HD-DVD, Can someone help me to understand

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dcmeigs
dcmeigs Posts: 708
edited May 2008 in Electronics
Why people are paying $400 for refurbished HD players? :confused: It's a dead format.

Toshiba XD-XA2
The world is full of answers, some are right and some are wrong. - Neil Young
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited May 2008
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    They still WORK. If you have a stack of HD-DVDs you want to play....

    Why do people buy turntables? Vinyl is a dead format.
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,811
    edited May 2008
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    I must be really crazy. I just picked up a new SACD player, another dead format.
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  • dcmeigs
    dcmeigs Posts: 708
    edited May 2008
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    I'm not implying anyone is crazy for wanting the format. I want to get one as an up converter.

    I am curious why the HD-XA2s are so pricey when the Toshiba HD-XA1 is going well under $100 on ebay and at garage sales.
    The world is full of answers, some are right and some are wrong. - Neil Young
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2008
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    they are great upconverting DVD players.. and while HD DVD is dead.. the players are pretty decent players.. where as Blu Ray players have not dropped in price one iota since they won the Hi Def batter.

    Blu Ray better get their act in gear.. they are still producing players with 1.1 profiles. OMG! get your **** in gear Blu. The 2.0 profile machines won't hit the market till later this year.

    Just yesterday I was doing research on Sony Blu players. and they almost all use the same chipset in em.. from the highest priced to the lowest priced ones.. nearly identical chips. WTF?

    If i'm going to plunk down $699 for a stand alone Blu Ray player. I damn well want it to have a better chipset than the $299 player.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 8,105
    edited May 2008
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    bobman1235 wrote: »
    Why do people buy turntables? Vinyl is a dead format.

    They are still producing vinyl records though. Not really comparable.

    BTW, I bought an XA2 after the writing was on the wall, mainly for the upconversion. I only paid about $180 for it though.
    See profile for rigs. Nothing else here.
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  • bsoko2
    bsoko2 Posts: 1,449
    edited May 2008
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    The XA2 is one of the BEST players for upscaling SD. People with large DVD collections are buying them for that reason.
    My 2012 HT Room - http://www.avsforum.com/t/1416077/bsoko2-new-ht-june-2012
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  • avguytx
    avguytx Posts: 1,628
    edited May 2008
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    Vinyl is not a dead format.
    Richard? Who's your favorite Little Rascal? Alfalfa? Or is it........................Spanky?.................................Sinner.
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  • RutgersFTW
    RutgersFTW Posts: 458
    edited May 2008
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    Like everyone else said, it's a pretty sweet player. I bought an HD-A3 from Amazon back in December, mere weeks before Tosh pulled the plug. I got it for $109 w/ 10 free HD-DVDs, though, so I can't complain too bad. My only regret is that I didn't wait another month to get the XA2 for the better connectivity and PQ. Still, the A3 is faster loading, smaller, and outputs most of the good stuff over HDMI anyway.
    Currently listening to:

    Marantz SR5004
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    Apple TV V2
    Audio Technica AT-LP120
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,546
    edited May 2008
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    Many people, myself included couldn't care less about "profile 2." I buy a DVD player to watch movies, not to play on the internet. Must be a "gadget generation" thing.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited May 2008
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    bsoko2 wrote: »
    The XA2 is one of the BEST players for upscaling SD. People with large DVD collections are buying them for that reason.

    This reason alone makes it worth the price alone. Being that it just happens to play HD DVD, well consider that a bonus. It does a superb job with SDVD upconversion.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited May 2008
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    Anyone got an 8-Track they wanna unload?
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  • Ethancf
    Ethancf Posts: 479
    edited May 2008
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    One word....REON.
    THE SYSTEM
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  • hockeyboy
    hockeyboy Posts: 1,428
    edited May 2008
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    Here's what get's me. We see everyone talk about the good upconverting, but at that price point I just bought the brand new Samsung BD-P1500. It also does a great job at upconverting, and plays a current format. I gotta go with DC on this one.
    My Main Gear
    Mitsu HC5000 (Proj.)
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  • Ryder888
    Ryder888 Posts: 37
    edited May 2008
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    danger boy wrote: »
    they are great upconverting DVD players.. and while HD DVD is dead.. the players are pretty decent players..


    Exactly ! Plus they're giving them away right now. I bought one this past weekend for $65.00.......mainly to upgrade my regular dvd's. It came with 2 free HD dvd's.

