machine. I've also heard that when the new firmware upgrade is implemented that the machine may experience frame glitches, but I've read mostly positive reviews.

The HD wars continue on, however it seems that Blu-ray is winning the battle. Especially now since Warner has jumped onto the Blu-Ray ship, with Disney, Sony, Lions Gate Entertainment and 20th Century Fox, Universal Music Group, etc.

Doesn't this change make the ratio for movie providers supporting Blu-Ray something like 10:1? I think Sony learned it's lesson from the Beta/VHS war.

Anyway, I just want to ensure you are fully equipped with the facts before making your purchase. Good luck and please keep us posted.

Peace and blessings,

Azeke

[Charles]

Doesn't this change make the ratio for movie providers supporting Blu-Ray something like 10:1? I think Sony learned it's lesson from the Beta/VHS war.



Peace and blessings,

Azeke

Yep, Blu-Ray may have killed Hd-DVD with the Warner move, but I would think the ratio would be more like 70:30 with HD still having Universal and Paramount/Dream Works (for now).

[tf1216]

Thanks you guys. I have been reading about Warner's decision to go with Blu-ray. I also read that Paramount may not be far behind.

[Chris D]

Yeah, I don't know about Paramount. With the amount of money that HD-DVD paid them to go HD-DVD exclusive, they may be under contract for a while to stick with only HD-DVD. That may not be possible for them to go back to BD for a while.

[tf1216]

I read somewhere that someone that it was in Paramount's contract that if Warner went to Blu-ray, they could opt out with HD-DVD. I could be crazy though!

[Chris D]

Yeah, this was rumored, but apparently not the case. Today Paramount confirmed that they are staying with HD-DVD.

[maseline_98]

Basically you just need a HD-DVD player with 7.1 analog output and you'll still be able to use your Yamaha V661 since it doesn't decode True-HD and DTS-MA.

The A35 is only capable of 5.1 analog out and does not Decode DTS-MA (only the core)...so you'd be better off with Samsung dual player BD-P5000 (I think it is).

I was wondering if there were any other models that had analog outputs...I didn't know the sammy did....

[theMaximus]

Samsung BD-UP5000 has 7.1 analogue out. I think most blu-ray players and some HD DVD players have 5.1 analogue out.