HD-DVDs

Yes you will need a dedicated HD-DVD player to play the new format, the first players should be released in the US very soon but we will probably have to wait a bit to see them in Europe.
Some players have been anounced, Toshiba have a few players coming out soon, there is a bit more talk about the subject in the High Definition TV part of this forum.

Andy

Yes you will need a dedicated HD-DVD player to play the new format, the first players should be released in the US very soon but we will probably have to wait a bit to see them in Europe.
Some players have been anounced, Toshiba have a few players coming out soon, there is a bit more talk about the subject in the High Definition TV part of this forum.

Andy

The Pioneer DV-989AVi-S is a HD DVD player (see here http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_detail.jsp?product_id=11508&taxonomy_id=42-84) and I bought mine in February 2006. However, currently there is no HD DVD media (but samples are available on the Sky web site - but not at full HD clarity) so I have not yet seen the device in all it's glory :)

I think you'll find it only upscales dvds to Hi-Def format. True dedicated HD-DVD players aren't available yet:lesson:

I think you'll find it only upscales dvds to Hi-Def format. True dedicated HD-DVD players aren't available yet:lesson:

What HiFi Sound & Vision tested this in January 2006 and gave it 5 stars. Moreover, I have a report which states that it uses HDMI version 1.1 and supports up to HDTV 1080 60p

Why do you say it does not support HDMI?

The Pioneer DV-989AVi-S is a HD DVD player (see here http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_detail.jsp?product_id=11508&taxonomy_id=42-84) and I bought mine in February 2006. However, currently there is no HD DVD media (but samples are available on the Sky web site - but not at full HD clarity) so I have not yet seen the device in all it's glory :)

Oh dear I hope you didn't fork that much out thinking you were getting something you weren't :oops:

[I]Why do you say it does not support HDMI?

Not sure he did say that, he just said it's not a HD DVD player which it isn't unfortunately. It supports HDMI connectivity and HDCP etc but that doesn't mean it will play a HD-DVD when one appears, sorry....

Not sure he did say that, he just said it's not a HD DVD player which it isn't unfortunately. It supports HDMI connectivity and HDCP etc but that doesn't mean it will play a HD-DVD when one appears, sorry....

It certainly complies with 1080 60p HD standard so why do you say it won't play a HD DVD?:confused:

It certainly complies with 1080 60p HD standard so why do you say it won't play a HD DVD?:confused:

Nice name change Chevalier... :)

Anyhow, where did you see the info regarding it supporting HD-DVD and I'll have a look into it....

As i said it only upscales to hi-def resolution, and i did not mention HDMI at all.

Toshiba are releasing 2 HD-DVD players in the next few months which ARE designed to play the HD-DVD Format .

Afraid if you were told that the pioneer would play HD-DVD's when they are launched you were misled. As players that will play these aren't available just yet

Btw : Googled for HD-DVD Players and got a lot of links to players that AREN'T the new HD-DVD Format, its no wonder people are getting confused thinking they have the latest format players

Yeah it is a bit of a scam for new people.They think they have a £1000 hd-dvd player and they don't.

If it was me I would be well p'd off at being mis-sold something,or my own stupidity.
On the hd-dvd front it seems there is a bit of confusion as to what is happening now,oh well we will see.

[QUOTE=Chevalier]The Pioneer DV-989AVi-S is a HD DVD player (see here http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_detail.jsp?product_id=11508&taxonomy_id=42-84) QUOTE]

Checked the link, not one mention of anything related to Hi-Def, I think people are getting confused when they see it has HDMI they automatically assume its HD.

True some dvd players have HDMI, but you'll find they only upscale the resolution, and aren't at the moment outputting pure Hi-Def resolution

The Pioneer simply plays a standard DVD but upscales the output to HD resolutions (as do models from Denon, MArantz, and just about everyone else). Sure, the end result might look pretty good, but these are no match for true HD material as the extra detail isn't there in the first place.

Also, some players offer HDMI connectivity, but don't upscale. Think of HDMI as just a digital scart connection, it does not mean that the player supports these upcoming formats.

I can understand why people do get sucked in though, last month my local Dixons (Boo, Hiss:grin: ) were doing a Samsung plasma screen with a free HD DVD player, the Samsumg HD-850:nono: , if I didn't think it would be a waste of my time, I would have reported them to trading standards.

according to an article in saturday's paper there is only one tv out at the moment that can show a true 100% HD picture,it's a 37'' philips and costs ?800.all the other supposed HD ready tv's will only show a 44% hi def picture :eek:

and what paper was that nonsense printed in?

and what paper was that nonsense printed in?

