Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Blu-Ray & HD Questions

I am about to buy either a Blu-Ray player or HD-DVD Player and have a few questions that I hope some of you can help me answer...

Is the PS3 Blu-Ray player just as good as any other Player on the market right now?

Is the XBox 360 player just as good as any other player?

I ask because a PS3 / XBox setup are almost as much as stand alone players but offer up lots of other things as well...

Is there a site out there that tells you which movies or studios are producing for one format or the other exclusively?

Are some studios releasing titles for both formats?

I just did some research and found out that Transformers is only being released on HD-DVD. I haven't found anything about the LOTR series on either format.

This whole thing is way too dificult and way too expensive to go both routes.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

There are dual format players coming, if not out right now. Both systems do have more going for them than stand alones but I have heard that the load times are slower and some have had audio problems but the latest firmwares and updates appear to be addressing these issues. If you can see yourself playing the games then why not get one system and then a stand alone for the other? Best of both worlds The PS3 appears to have an edge over the Xbox so far as extra capability and is the same price as a stand alone BR player. HD-DVD players are cheaper.

But the xBox is about to become the backbone of home and auto entertainment systems...I hope...for the sake of my Microsoft stock .

It's difficult to say what format to go with. I'll try and answer some of your questions.
The PS3 is as good, if not better and less expensive than most Blu-Ray players.
The XBOX add-on is okay but not as good as most stand alone HD-DVD players, but it does have very fast load times. With the prices of HD-DVD players coming down so much, Imo you would be better off getting a stand alone player.
Many of the studios are now releasing in both formats.
A good source for HD-DVD and Blu-Ray reviews and news is here DVDTOWN I check there quite often.
I have both but prefer HD-DVD.

Just a bit about the capacity. HD-DVD has the "capability" of 51GB using triple layers, "beating" Blu-Ray by 1GB... But that doesn't matter.

I've read articles that show that either format, even HD-DVD's "tiny" 35GB mainstream capacity is MORE than enough to store any current movie in HD format. Those longer movies, like LOTR, etc, may choose to have the movies on one disc and extras on another. Even still, you should still get 100% HD quality on either format, so the "capacity" is somewhat unimportant right now.

I too am compelled in getting an XBox 360 to get into the HD format (I won't get into my reasons for HD-DVD or Blu-Ray since that is very subjective) because of the ability to play games, stream from a HTPC, etc, but like others say, a true stand alone *should* provide better speed, output options, and so on. Heck, I even saw a Blu-Ray player at Best Buy last week (or maybe it was Wal-Mart) for $400. Still twice the price of the comparable HD-DVD player, but a LOT more affordable than just a year ago.

Those dual-players are still running about $1000 right now. You could buy two nice stand alone players, or even your choice of an XBox 360 or PS3 AND the "other" as a standalone player for the same or less than the dual player.

I am excited about Transformers in HD, which leads me towards HD-DVD (besides my personal opinions about that format), I would like to see Batman Begins on HD, and it sounds like LOTR will come out in both formats. Now if George Lucas would put Star Wars in HD-DVD I would feel comfortable picking that format exclusively. Until then, I am still a little bit "chicken" to try one vs. the other.

I just skimmed this the other day.
From the article-"Why, one celebrates by buying one of these studios’ BD-only titles on HD DVD! Yes, Blu-ray-Only Titles are available on HD DVD. Yes, that is correct."

It appears to me that the whole exclusive format bs is just that-bs. You can get anything you want on either format- you just have to dig a little. Of course renting may be another story.

I recently got the PS3 and have thus far used it mostly as a blu-ray player. I LOVE it. The fact that I can also play games, and use it as an mp3 server is just icing on the cake. Also, upgrading the hard drive in the PS3 seems extremely simple. There's even instructions in the owners manual as to how to do it. They make it quite easy. So for about $175 you could upgrade your PS3 to a full 250GB.

I’m beginning to feel like a parrot. These BR/HD questions keep coming up and I keep saying the same thing…..oh well, one more time….

Don’t worry about combo players. There isn’t any out yet that are worth a second look, plus, they are expensive as hell.

If you decide to get into the new formats, you will obviously need a player or two. You will also need an audio processor that will process HDMI audio if you want hear lossless sound unless you plan to use the multi channel analouge inputs (which is somewhat limiting in itself). You will also need a display that accepts HDMI or DVI and you’ll want a resolution of at least 720P.

As already stated, the PS3, unfortunately, is the best BR player available. It supports 1080P/24 video extraction off the disks in its native format, and it all supports 7.1 channel PCM audio decoding. It is not known if it will also support DD-HD and DTS-M, but I am betting that it will. Currently, the PS3 supports more audio and video formats than any other BR player. It does not up-convert SD as well as some of the other players sporting a Reon video processor, but it does up-convert very well.

