HD DVD and Blu-ray FAQ - Page 3

Suprmallet · 06-10-06, 10:56 PM

Would iLink (essentially a firewire cable) work? And if I hooked it up by HDMI, I presume I would hook it directly to the receiver, and then from the receiver to the TV, right?

mbs · 06-11-06, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suprmallet

Would iLink (essentially a firewire cable) work? And if I hooked it up by HDMI, I presume I would hook it directly to the receiver, and then from the receiver to the TV, right?

I would guess firewire would have the bandwidth, but I am not certain it would be enabled to transmit the HD-audio on any player (but who knows).

Yeah, you'd route the HDMI through your receiver. However, it could still be months before HDMI 1.3 is approved. Maybe (hopefully) by the end of the year we'll see some HDMI 1.3 devices...

Suprmallet · 06-11-06, 12:11 AM

Oh, I wasn't expecting to see HDMI 1.3 receivers yet. Hopefully they're far enough off that I'll be able to have enough money to buy one when they do come out.

I'm guessing that the Sony player would use the iLink, since they invented it, and Pioneer might use it, since their current high-end DVD/SACD players do. But at the moment that's just conjecture on my part.

pinata242 · 06-11-06, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suprmallet

Will HD-DVD/BD players upconvert DVDs?

I'd like to know this as well. Just joined the HD era last night with BB's $1500 Westinghouse 42" LCD monitor. Wasn't even in the market, but I couldn't pass that one up since it is HDCP-compliant and accepts the 1080p input (is that redundant?).

Anyway, thinking of getting an upconverting DVD player, but wondering if my money might be better spent towards an HD-DVD player. Thoughts?

Josh Z · 06-11-06, 03:49 PM

The HD-DVD players will upconvert standard DVDs over HDMI but not component. I expect likewise from Blu-Ray players.

pinata242 · 06-11-06, 04:00 PM

How's the upconversion of this first batch vs a cheaper, DVD version?

mbs · 06-11-06, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinata242

How's the upconversion of this first batch vs a cheaper, DVD version?

According to other reports in this folder (there is at least one thread dedicated to it), people say it (the Toshiba HD-DVDp) upconverts better than the well-regarded Oppo 971 ($200).

I have an Oppo and I love it. But if the Toshiba does a better job, and HD-DVD... well, if I had to re-do that purchase, I'd easily go with the HD-DVDp (at $300 more).

pinata242 · 06-11-06, 05:35 PM

Thanks, mbs. I saw that mentioned as well, probably by you. Just noticed Suprmallet wasn't specifically answered and thought I'd try here as well. Looks like a no-brainer that my next player purchase will be one of these.

Suprmallet · 06-17-06, 09:32 PM

Are the current crop of HD-DVD discs 1080p? I know the Toshiba only offers 1080i, but it would be nice to know that down the line with the right player, the discs could be shown at 1080p.

Adam Tyner · 06-17-06, 09:50 PM

Yes, all of the HD DVDs (from Warner and Universal, anyway) are at 1080p, although three Warner titles -- The Perfect Storm, Full Metal Jacket, and The Fugitive were mastered from older 1080i transfers, and the HD DVDs weren't encoded quite right.

Suprmallet · 06-17-06, 09:58 PM

Hmm. Now I really am strongly considering picking up the Toshiba. Damn these HD devices!

digitalfreaknyc · 06-17-06, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suprmallet

Hmm. Now I really am strongly considering picking up the Toshiba. Damn these HD devices!

There's also the possibility that 1080p will be possible on current players with a firmware upgrade. If you look at the face of the players, there is a 1080p light that has yet to light up.

Josh Z · 06-18-06, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suprmallet

Are the current crop of HD-DVD discs 1080p? I know the Toshiba only offers 1080i, but it would be nice to know that down the line with the right player, the discs could be shown at 1080p.

Gee, if only there were reviews that had information like this...

Suprmallet · 06-18-06, 03:48 PM

Sorry, Josh, I generally don't read DVDTalk reviews. C'est la vie. Besides, this is an FAQ thread. It's not as if I can't post questions about HD formats in this thread.