    So far i'm not super impressed with picture quality, but i'm still figuring it out. :confused:
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2008
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    Ryder88, how do you have it hooked up to your TV? and are you watching HD DVD's or standard DVD's? i find both look great on my old toob tv. not as good as if i had and LCD or Plasma of course. but I notice a nice jump up in picture quality over the same movie in standard DVD.

    I am only using component video cables too. not HDMI
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  • Ryder888
    Ryder888 Posts: 37
    edited May 2008
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    danger boy wrote: »
    Ryder88, how do you have it hooked up to your TV? and are you watching HD DVD's or standard DVD's? i find both look great on my old toob tv. not as good as if i had and LCD or Plasma of course. but I notice a nice jump up in picture quality over the same movie in standard DVD.

    I am only using component video cables too. not HDMI

    Dlp (720p/1080i) tv, and I used a HDMI cable for video, and had to use RCA cables for sound......until i figure out a better way ? I did try both HD & regular dvds.

    right now:

    My tv only has (1) hdmi connection, and i have the dvd hooked to it.

    I used a s-cable for the Direct tv hd box.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2008
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    ok lets see... HDMI should look great from the player to your DLP. and the RCA cables are fine.. but you may want to get an optical cable for 5.1 sound if you have the speaker set up for that. if not, if you are using only two speakers then the RCA's are fine.

    you might be able to hook up your Direct TV box to your DLP using component video cables over S-cable, since your HDMI is already in use.

    what exactly are you not happy with about the picture quality?
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  • Ryder888
    Ryder888 Posts: 37
    edited May 2008
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    danger boy wrote: »
    ok lets see... HDMI should look great from the player to your DLP. and the RCA cables are fine.. but you may want to get an optical cable for 5.1 sound if you have the speaker set up for that. if not, if you are using only two speakers then the RCA's are fine.

    you might be able to hook up your Direct TV box to your DLP using component video cables over S-cable, since your HDMI is already in use.

    what exactly are you not happy with about the picture quality?

    Yes, i need to go get some fiber optic cables for sound.

    The guy at best buy recommended the s-cables over component cables ? I started out with component cables. He said i would get better picture quality. Honestly, i could'nt tell a big difference either way.

    Picture quality, to me just does'nt seem as sharp as it should be for high def.

    I bought the Toshiba HD player over the weekend, and swapped over to a Pioneer vsx1017 reciever last night, so i'm still trying to figure things out. :confused:

    Thanks for your help though ! :)
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  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited May 2008
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    venomclan wrote: »
    Anyone got an 8-Track they wanna unload?

    No... but I have a van with quadrophonic sound. Mattress in the back and Daytona Beach sprayed on the sides. Sweet.
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,546
    edited May 2008
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    Ryder888 wrote: »
    Dlp (720p/1080i) tv, and I used a HDMI cable for video, and had to use RCA cables for sound......until i figure out a better way ? I did try both HD & regular dvds.

    right now:

    My tv only has (1) hdmi connection, and i have the dvd hooked to it.

    I used a s-cable for the Direct tv hd box.

    Another option is an HDMI switch box--
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Marty913
    Marty913 Posts: 760
    edited May 2008
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    Ryder888 wrote: »
    Yes, i need to go get some fiber optic cables for sound.

    The guy at best buy recommended the s-cables over component cables ? I started out with component cables. He said i would get better picture quality. Honestly, i could'nt tell a big difference either way.

    Picture quality, to me just does'nt seem as sharp as it should be for high def.

    I bought the Toshiba HD player over the weekend, and swapped over to a Pioneer vsx1017 reciever last night, so i'm still trying to figure things out. :confused:

    Thanks for your help though ! :)

    I'm not sure what the Best Buy guy was thinking. S-Video does not have the bandwidth to display High Def. It will at best reach 480i. Only Component or HDMI (or DVI) will work for 720 or 1080.
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  • Ryder888
    Ryder888 Posts: 37
    edited May 2008
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    Marty913 wrote: »
    Only Component or HDMI (or DVI) will work for 720 or 1080.


    By "component" do you mean the red/blue/green cable connenctors ? I agree that it seemed alot better when hooked up with HDMI.

    My TV only has the one HDMI connector and that is currently hooked to the hd-dvd.
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  • Marty913
    Marty913 Posts: 760
    edited May 2008
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    Ryder888 wrote: »
    Marty913 wrote: »
    Only Component or HDMI (or DVI) will work for 720 or 1080.


