You can use HDMI.

Yes, HDMI equipped receivers should be able to accept a PCM track over HDMI. Current receivers can't decode TrueHD (or DTS-MA) tracks directly but most players can (or soon will be able to through firmware updates) convert those lossless tracks to PCM to send over HDMI.

The other option is that the titles which have used PCM have simply been ones with better original audio, generally, than those which have used TrueHD. We've seen this play out with the compression codecs for PQ so it would be logical to think the same thing would happen with audio as well.

This debate has been raging in multiple threads on AVS. People compare different soundtracks to entirely different movies and make snap judgements about the audio codecs used. It makes no logical sense whatsoever.

Sounds like why I seldom visit AVS. I basically just stop by to see comments on individual TV shows' HD quality these days.

Yeah, the forum's quality has gone way downhill in recent months.

Is either HD version up for pre-order anywhere? I don't see it on Amazon or dvdpricesearch.

Me too. :up:

Looks like you can finally pre-order this on Amazon...nothing yet on DVD Empire.

Yeah, looks like the HD-DVD version is up on Amazon now. The Blu-ray is still showing up as "currently not available" though.

DVDEmpire has the Blu-Ray up for preorder now.

is it?? i just went to look and don't see it...

EDIT - nevermind, i found it. Glad they finally put this sucker up

Usually, they put new announcements in the Recent Additions section, but it looks like this latest batch of titles missed it.

The Departed BD

So is it going to be $28 on HD-DVD and BR? If so, I don't see why you guys wouldn't go with the HD-DVD version...Plus, with the HD-A1 you have the analog outs...Maybe it's just me, though.

It's not just you. If they're the same price there really isn't any reason for HD-DVD supporters to buy blue. Unless they want to complain about having no disc art. Honestly, though: the disc is either going to be in its case or in the player, right?

I like combo discs. I recognize the fact that I seem to be in the minority -- at least on these pages -- but I truly find them useful. I'm pretty careful about handling, too, so there's not much opportunity for scratching.

MSRP on the Blu-ray release is $34.98 and HD DVD is $39.98.

$24.00 for the Blu-ray and $28.00 for HD on Amazon... Pisses me off.

That's because the HDD is a combo disc.

The difference is less than four dollars after the 10% discount, so I'm not that upset. :shrug:

Yes, good point. I think that was what Josh Z was trying to get at in wanting to compare identical mixes on BD and HD DVD for The Departed.

Question about the combo disc...Why the hell arent BD discs combos as well? I know there's the issue with space, but I havent read any where why. Is it the space issue, or did the Blu-ray group tell WB not to?

It's because they're not part of the DVD Forum. They can't use anything DVD related.

Blu-ray for me. Easily.

Dude. It's $4. Relax.

Either way you're getting hosed on the price.

I preordered Reign of Fire and The Departed on Bluray from amazon.com....the 10% worked on Reign of Fire, but not The Departed...so, i emailed customer service.

$4. Four stinking lousy dollars is all it takes for a bunch of early adopters -- who've each shelled out hundreds, if not thousands, so far -- to flip? Sheesh.

exactly. all the whining over $4 is ridiculous...especially for a movie that is fantastic! Get over it folks...

There used to be technical reasons why this couldn't be done as well.

Blu-ray discs are physically different than DVDs. Where DVDs are made with two halves of a disc that are each 0.6 mm in width, a BD has a 1.1 mm piece and a 0.1 mm piece.

HD DVD on the other hand is virtually identical to DVD in physical structure, and I think the HD DVD/SD DVD combo format was part of the HD DVD specification from the beginning.

With Warner's new TotalHD disc though, it seems like they could probably solve this problem and create BD/SD DVD flippers if they chose to do so.

(A while back, JVC also reported that they had developed a BD/SD DVD combo format that was a not a flipper, but a triple layer disc with two SD DVD layers, and a single BD layer. I guess nothing ever came of that.)

Interesting... Didn't say anything about abandoning ship, but oh well. Apparently $4.00 is pocket change for people. My bad for expressing my opinion.

:up:

I apologize if you took offense. My point was that $4 IS pocket change -- at least compared to what people have already spent thus far in adopting one or both formats. As for whether or not someone is "jumping ship", I strongly feel that people who support HD-DVD should purchase HD-DVDs. ESPECIALLY when there's a same title BD.

:up:

Abandon ship? Im really getting sick of this war and finger pointing.

Im pretty much format neutral. Both formats have their good points and bad points. I think both are gonna survive for a while. I give first look to HD-DVD and default to it, but thats it.

So, im in it for ME. I dont want a combo disc and the BD was cheaper. Had it not contained the PCM track, I would have gone with the HD-DVD combo (like I did for Superman Returns).

I can put the extra $4 towards another BD or HD-DVD. Face it, some of us arent taking sides.

:up:

It's less about "taking sides" than it is about "support," as I see it.

HD DVD apologists -rolleyes-

Let's start calling names.

Because this board REALLY needs more of that.

-rolleyes- -rolleyes- -rolleyes- -rolleyes-

I disagree completely. I support HD-DVD, but I'm going to support the format with the better release. I do NOT support Combo discs or TotalHD, so if there is a title like the Departed, same feature, transfer and audio, and less $$ to boot, I will support that.

You should support RELEASES, not formats. You shouldn't buy feature-less BDs for $35 a piece. You shouldn't buy combo or totalhd discs for more money than the BD counterparts. Support the releases that you want to see more of, because the studios will follow the money.

I'll be the first to admit that I see this issue from a one-sided standpoint. I bought an A1 back in September and have been VERY happy with it ever since. I'd been following the two formats from their earliest stages and truly felt that the HD-DVD format just had more to offer, that they did so in a consistent manner and that they didn't have to cram down my throat how vastly superior they were.

Having said that, I don't mean to come across with a poor attitude, either, but I hope that my point is really considered. If you prefer the HD-DVD format, you need to decide what it's worth to you. I'm not going to tell you how you HAVE to spend your money, but look at what you've spent so far. Especially those of you who are dual-format supporters!

I am supporting releases. If i had both systems right now, I'd still go with HD DVD. The releases are (for all purposes) equal. $4 isn't really that big of a difference in price when you're talking about $23-28. Then it comes down to which format I prefer and which deserves the money. That would be HD DVD.

Say what you want about "not supporting a format/supporting a release" but that's all horseshit.

Every single purchase that's made in HD is supporting one format or the other. By not purchasing those BD releases, you're standing up to that format and denying them support. That's how this whole thing is run: $$$. And $$$ = support.