Suprmallet · 06-24-06, 01:54 AM

I want to take back what I said. Since that post, I've actually taken a look at quite a few of the DVDTalk HD-DVD reviews. Didn't want to come off as rude.

The Bus · 07-23-06, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Z

The HD-DVD players will upconvert standard DVDs over HDMI but not component.

Well that blows. So it won't show 1080i over component?

I guess I'm not buying an HD-DVD player after all.

Josh Z · 07-23-06, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bus

Well that blows. So it won't show 1080i over component?

I guess I'm not buying an HD-DVD player after all.

You can get 1080i from HD DVDs from Component, but it won't upconvert regular DVDs over Component.

The Bus · 07-23-06, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Z

You can't get 1080i from HD DVDs from Component, but it won't upconvert regular DVDs over Component.

That was the reason I was considering buying an HD-DVD player. Now I'll wait until I have a new TV or Toshiba upgrades their firmware. Too bad.

flashburn · 07-23-06, 12:18 PM

He meant that you CAN get 1080i from HD DVDs over component, but not SD DVDs.

Qui Gon Jim · 07-23-06, 12:41 PM

I don't believe a firmware upgrade will fix it either.

Josh Z · 07-23-06, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashburn

He meant that you CAN get 1080i from HD DVDs over component, but not SD DVDs.

Damn typo! I've edited my last post.

digitalfreaknyc · 07-23-06, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Z

Damn typo! I've edited my last post.

Doesn't matter. He's looking for something to upconvert.

dtcarson · 08-31-06, 03:12 PM

Is this correct:
The current HDDVD players will, as of now, transmit HD signals [1080i] via component cables or HDMI, correct? However, that analog hole could be plugged at any time by studio/release, though there are no current plans to do so.
The HDDVD players do convert SDVD to 1080i reasonably well, but only over HDMI; so if you only have component, you're out of luck. And if your tv is older, and you have DVI, you need to get an HDMI-DVI cable [which means you'd only be sending audio to the tv with that cable], and hope your DVI is compatible with the HDMI/DVI thing.
Is that correct? I know I have asked this before, but I'm dabbling again and this is confusing.

My TV is 1080i and has DVI, but it says "Because DVI is such new technology, the
electronics industry is still working toward a decision on one standard. Philips testing has determined that compatibility issues exist with respect to a limited number of high-definition receivers when they are connected to the DVI input on this television."
"This television is designed to be compatible with high-definition signal standards 1080i
and 480p as specified by the Electronic Industries Association standard EIA770.3."
Assuming my first paragraph is correct, are the HDDVD players compatible with that standard, or does that even mean anything?

Also, I'm seeing some people talking about analog audio. I'm currently using optical audio from my dvd player. My receiver does have "The FRONT, SURROUND, CENTER, and SUBWOOFER jacks can be used to connect a component with an analog multichannel audio output, such as a DVD player with a 5.1-channel analog output." Is this what they are talking about? And is it better than optical audio?

lizard · 08-31-06, 04:00 PM

^Your DVI connection on the TV needs to be HDCP compliant (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) to work with HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface). An HDMI/DVI cable will transfer the video signal to a DVI/HDCP HDTV (I'm not sure about audio signals because I send audio to my HT receiver). I do this and it works fine.

If your manual doesn't say specifically that your display is "HDCP compliant" you will need to talk to the manufacturer to see if it is (early DVI HDTVs were not HDCP compliant because the standard hadn't been implemented yet). If it is not, your DVI port won't work with the HD DVD player HDMI output and you will be left with using the component inputs on your TV as the next best option.

dtcarson · 08-31-06, 04:28 PM

thanks....I guess this means I'm ok in that regard?
From the manual: "HD INPUT-AV 5—use to connect digital equipment with DVI (digital video interface) 1080i or 480p output. DVI is a specific digital input allowing
encrypted transmission of uncompressed HD content. DVI includes
HDCP (high-bandwidth digital content protection)"

i just called the service number twice...I don't think the people knew what I meant when I said "DVI" and "HDCP", so that's not very reassuring...
He did finally say 'you would need HDMI to DVI,' and said it would work, but second [and third] opinions are nice.

