Blue-Ray or HD DVD

[darthviper107]

Some HD players can't play regular DVD's though. It's because they have to use a different laser type for the Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs so if they want to support both regular DVD and an HD format they have to have both laser types and so there are some players that don't do both.

 

[RoboDad]

Some HD players can't play regular DVD's though. It's because they have to use a different laser type for the Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs so if they want to support both regular DVD and an HD format they have to have both laser types and so there are some players that don't do both.

Aside from a few PC drives, name one single standalone player from either format that can't play standard DVDs.

 

[darthviper107]

I can't think of any, but I know it's an issue so if you're getting an older model you should probably just check to make sure so that you don't get confused.

 

[bagelsncheesey]

I can't think of any, but I know it's an issue so if you're getting an older model you should probably just check to make sure so that you don't get confused.

Sorry, but every standalone HD device can read DVD's.

 

[Reinhardt]

Nah, pretty sure they've always been backwards compatible. That would be like committing suicide if they weren't.

Also, pretty much any blu-ray player will enhance/upscale your DVD's for you, as long as you're using and HDMI connection. Hope this helps...

hey bagels... i'm thinking of getting a HD player, but don't have HDMI on my tv, just component. it's an older tv, and can only do 1080i at the moment, but there is a relatively cheap HD player that goes to 1080i. will i be able to upscale my dvds with component?

if not, how can i convert an HDMI signal to a component?

 

[bagelsncheesey]

hey bagels... i'm thinking of getting a HD player, but don't have HDMI on my tv, just component. it's an older tv, and can only do 1080i at the moment, but there is a relatively cheap HD player that goes to 1080i. will i be able to upscale my dvds with component?

if not, how can i convert an HDMI signal to a component?

whats up man. as far as i know, you can only upconvert through HDMI.

as far as converting an HDMI signal, you really can't because HDMI is a true digital signal. Basically, picture a stream of the best digital you can get. that's what HDMI gives you, a clean pure digital signal.

the best you can go with as far as your tv is concerned is watching something via component cable in 1080i. but make sure you get a player that does 1080i conversion through a component cable, or you will be watching it in 480p at best.

hope this helps.

 

[Shadow King]

I should peak in this thread more often as I it appears I have been quite mislead on some of the information.

In the end I just want a decent, relatively affordable Blu-Ray player.

 

[Reinhardt]

thanks bro! this helps a lot. so, there are some players that will ONLY do 1080i through HDMI??

I'm looking at the toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player

https://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-HD-A...8?ie=UTF8&s=audio-video&qid=1186589230&sr=1-1

 

[bagelsncheesey]

thanks bro! this helps a lot. so, there are some players that will ONLY do 1080i through HDMI??

I'm looking at the toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player

https://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-HD-A...8?ie=UTF8&s=audio-video&qid=1186589230&sr=1-1

As long as it's an HD player (be it Blu-ray or HD DVD) it will only upconvert through HDMI. Regardless, you should be able to view HD media in 1080i as long as it's an HD player, not one of those DVD upconverter players which will upconvert your standard DVDs (also only through an HDMI).

I'll spec out the Toshiba for ya.

 

[bagelsncheesey]

Reinhardt:

Spec'd out the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player, and as long as you have an HDTV (or HD Ready) TV with component inputs that are capable of 1080i, you will be able to hook this up to it via component cable and view your HD DVD's in 1080i. You will not be able to upscale your standard dvds though.

HERE is a good link for you to check out.

 

[tomandshell]

If you have the 360 drive, it will output 1080p via component or the VGA cable (that's what I use). I don't have the Elite yet with HDMI, but I am getting 1080p and upscaled standard DVDs. But I do believe that is an exception and other stand alone players will not do that.

 

[bagelsncheesey]

If you have the 360 drive, it will output 1080p via component or the VGA cable (that's what I use). I don't have the Elite yet with HDMI, but I am getting 1080p and upscaled standard DVDs. But I do believe that is an exception and other stand alone players will not do that.

You are correct!

 

[tomandshell]

However, I would still recommend a stand alone player for the audio options. The 360 will not output TrueHD, etc.

 

[Reinhardt]

thank you all!!

yes, looks like i'm going to get the standalone player.

as for audio, trueHD can only be played if your receiver as an HDMI output? or simply an optical?

 

[tomandshell]

thank you all!!

yes, looks like i'm going to get the standalone player.

as for audio, trueHD can only be played if your receiver as an HDMI output? or simply an optical?

Well, I have the HD-A1 player, and it has a built in decoder with analog output, so I can get DolbyTrueHD with my existing sound system. If the player can decode it and has six channel output then you don't need HDMI. However, the HD-A1 doesnt do 1080p video. But if you get a 1080p player with six channel audio output, then you should be set without needing a new receiver.

 

[Reinhardt]

Well, I have the HD-A1 player, and it has a built in decoder with analog output, so I can get DolbyTrueHD with my existing sound system. If the player can decode it and has six channel output then you don't need HDMI. However, the HD-A1 doesnt do 1080p video. But if you get a 1080p player with six channel audio output, then you should be set without needing a new receiver.

thanks bro. my tv only does 1080i, so that's why i went with this player. and my receiver is a 6.1 system. i just ordered it!! woohoo!

i blame all of you.

 

[darthviper107]

However, I would still recommend a stand alone player for the audio options. The 360 will not output TrueHD, etc.

Can't it do the TrueHD using the optical audio out?

 

[bagelsncheesey]

thanks bro. my tv only does 1080i, so that's why i went with this player. and my receiver is a 6.1 system. i just ordered it!! woohoo!

i blame all of you.

Congrats man!!!!! Welcome to the world of HD. You'll love it

 

[RoboDad]

Can't it do the TrueHD using the optical audio out?

No, unfortunately it can't. Because of the way it was implemented, the optical audio connector does not have the bandwidth to carry the HD audio codecs, nor does it have the bandwidth to carry more than two channels of uncompressed sound.

What you get via the optical connector when you select a TrueHD or DTS-HD track in a movie is the "core" signal, meaning the regular Dolby Digital or DTS track, extracted from the HD signal. On some players, they do take the time to actually process the full HD signal and convert it to DTS at its maximum bit rate, which does sound very, very nice (the HD-A1 does this), but it's still not the full HD track.

To take full advantage of any of the HD audio options, you will need HDMI. And specifically, if you want to pass the HD audio codecs directly to your receiver for decoding and processing, you will need a receiver with full HDMI 1.3 support.

 

[Agent23]

Robo, you almost sound like you know what your talking about.

Just kidding. Good stuff man. I appreciate the info myself. I am a Hi-Def and a Blu-Ray novice. But, you really know the ropes.