HD/DVD players can be bought for less than $200 now. The Toshiba A2 and A3 are the bottom of the line players. They do not support 1080P in any format. They are limited to 1080i and they do not have the hardware to support anything else, regardless of firmware updates. The A20 and A30 support 1080P/24 and have HDMI 1.2, are the mid level players. The X2 and A35 support 1080P/24 as well, have HDMI version 1.3, and also have analogue outputs for lossless sound. I’m not sure, but I think the A20 also has analogue outputs. The X2 is still the Toshiba flagship player and has the Reon video processor for SD up-conversion. The A35 does not use the Reon, which is why its MSRP is $100 less than the X2. It is not known yet how fast the A35’s load time is, but it is a third generation player, so it may be faster than the somewhat ‘slow’ X2. Onkyo and Integra have both announced that they will be making HD/DVD players. It isn’t confirmed, but they both look like X2 copycats with a higher MSRP. There are a few others coming out soon, but I don’t know much about them….

If you need/want good video upconversion, then I’d suggest you pick up an X2 and a PS3. If you don’t really care about that, then the A35 and PS3 would be a good combination and somewhat future proof (as much as can be expected today).

As far as this format war debate, who cares….. just enjoy what you can, while you are alive to do so. It’s only money and you can’t take it with you.

>>I’m beginning to feel like a parrot. These BR/HD questions keep coming up and I keep saying the same thing…..oh well, one more time….

This is how otherwise normal people turn into bloggers.

What's a blogger? Or maybe I don't want to know....

A blogger is someone who keeps an online journal--for the entertainment of everyone.

I, for one, appreciate your expertise and willingness to share your knowledge on the new format players. With the onrush of new technology it is sometimes hard to stay on top of everything.

I have the HD-A2 and have no issues with it. I will be buying a BR player for Christmas so that I will have both.

This war will go on for 15-24 months in what I have read.

>>What's a blogger? Or maybe I don't want to know....

"Blog" started out as "web log", usually mid way between a dairy and a soapbox rant. They started as personal things, then every company on the planet decided they should have "corporate blogs" to make themselves appear modern and "in touch".

After a year or so the corporate blogging thing died off pretty quickly -- any "corporate politically correct" blog was too boring to read, and any time staffers were allowed to speak their mind the results were often alarming...

Blogging these days seems to have settled down into something awfully like being a newspaper columnist but without the newspaper.

Oh…so THAT’s what Blogs are…. I’ve heard the term, but never really cared to find out what it is.

Thanks for nice words Richard. I don’t consider myself an SME on anything A/V related, but I do feel obliged to share what I learn to others on this forum as repayment for all the great tips, advice and guidance I’ve been recipient of sinse I first found this place. I really do have a busy life and there are times when I feel quite guilty for BS’ing here instead of getting stuff done, but it has somehow become a daily ritual to see what’s going on……I’m just going to have to ignore Michael before he bankrupts me..

Again, thanks bud.

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I’m just going to have to ignore Michael before he bankrupts me..

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Lol, Since my wife decided she wants to go back to Napa in Dec. for the holidays, I'm already figuring that after your trip and tasting review, I'll be in for at least another grand buying up some of your top picks.

I’ll be in Napa next Saturday Michael….. you guys should just head that way now. I’ll need someone to carry my cases to the airport.

A few folks are starting to get the A35 and so far, reports are very promising. It is loading in under 30 seconds. That’s total time between pushing the power button to play. It’s also playing all the new formats without issues (DTS-M, TrueDD-HD). I think I’m going to have to order one of the little bastards.

My plan is to get the new Onkyo TX-SR875. That can handle all the new lossless audio, and also has the new Reon video chip for uprezing. Mated with my PS3, and I'll be in HD heaven.

I'm still aways off from being able to get the Onkyo though.

Mike, I'm already jealous, looks like you'll be in for some great weather and a fantastic time, one day I'll have to get you and your significant other out for a visit and do the Paso Robles area (about 150 wineries), I'm betting within the next year they will be giving Napa a run for their money and be easier on the pocketbook.

Craig, I think your going to be a very happy man once you get the Reon and are able to hear the lossless audio, it's like lifting a veil from normal audio. And I have nothing but praise for the Reons capabilities.

That sounds fun. I get to the drive the car though....

Hey! I got dibs on the NSX!

Here are two links to the avs forum that has some good info on both HD and Blu-Ray:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=151

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=149

Deleting my idiot response to the wrong thread... DOH!

Hey, thanks for sharing the links with everyone...