hd dvd players best buy image
Nick K
Is it worth the money to keep the HD DVD player? Doesn't it do the same function as an upconverter? Please correct me if I am wrong and tell me why it is so much better to have the HD DVD player.
Answer
Depends what you paid for it (and assumes you CAN return it) and what matters to you.
First, consider whether you can really benefit from HD DVD (or Blu-ray which gives identical audio and video quality). Basically you need a moderate to large HDTV .. say 40" or so and preferably 1080p. You also need to watch from a suitable distance (say, 1.5 - 3X screen size. lower number if a 1080p and higher if 720p). You also need an HDMI connection.
As an aside, I have an HD DVD player and don't find a sufficient improvement from HD disks to justify buying them, but I have kept the player for reasons that may become evident as you read on.
There are relatively few HD DVD disks (under 400, and Blu-ray is about the same), and many movies are not available on HD DVD. Disks are more expensive than DVD and previewed disks (i.e. cheap) are not (yet) available. So -- unless you shoot yourself in the foot and refuse to watch a movie unless it is in HD -- you will be watching lots of DVDs even if you have an HD disk player (either or both formats).
An HDTV will deinterlace (if required) and upscale an incoming 480i or 480p DVD video signal. However, some HDTVs don't do a very good job. Enter upscaling DVD players ... which may do a better job. But, only a good upconverting DVD player is worthwhile. Cheap models (certainly anything under at least $100-$125) just won't beat the video processing in most HDTVs (See the article at the link for a discussion).
HD DVD players (and Blu-ray) make good upconverting DVD players, and depending on what you paid it may be the most cost-effective way to improve the picture on all those DVDs you will still be watching for some time to come (years).
You can test this by comparing a DVD on your HD DVD player and on your present DVD player. Is the picture sufficiently improved on the HD DVD player to perceive a benefit?
If you can benefit from an upconverting DVD player, and the HD DVD player you have is about (or maybe slightly higher than) the price of a good upconverting (non-HD) DVD player (e.g. Oppo 981, $229) consider keeping it. It may help to consider the HD DVD player not as an HD DVD player per se, but as an upconverting DVD player that also plays HD DVDs.
So ... there are some factors to consider. Hope they help.
Depends what you paid for it (and assumes you CAN return it) and what matters to you.
First, consider whether you can really benefit from HD DVD (or Blu-ray which gives identical audio and video quality). Basically you need a moderate to large HDTV .. say 40" or so and preferably 1080p. You also need to watch from a suitable distance (say, 1.5 - 3X screen size. lower number if a 1080p and higher if 720p). You also need an HDMI connection.
As an aside, I have an HD DVD player and don't find a sufficient improvement from HD disks to justify buying them, but I have kept the player for reasons that may become evident as you read on.
There are relatively few HD DVD disks (under 400, and Blu-ray is about the same), and many movies are not available on HD DVD. Disks are more expensive than DVD and previewed disks (i.e. cheap) are not (yet) available. So -- unless you shoot yourself in the foot and refuse to watch a movie unless it is in HD -- you will be watching lots of DVDs even if you have an HD disk player (either or both formats).
An HDTV will deinterlace (if required) and upscale an incoming 480i or 480p DVD video signal. However, some HDTVs don't do a very good job. Enter upscaling DVD players ... which may do a better job. But, only a good upconverting DVD player is worthwhile. Cheap models (certainly anything under at least $100-$125) just won't beat the video processing in most HDTVs (See the article at the link for a discussion).
HD DVD players (and Blu-ray) make good upconverting DVD players, and depending on what you paid it may be the most cost-effective way to improve the picture on all those DVDs you will still be watching for some time to come (years).
You can test this by comparing a DVD on your HD DVD player and on your present DVD player. Is the picture sufficiently improved on the HD DVD player to perceive a benefit?
If you can benefit from an upconverting DVD player, and the HD DVD player you have is about (or maybe slightly higher than) the price of a good upconverting (non-HD) DVD player (e.g. Oppo 981, $229) consider keeping it. It may help to consider the HD DVD player not as an HD DVD player per se, but as an upconverting DVD player that also plays HD DVDs.
So ... there are some factors to consider. Hope they help.
What equipment do I need to use with an HD DVD player to get the proper sound?
Corey
Ok, I am a big home theater buff, and just finally getting into the HD players. I am ready to buy an HD player but am so confused on how the audio works. To get the dolby digital plus of dolby tru, does the audio need to be played through the HDMI cord and into the AV reciever? Heres my setup: 7.1 Surround, 50 inch plasma with 1 HDMI input, and Pioneer THX reciever ( but with NO HDMI input) So my question is, If i buy an HD DVD player, and just run the HDMI cable from the dvd player to the tv ( since my reciever doesnt have an HDMI input), will I only get the HD pic, and not the awesome sound features like DD+? Basically, can I get the great sound HD DVD players have to offer by running an optical cable to my reciever, or does that sound only come through the HDMI? So confused :) Thank you!
Also one more thing to add: can someone please clarify the Dolby Digital plus / DTS HD. If I am not capable of running the audio thrgouh HDMI, which it doesnt sound like i wil be seeing my reciever doesnt have it, will the dvd player try and decode the DD+ if I use a simple optical cable? Would this sound still be better than a standard DVD, or am I wasting my money buying an HD DVD player when my reciever has no HDMI input? Thank you!
Answer
you are still going to get better sound, but it will not be 100%
but it is still going to be HD sound thru the optical, it is going to sound like DVD-A or SACD, or like the HD sound from your TV
you are still going to get better sound, but it will not be 100%
but it is still going to be HD sound thru the optical, it is going to sound like DVD-A or SACD, or like the HD sound from your TV
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