HD-DVD Options

[The Hoff]

Right just bought myself a nice new 37" LCD and I'm looking to sort a HD-DVD solution out.

My options seem fairly simple:

Toshiba HDE1 - £250 - HD-DVD/DVD-R/SD-DVD(Upscaler) etc.

Or.

Xbox 360 with HD-DVD fitted - £XXX - Just wondered if the Xbox was capable of upscaling SD-DVDs to 720p/1080i? Also wondered how the 360 HD capability stands up next to a dedicated player like the HDE1 (I'm assuming it's not as competant).

Be interested in hearing if anybody has some inside info

Cheers.

 

[McBunny]

yes the xbox upscales all the way to 1080p

 

[The Hoff]

Quality on the Xbox compared to a standalone player?

So presumably I could pickup a cheapo core system and get the HD-DVD add-on and i'd be fixed up? Or would I need any additional connectivity?

 

[The Hoff]

Hm just got some opinion off of AV forums, and people are saying that the 360 is NOT a credible solution for a true AV device, it's too damned noisy and with the hd-dvd drive sounds like a hairdryer(?). People are also complaining that the sound output it weak and lets down the format.

Looking like a HDE1 then :s

 

[TheCake]

It is noisy but suitable for what I use.

 

[Longy]

Go for the xbox - the Tosh player cant do things like Forza2 in HD also stream music/photos and video.

My xbox isn't noisey in HD DVD mode - and the sound isn't a problem on my sony amp sounds fantastic.

 

[KyleB]

surely you will have a decent audio set up and thus you wont be able to hear the slight murmour of the 360?

 

[McBunny]

bes solution but a 360 and a hd player be it blu ray or hd dvd

 

[The Hoff]

Go for the xbox - the Tosh player cant do things like Forza2 in HD also stream music/photos and video.

My xbox isn't noisey in HD DVD mode - and the sound isn't a problem on my sony amp sounds fantastic.

^

Strange, seems a lot of audiophiles disagree with this viewpoint. Amp or not it's still outputting a caRp bit rate usinfg it's audio compression.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445657

 

[McBunny]

Go for the xbox - the Tosh player cant do things like Forza2 in HD also stream music/photos and video.

My xbox isn't noisey in HD DVD mode - and the sound isn't a problem on my sony amp sounds fantastic.

^

Strange, seems a lot of audiophiles disagree with this viewpoint. Amp or not it's still outputting a caRp bit rate usinfg it's audio compression.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445657

yup it is your right and it wont change when it starts using hdmi either

 

[Longy]

Problem with that forum is - everyones a expert and people on there do tend to buy the best of the best and only the best will do.

For the normal average user - you can hear it and it does sound good - but there is always something better! If your gonna be that fussy with sound then get the more expensive gear.

The xbox defo gives you more flexability.

 

[The Hoff]

Well as I said it's not a case of best of the best, it's £250 for a HDE1 which will output good audio, or £350+ for a 360+HD.

The 360 would buy me more flexibility but I'm looking for HD performance as key over and above gaming potential.

Sound for me is imperative for viewing pleasure, things like blinking lights/buzzing noises or sub-par performance niggle the hell out of me

 

[dk]

yes the xbox upscales all the way to 1080p

only using the onboard drove though isn't it, the HD-DVD addon doesn't does it?

ALso, isn't it only using VGA and not component?

I am presumingl the HDMI cable will upscale when that gets launched over here later in the year.

 

[dk]

Well as I said it's not a case of best of the best, it's £250 for a HDE1 which will output good audio, or £350+ for a 360+HD.

The 360 would buy me more flexibility but I'm looking for HD performance as key over and above gaming potential.

Sound for me is imperative for viewing pleasure, things like blinking lights/buzzing noises or sub-par performance niggle the hell out of me

can I ask why you are going with HD-DVD?

won't it frustrate you that a lot of movies you might want will be blu-ray only?

thats why i bought both the ps3 and 360 to get both, i notice that samsung are now bringing out a proper dual player too by christmas.

 

[Longy]

Well as I said it's not a case of best of the best, it's £250 for a HDE1 which will output good audio, or £350+ for a 360+HD.

The 360 would buy me more flexibility but I'm looking for HD performance as key over and above gaming potential.

Sound for me is imperative for viewing pleasure, things like blinking lights/buzzing noises or sub-par performance niggle the hell out of me

Mine must be broke! never had these issues? Thing is - on forums you tend to only hear about problems and not the happy crowd.

True the xbox is noisey and true they do break but to utilise the best HD from your TV not only for films but for other content such as previews, music videos, trailers and HD files on your PC the xbox can do it all!

 

[dk]

get a ps3, silent (well mine is completely) and supposed to be better than the dedicated blu-ray players.

 

[David]

Yep he's right, ps3 is better than a dedicated blu-ray player as it can recieve firmware updates whilst standalones can't...unbelievably. more unbelievably blu-ray's java format used for the title menus hasn't even been finalised...so there is a possiblity that blu ray players released now won't support future bluray releases. Great.

HD-DVD on the other hand have ethernet ports as part of the standard so that won't be a problem. That and the fact they finalised the format anyway...

 

[The Hoff]

...things like blinking lights/buzzing noises or sub-par performance niggle the hell out of me

Mine must be broke! never had these issues?

I was speaking about niggles in general, when I sit down to watch a movie, it's lights off, comfy chair and no distractions.

Well HD-DVD just seems like a more complete format too me right now, I'm sure things will heat up remarkably and they'll be a conclusion to it in 1/2 years. But I may have to look into a PS3, just the price that's off putting.

 

[McBunny]

Mine must be broke! never had these issues?

I was speaking about niggles in general, when I sit down to watch a movie, it's lights off, comfy chair and no distractions.

Well HD-DVD just seems like a more complete format too me right now, I'm sure things will heat up remarkably and they'll be a conclusion to it in 1/2 years. But I may have to look into a PS3, just the price that's off putting.

get the stand alone player its only £250