The Official High-Definition TV thread - Page 18

Chandler Mike · July 6th, 2006, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArizonaSportsFan

I will most likely end up getting one to bridge the gap to HDDVD and/or BluRay (someone please win already!). The upconverters normally use HDMI (at least the ones that I have seen) output to support the 720p+, so I will have to run HDMI from the player to the TV with optical audio back out of the TV to the receiver (no HDMI on my receiver). Hopefully that will sync okay.

I have an upconverting DVD player...the second one I've purchased....first one broke, this one has been acting funny.

But it does have nice features for widescreen, upconverting, and it uses HDMI...

ArizonaSportsFan · July 6th, 2006, 09:40 PM

I am a current DishNetwork SD customer and I went ahead and ordered the HD package from DishNetwork this evening. Besides the $99 (after rebates) for the dual-tuner HD DVR receiver (one HD output, one SD output (lame!)), it is going to cost me $104 bucks per month, since I also have a dual-tuner SD DVR receiver as well. They get you with the second-receiver fee ($5), the DVR service fees ($5.95 X 2), and I also get to pay $5.00 for local channels, not to mention $5.99 for the multi-sport (out of region) package. And since the receivers only have one HD output, they make sure that you will be buying/leasing new receivers for each HDTV! Cha-ching! But hey, at least I will have the Kung Fu HD channel (no lie). Wonder what will be on it. Anyone have it?

ArizonaSportsFan · July 6th, 2006, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chandler Mike

I have an upconverting DVD player...the second one I've purchased....first one broke, this one has been acting funny.

But it does have nice features for widescreen, upconverting, and it uses HDMI...

Any audio/video syncing problems - when it is not acting funny? And what DVD player do you have? If you don't recommend the model you own, what would you recommend? Also, can you recommend a DVD recorder that is a solid player as well?

dreamcastrocks · July 7th, 2006, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArizonaSportsFan

I will most likely end up getting one to bridge the gap to HDDVD and/or BluRay (someone please win already!). The upconverters normally use HDMI (at least the ones that I have seen) output to support the 720p+, so I will have to run HDMI from the player to the TV with optical audio back out of the TV to the receiver (no HDMI on my receiver). Hopefully that will sync okay.

Do you have a VGA out on your TV? If so, the XBOX360 is now an upconverting DVD player.

The HDDVD player has also been said to be the best upconverting SD DVD player on the market. Considering that you would be spending at least $200 for an ok DVD player, (an Oppo is the way to go) a HDDVD player may be attainable.

I personally am waiting for the new electronics this year to have HDMI1.3 before I upgrade the DVD player/receiver.

ArizonaSportsFan · July 7th, 2006, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreamcastrocks

Do you have a VGA out on your TV? If so, the XBOX360 is now an upconverting DVD player.

The HDDVD player has also been said to be the best upconverting SD DVD player on the market. Considering that you would be spending at least $200 for an ok DVD player, (an Oppo is the way to go) a HDDVD player may be attainable.

I personally am waiting for the new electronics this year to have HDMI1.3 before I upgrade the DVD player/receiver.

I have a VGA in (can connect PC) but why would I need an out? Can you walk me through that? Is the DVD quality of the XBOX360 better than that of the XBOX?

dreamcastrocks · July 7th, 2006, 07:30 AM

Well, it is supposed to be better. All you need to do is update the dashboard on the 360 to get the upconverting player. I hear that it is a pretty good upconverter, however my TV does not have a VGA, so I cannot test.

ArizonaSportsFan · July 7th, 2006, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreamcastrocks

Well, it is supposed to be better. All you need to do is update the dashboard on the 360 to get the upconverting player. I hear that it is a pretty good upconverter, however my TV does not have a VGA, so I cannot test.

I will look into that. So I do just need a VGA in on the TV and not an out. Is the upconverting player a free upgrade/download?

dreamcastrocks · July 7th, 2006, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArizonaSportsFan

I will look into that. So I do just need a VGA in on the TV and not an out. Is the upconverting player a free upgrade/download?

Yes, it is a free download. If your TV accepts a VGA connection, you will be fine.

Tell me how it works, I am curious.

dreamcastrocks · July 7th, 2006, 08:59 AM

Before, I said out, was thinking in. My mind was on the DVD recorder that I am getting.

abomb · July 11th, 2006, 11:12 AM

Here is an interesting article from the gang over at Popular Mechanics.

dreamcastrocks · July 11th, 2006, 11:23 AM

If/When I take the HDDVD plunge, I will probably fork over the money to get my tv calibrated.

Lefty · July 19th, 2006, 09:02 AM

Looks like this fall will be the time to buy a flatscreen TV. Just in time for Christmas.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/200...sspriceyfaster

dreamcastrocks · July 20th, 2006, 06:06 AM

I probably could have saved a bit of money if I would have waited another 6 months to upgrade my TV. I wanted to get a better 360 experience, and be prepared for 1080i.

Next comes the HDMI 1.3 compatible receiver.

Chandler Mike · July 20th, 2006, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreamcastrocks

I probably could have saved a bit of money if I would have waited another 6 months to upgrade my TV. I wanted to get a better 360 experience, and be prepared for 1080i.

Next comes the HDMI 1.3 compatible receiver.

What's 1.3 do?

dreamcastrocks · July 20th, 2006, 06:47 AM

Mostly, (for me anyway) it will allow for true high definition audio for the new HD-DVD, Blu Ray, and other new devices, (PS3, etc). It also doubles the available bandwidth.

From hdmi.com

HDMI 1.3 capabilities include:

Higher speed: HDMI 1.3 increases its single-link bandwidth from 165MHz (4.95 gigabits per second) to 340 MHz (10.2 Gbps) to support the demands of future high definition display devices, such as higher resolutions, Deep Color and high frame rates. In addition, built into the HDMI 1.3 specification is the technical foundation that will let future versions of HDMI reach significantly higher speeds.

Deep color: HDMI 1.3 supports 30-bit, 36-bit and 48-bit (RGB or YCbCr) color depths, up from the 24-bit depths in previous versions of the HDMI specification.
Lets HDTVs and other displays go from millions of colors to billions of colors
Eliminates on-screen color banding, for smooth tonal transitions and subtle gradations between colors
Enables increased contrast ratio
Can represent many times more shades of gray between black and white. At 30-bit pixel depth, four times more shades of gray would be the minimum, and the typical improvement would be eight times or more

Broader color space: HDMI 1.3 removes virtually all limits on color selection.
Next-generation “xvYCC” color space supports 1.8 times as many colors as existing HDTV signals
Lets HDTVs display colors more accurately
Enables displays with more natural and vivid colors
New mini connector: With small portable devices such as HD camcorders and still cameras demanding seamless connectivity to HDTVs, HDMI 1.3 offers a new, smaller form factor connector option.

Lip Sync: Because consumer electronics devices are using increasingly complex digital signal processing to enhance the clarity and detail of the content, synchronization of video and audio in user devices has become a greater challenge and could potentially require complex end-user adjustments. HDMI 1.3 incorporates an automatic audio/video synching capability that allows devices to perform this synchronization automatically with accuracy. (this is a big issue with some receivers where the audio does not sync with the devices, mostly Xbox 360 though)

New lossless audio formats: In addition to HDMI’s current ability to support high-bandwidth uncompressed digital audio and currently-available compressed formats (such as Dolby® Digital and DTS), HDMI 1.3 adds additional support for new, lossless compressed digital audio formats Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™.