I think you'll find that article has already been thoroughly discussed here http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=318678

On the subject of allthis confusion do you think it is a good time to offload my Samsung HD950 Hi Def DVD player then ? :devil:

Ray

The Pioneer DV-989AVi-S is a HD DVD player (see here http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_detail.jsp?product_id=11508&taxonomy_id=42-84) and I bought mine in February 2006. However, currently there is no HD DVD media (but samples are available on the Sky web site - but not at full HD clarity) so I have not yet seen the device in all it's glory :)

You havnt realy spent all that money on that DVD player thinking it could play HD-DVD have you ?
Yes its a very very good DVD player and yes its got HDMI but so have a lot of other DVD players, what it hasnt got it the right type of lazer to play HD-DVD.
HD-DVD and BlueRay use blue lazers where as standard DVD uses a red lazer.
What youve got is an admitadly very nice DVD player but its just a standard DVD player that can upscale DVD to 720p or 1080i but it will never be able to play HD-DVD.....if youve been told it can play HD-DVD youve been had ....sorry

Andy

according to an article in saturday's paper there is only one tv out at the moment that can show a true 100% HD picture,it's a 37'' philips and costs ?800.all the other supposed HD ready tv's will only show a 44% hi def picture :eek:

The standard set by EICTA state that a HD-ready TV should have a minimum of 720 physical lines in wide aspect ratio, so just because a TV cant show 1080 lines in a native resolution doesnt mean its not a HD screen.

Andy

Yep. The Pioneer is just a normal DVD player.

A HD-DVD Player will play HD-DVD disks and a Blue Ray player will play Blue Ray disks. As mentioned above these use a different type of laser (Blue) hence the new media types. However, the HD-DVD players that will be hitting the markets (for the first time) later this year, should be able to read normal DVD's (because the laser reads to the same depth as standard DVD Players) but I don't know yet about Blue Ray.

More info on HD-DVD and Blue Ray (aka Betamx vs VHS :( ) can be found here:
http://www.homecinemachoice.com/cgi-bin/showarticle.php?articleid=943
and here about just blue ray:
http://www.homecinemachoice.com/cgi-bin/showarticle.php?articleid=840

Mark.

Nice name change Chevalier... :)

Anyhow, where did you see the info regarding it supporting HD-DVD and I'll have a look into it....

The Pioneer User guide (so too their web site) explains that it complies with HDMI ver 1.1 and the following URL http://www.hdmi.org/channel/why_hdmi.asp explains that compliance means that the product is "1080p capable and beyond". Hence the earlier claims.

Since this matter is causing considerable debate, I have now written to both Pioneer and the HDMI organisation (copy to each) and asked them to provide a definitive explanatation. I have informed them that they should provide answers that they are willing for me to publish on this forum. I await their answers with baited breath:)

I feel you may be correct - but hope you are not because a a case for misrepresentation is rather time consuming:god:

[QUOTE=Chevalier]The Pioneer User guide (so too their web site) explains that it complies with HDMI ver 1.1 and the following URL http://www.hdmi.org/channel/why_hdmi.asp explains that compliance means that the product is "1080p capable and beyond". Hence the earlier claims.

That means that the player can handle output through an HDMI socket using Version 1.1. This is what current HDTV's require to allow your player to upsample and output its DVD picture on it - at a HD ratio such as 720p. It has nothing to do with being able to play an HD-DVD. These are two completly different things.

An HD-DVD will already have the film/data recorded onto it at HD standard.

Sorry,

Mark.

...These are two completly different things.

An HD-DVD will already have the film/data recorded onto it at HD standard.

Sorry,

Mark.

I guess the consumer association with DVD that Toshiba hopes to use to sell HD-DVD may well be double edged sword for them...

Nope sorry it won't. What you have is a very good dvd player but not a HD-DVD player.

It is only a DVD player not HD-DVD nor Blue Ray player. So no, it won't play a HD-DVD.

Sorry...

However, I have been thinking of getting the Pioneer DV989. Any comments on whether it is a good player?

Mark.

[QUOTE=Chevalier]The Pioneer User guide (so too their web site) explains that it complies with HDMI ver 1.1 and the following URL http://www.hdmi.org/channel/why_hdmi.asp explains that compliance means that the product is "1080p capable and beyond". Hence the earlier claims.