I'm reading a very long thread on another forum, and someone said that when the video is being output via HDMI, the component video output turns off. Is that the same for audio? In my case I would need audio separate from the HDMI, either via optical or analog.

06-10-06, 10:56 PM	#51
Suprmallet Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: USS Enterprise Posts: 21,741	Would iLink (essentially a firewire cable) work? And if I hooked it up by HDMI, I presume I would hook it directly to the receiver, and then from the receiver to the TV, right? __________________ Living Dead: So what you're saying is... no one died in the middle of your store when you told them they couldn't have a $10 plasma TV? I find that a little hard to swallow.

06-11-06, 12:11 AM	#53
Suprmallet Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: USS Enterprise Posts: 21,741	Oh, I wasn't expecting to see HDMI 1.3 receivers yet. Hopefully they're far enough off that I'll be able to have enough money to buy one when they do come out. I'm guessing that the Sony player would use the iLink, since they invented it, and Pioneer might use it, since their current high-end DVD/SACD players do. But at the moment that's just conjecture on my part. __________________ Living Dead: So what you're saying is... no one died in the middle of your store when you told them they couldn't have a $10 plasma TV? I find that a little hard to swallow.

06-11-06, 03:49 PM	#55
Josh Z DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boston Posts: 8,922	The HD-DVD players will upconvert standard DVDs over HDMI but not component. I expect likewise from Blu-Ray players. __________________ Joshua Zyber Critic, High-Def Digest Contributor, Home Theater Magazine Curator, Laserdisc Forever \| Cinema Zyberdiso My opinions are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of my employers.

06-11-06, 04:00 PM	#56
pinata242 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Owasso, OK Posts: 16,751	How's the upconversion of this first batch vs a cheaper, DVD version? __________________ XBL: pinata360 Wii/DS: Click for codes! PSN: pinata242

06-11-06, 05:35 PM	#58
pinata242 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Owasso, OK Posts: 16,751	Thanks, mbs. I saw that mentioned as well, probably by you. Just noticed Suprmallet wasn't specifically answered and thought I'd try here as well. Looks like a no-brainer that my next player purchase will be one of these. __________________ XBL: pinata360 Wii/DS: Click for codes! PSN: pinata242

06-17-06, 09:32 PM	#59
Suprmallet Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: USS Enterprise Posts: 21,741	Are the current crop of HD-DVD discs 1080p? I know the Toshiba only offers 1080i, but it would be nice to know that down the line with the right player, the discs could be shown at 1080p. __________________ Living Dead: So what you're saying is... no one died in the middle of your store when you told them they couldn't have a $10 plasma TV? I find that a little hard to swallow.

06-17-06, 09:50 PM	#60
Adam Tyner DVD Talk Reviewer/ Moderator Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Greenville, South Cackalack Posts: 12,995	Yes, all of the HD DVDs (from Warner and Universal, anyway) are at 1080p, although three Warner titles -- The Perfect Storm, Full Metal Jacket, and The Fugitive were mastered from older 1080i transfers, and the HD DVDs weren't encoded quite right. __________________ "When you're in your twenties, you wonder what everyone's thinking of you. When you're in your thirties, you don't care what people think of you. And when you reach your forties, you find out no one was ever thinking of you in the first place." -Patton Oswalt

06-17-06, 09:58 PM	#61
Suprmallet Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: USS Enterprise Posts: 21,741	Hmm. Now I really am strongly considering picking up the Toshiba. Damn these HD devices! __________________ Living Dead: So what you're saying is... no one died in the middle of your store when you told them they couldn't have a $10 plasma TV? I find that a little hard to swallow.

06-18-06, 03:48 PM	#64
Suprmallet Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: USS Enterprise Posts: 21,741	Sorry, Josh, I generally don't read DVDTalk reviews. C'est la vie. Besides, this is an FAQ thread. It's not as if I can't post questions about HD formats in this thread. __________________ Living Dead: So what you're saying is... no one died in the middle of your store when you told them they couldn't have a $10 plasma TV? I find that a little hard to swallow.

06-24-06, 01:54 AM	#65
Suprmallet Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: USS Enterprise Posts: 21,741	I want to take back what I said. Since that post, I've actually taken a look at quite a few of the DVDTalk HD-DVD reviews. Didn't want to come off as rude. __________________ Living Dead: So what you're saying is... no one died in the middle of your store when you told them they couldn't have a $10 plasma TV? I find that a little hard to swallow.