    By "component" do you mean the red/blue/green cable connenctors ? I agree that it seemed alot better when hooked up with HDMI.

    My TV only has the one HDMI connector and that is currently hooked to the hd-dvd.

    Yes, Component is the red, blue green. Composite is a single yellow and is at the low-end of the video food chain (other than RG cable). You go up from Composite to Component to DVI/HDMI. Bandwidth-wise only Component and DVI/HDMI can support HD signals. If you have Component then use that. If you only have a single HDMI and no Component then your only option for HD is to buy an HDMI switcher.
    Sony 60'' SXRD 1080p
    Amp = Carver AV-705THX 5-Channel
    Processor = NAD T747
    Panasonic BD35 Blu-Ray
    Main = SDA-1C Studio with RD0s, spikes, XO rebuild, rings, I/C upgrade
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  • Ryder888
    Ryder888 Posts: 37
    edited May 2008
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    Marty913 wrote: »
    Ryder888 wrote: »

    Yes, Component is the red, blue green. Composite is a single yellow and is at the low-end of the video food chain (other than RG cable). You go up from Composite to Component to DVI/HDMI. Bandwidth-wise only Component and DVI/HDMI can support HD signals. If you have Component then use that. If you only have a single HDMI and no Component then your only option for HD is to buy an HDMI switcher.

    I appreciate your help Marty. I do have plenty of component cables and will swap it over.

    I assumed HDMI> s-video > component and the guy at best buy said go with the monster s-video, so i did.

    I still need to spend more time & money tweaking things.
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  • Marty913
    Marty913 Posts: 760
    edited May 2008
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    Ryder888 wrote: »
    Marty913 wrote: »

    I appreciate your help Marty. I do have plenty of component cables and will swap it over.

    I assumed HDMI> s-video > component and the guy at best buy said go with the monster s-video, so i did.

    I still need to spend more time & money tweaking things.

    You are welcome, glad to help. Here's the video "pecking order" from bad to good:

    RG Cable (ugly black stuff)
    Composite (yellow RCA plug)
    S-Video
    Component (red,green,blue) HD capable video only
    DVI HD capable video only
    HDMI HD capable video & audio

    Let me know if you need anything else. Just post it or email/pm directly.

    Marty
    Sony 60'' SXRD 1080p
    Amp = Carver AV-705THX 5-Channel
    Processor = NAD T747
    Panasonic BD35 Blu-Ray
    Main = SDA-1C Studio with RD0s, spikes, XO rebuild, rings, I/C upgrade
    Center=Polk CS10, Surround = Athena Dipoles, Sub= Boston 12HO
    Music/Video Streaming = Netgear NEO550
    TT = Audio Technica
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  • karaim
    karaim Posts: 23
    edited May 2008
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    Where's VGA (computer) on this chart? I think it's between S-video and Component
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2008
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    Marty913 wrote: »
    Ryder888 wrote: »

    You are welcome, glad to help. Here's the video "pecking order" from bad to good:

    RG Cable (ugly black stuff)
    Composite (yellow RCA plug)
    S-Video
    Component (red,green,blue) HD capable video only
    DVI HD capable video only
    HDMI HD capable video & audio

    Let me know if you need anything else. Just post it or email/pm directly.

    Marty

    component is HD analog
    DVI is HD digital video capable
    HDMI HD video and audio digital

    just minor clairification's ;)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
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  • Marty913
    Marty913 Posts: 760
    edited May 2008
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    danger boy wrote: »
    Marty913 wrote: »

    component is HD analog
    DVI is HD digital video capable
    HDMI HD video and audio digital

    just minor clairification's ;)

    You are correct, thanks. I only used "capable" because it is possible to transfer a non-HD signal over them. Absolutely correct about the digital versus the analog.
    Sony 60'' SXRD 1080p
    Amp = Carver AV-705THX 5-Channel
    Processor = NAD T747
    Panasonic BD35 Blu-Ray
    Main = SDA-1C Studio with RD0s, spikes, XO rebuild, rings, I/C upgrade
    Center=Polk CS10, Surround = Athena Dipoles, Sub= Boston 12HO
    Music/Video Streaming = Netgear NEO550
    TT = Audio Technica
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited May 2008
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    Some of you guys really have a problem with that quote button, eh?
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2008
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    bobman1235 wrote: »
    Some of you guys really have a problem with that quote button, eh?

    yeah... some times it gives my responses fits. it never used to do that.. i dunno what's up with it. :confused:
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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