That means that the player can handle output through an HDMI socket using Version 1.1. This is what current HDTV's require to allow your player to upsample and output its DVD picture on it - at a HD ratio such as 720p. It has nothing to do with being able to play an HD-DVD. These are two completly different things.

An HD-DVD will already have the film/data recorded onto it at HD standard.

Sorry,

Mark.

I bought this DVD player primarily because of it's reputation as a fine DVD player. It was abonus, so I thought, that would also play HD DVD's. Whether it does this by some technical means (such as upscaling) is irrelevant to me at present - I just don't want to be locked out to future formats. So, please forgive the dumb question, but does this mean that it does, or it does not play HD DVD's. :confused:

:rotfl:
Oh man this thread is funny.
Chevalier, you have a DVD player only. It does not have the correct internal components (ie. blue laser) to read HD-DVD discs.

I really do hope you didn't buy this on the strength of being a HD-DVD player.

All the best,

[QUOTE=Sunstealer]

I bought this DVD player primarily because of it's reputation as a fine DVD player. It was abonus, so I thought, that would also play HD DVD's. Whether it does this by some technical means (such as upscaling) is irrelevant to me at present - I just don't want to be locked out to future formats. So, please forgive the dumb question, but does this mean that it does, or it does not play HD DVD's. :confused:

As many have already stated - THIS PLAYER WILL NOT READ DISCS REQUIRING TO BE READ BY A BLUE LASER PLAYER (HD DVD or Bluray) - all current DVD players including your Pioneer 989 use red LASER.

Your player will read a normal DVD and output it's data (via HDMI) as 720p or 1080i - absoutly nothing to do with what type of disc it will read.

It will not read a Bluray disc or an HD DVD disc - ever. It would require a new LASER at very least, so even a firmware update wold not be possible.

HDMI is not high def, it is just a type of connection that can cary signals including high def. The fact that your player supports HDMI version 1.1 has nothing to do with HD or not or what the player will read.

A scaled signal (to 720p or 1080i) is not the same as high def, think of it as simulated high def.

To read HD DVD or Bluray you WILL need a new player(s), sorry.

It is only a DVD player not HD-DVD nor Blue Ray player. So no, it won't play a HD-DVD.

Sorry...

However, I have been thinking of getting the Pioneer DV989. Any comments on whether it is a good player?

Mark.


You will see from our earlier communications that I have this DVD player (mine is the DV-989AVi-S). It is a terrific DVD player that has been given top ratings at virtually every review I have seen. I bought mine primarily because of it's reputation with DVD's and the prospect, so my retailer told me, that it would also play (even if via upscaling) HD DVD's. However, as you and other have told me, it will not play HD DVD's. So, if you are only interested in cracking DVD performance then I highly recommend it:thumbsup:

Hello Chevalier

01. HD-DVD - is a recordable media standard that allows you to store and playback standard and high definition video on a high capacity 12cm optical disc.

02. DVD-Video - is a recordable media playback standard that allows you to store and playback standard definition video on a 12cm optical disc.

03. HDMI - is a video interconnectivity standard.

04. 1080P - is a video signal standard.

05. Video up-conversion - is a method of taking the information stored in a standard definition video format and converting it to match the format of a higher resolution video format.

You can include 02, 03, 04 and 05 in the specification of a player without having an HD-DVD player.

The Pioneer DV-989AVi-S is a DVD-Video, DVD-Audio and SACD player with an on-board video up-converter that Outputs its Digital Video and Audio signals via an HDMI socket - but its NOT an HD-DVD player.

HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc are incompatible technologies that both use high capacity 12cm optical discs for playback and storage of high definition and standard definition video.

If you want to play back HD-DVD or Blu-ray Disc media you'll require an HD-DVD and or Blu-ray Disc compatible player.

If you like Pioneer kit and you want to include a high definition disc player in your system then it looks like you'll be going with Blu-ray Disc as Pioneer are firmly in the Blu-ray camp - see http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/learn/about/chapters/0,,2076_293062877_276332769,00.html

Best regards

Joe

…What a little can of worms?) :) :)

So, in May there will be HD-DVDs to buy but no player to see them in…Further adding to this limitation there will be two distinct native HD content formats…Kind of shooting themselves in the proverbial foot right from the start, it seems?br />
I think I will stick to a regular OPPO OPDV-971H –E for the moment. It is quite inexpensive and it will allow me to see regular content using a DVI / HDMI connection, while I wait for all this to come to more defined contours grounds (pun intended? in the near future.