07-23-06, 12:18 PM	#69
flashburn DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Deltona, FL Posts: 5,390	He meant that you CAN get 1080i from HD DVDs over component, but not SD DVDs. __________________ CHOO CHOO! Xbox Live Gamertag: FlasHBurN2012 Wii Friend Code: 4299 0825 5929 9227 My Ever Growing HD DVD, Blu-ray, and DVD Collection

07-23-06, 12:41 PM	#70
Qui Gon Jim DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 3,870	I don't believe a firmware upgrade will fix it either. __________________ "There's only one Return, and it ain't of the King, it's of the Jedi."

08-31-06, 03:12 PM	#73
dtcarson DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Triangle, NC, USA Posts: 7,309	Is this correct: The current HDDVD players will, as of now, transmit HD signals [1080i] via component cables or HDMI, correct? However, that analog hole could be plugged at any time by studio/release, though there are no current plans to do so. The HDDVD players do convert SDVD to 1080i reasonably well, but only over HDMI; so if you only have component, you're out of luck. And if your tv is older, and you have DVI, you need to get an HDMI-DVI cable [which means you'd only be sending audio to the tv with that cable], and hope your DVI is compatible with the HDMI/DVI thing. Is that correct? I know I have asked this before, but I'm dabbling again and this is confusing. My TV is 1080i and has DVI, but it says "Because DVI is such new technology, the electronics industry is still working toward a decision on one standard. Philips testing has determined that compatibility issues exist with respect to a limited number of high-definition receivers when they are connected to the DVI input on this television." "This television is designed to be compatible with high-definition signal standards 1080i and 480p as specified by the Electronic Industries Association standard EIA770.3." Assuming my first paragraph is correct, are the HDDVD players compatible with that standard, or does that even mean anything? Also, I'm seeing some people talking about analog audio. I'm currently using optical audio from my dvd player. My receiver does have "The FRONT, SURROUND, CENTER, and SUBWOOFER jacks can be used to connect a component with an analog multichannel audio output, such as a DVD player with a 5.1-channel analog output." Is this what they are talking about? And is it better than optical audio? __________________ Books I've read this year Books I've read last year Books I've read 2007 My dvds 360 Gamertag: dtcarson I don't blog, but my 360 does. Last edited by dtcarson; 08-31-06 at 03:41 PM.

08-31-06, 04:00 PM	#74
lizard DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: May 2000 Location: the Western Slope, Colorado Posts: 5,840	^Your DVI connection on the TV needs to be HDCP compliant (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) to work with HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface). An HDMI/DVI cable will transfer the video signal to a DVI/HDCP HDTV (I'm not sure about audio signals because I send audio to my HT receiver). I do this and it works fine. If your manual doesn't say specifically that your display is "HDCP compliant" you will need to talk to the manufacturer to see if it is (early DVI HDTVs were not HDCP compliant because the standard hadn't been implemented yet). If it is not, your DVI port won't work with the HD DVD player HDMI output and you will be left with using the component inputs on your TV as the next best option.

08-31-06, 04:28 PM	#75
dtcarson DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Triangle, NC, USA Posts: 7,309	thanks....I guess this means I'm ok in that regard? From the manual: "HD INPUT-AV 5—use to connect digital equipment with DVI (digital video interface) 1080i or 480p output. DVI is a specific digital input allowing encrypted transmission of uncompressed HD content. DVI includes HDCP (high-bandwidth digital content protection)" i just called the service number twice...I don't think the people knew what I meant when I said "DVI" and "HDCP", so that's not very reassuring... He did finally say 'you would need HDMI to DVI,' and said it would work, but second [and third] opinions are nice. I'm reading a very long thread on another forum, and someone said that when the video is being output via HDMI, the component video output turns off. Is that the same for audio? In my case I would need audio separate from the HDMI, either via optical or analog. __________________ Books I've read this year Books I've read last year Books I've read 2007 My dvds 360 Gamertag: dtcarson I don't blog, but my 360 does.