Thanks for the replies. Now, if only I could get someone to answer to this thread?

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=319014

AK

AlfaKhan

There are alternatives to HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc if you want to view High Definition on your Projector.

You can use a PC + Broadband connection to download and stream HD content from the web or use a PC + Broadband + a Networked Media Player from the likes of SnaZio, PMS, KISS etc if your PC is not equipped with a really high end Graphics Card.

If you have the PC and Broadband already then a SnaZio SZ1350 is not that much more expensive than the Oppo player and gives you the option of viewing standard and high definition on Analogue 'Component' or Digital DVI Outputs at 720P and 1080i without the hassle of HDCP on an HDMI Output.

See http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=259558&highlight=snazio+feature

Best regards

Joe

Sounds like a troll to me.. and anyhow.. isn't Pioneer sitting in the Blu-Ray camp and are not releasing a HD-DVD player anyhow.

Ah hell Joes answered everything anyhow :)

If you have the PC and Broadband already then a SnaZio SZ1350 is not that much more expensive than the Oppo player and gives you the option of viewing standard and high definition on Analogue 'Component' or Digital DVI Outputs at 720P and 1080i without the hassle of HDCP on an HDMI Output.

See http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=259558&highlight=snazio+feature



Joe, thank you so much for the excellent heads-up on this. :thumbsup:

I have discarded the "computer-as-player" long ago as I am not into all the fiddling and set-up time it requires.

The above quoted solution, however, might be quite interesting.

Still, I am not also into downloading content from the net either. I am not in my teens anymore and since I have the means to do it, I rather buy full legit, "off-the-shelf" contents.

So, when you say "the option of viewing standard and high definition" you're talking about downloaded HD material, right...? The SnaZio is still not able to read HD-DVDs, correct...?

Thank you, once more...:)

AK

Just to add some more interest...

Kaysee in the thread: Pioneer 989 Review...
states that he has been able to play some HD-DVD's in the Pioneer...

Wonder if that was by accident or if maybe they can be read after all in this player? If so, you would expect Pioneer to be making a big thing about it. However, that would prevent people rushing out to get their new Blue Ray machines so, they would probably stay quiet.

Mark.

Technical Features DV-989AVi-S
Playback Discs DVD/SVCD/VCD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-R/DVD-RW/DVD-AUDIO/SACD/SACD MULTI

Taken fon the pioneer website......it does not state HD-DVD within this playback list.
They are covered....sorry

And pioneer are NOT releasing a HDDVD player.. they are in the BLU-RAY camp.

Hello all

AlfaKhan - as you say the SnaZio (and similar devices) are not HD-DVD nor Blu-ray Disc compatible.

The SnaZio can playback *.TS, WMV9, Divx HD and other media from DVD Rom discs and or stream these files from a suitable PC or MAC acting as a Media Server.

Whilst this delivery model is still relatively new it looks like this will be the preferred choice for many people in future rather than purchasing a 'physical' disc (no matter if its standard or higher definition) you will get your media on-line and 'stream' it to your video screen.

Sunstealer - someone is yanking yours (or our) chain :)

There is no 'secret' playback mode in any Pioneer DVD Video player that will let you play anything apart from DVD Video, DVD Audio and SACD 'Red laser' discs.

Best regards

Joe

...Once more :)

I am definitely not the kind of guy to spend hours at the computer, downstreaming Gigas of data (...I already spend way too much time facing the screen, catering for my digital photography addiction).

All I want is to switch on our HS-50 and pop a good film in the player, whenever we feel like it, relax and enjoy it after 8, 9, 10 or even eleven hours flying all over Europe...

I do realize I could improve my viewing experience going some other ways...It is just a matter of perfection(?) vs. convenience.;)

AK

Whilst this delivery model is still relatively new it looks like this will be the preferred choice for many people in future rather than purchasing a 'physical' disc (no matter if its standard or higher definition) you will get your media on-line and 'stream' it to your video screen.



Joe,

How far away is the on-line solution for HD ? I've assumed that when HD arrives we'll all be out buying our fav movies all over again but this time on HDDVD/Blueray i.e on physical disks. Do you think movies will quickly go the way of music and be dominated by on-line sales ?

Are the current snazio owners get their disks from Germany/USA and uploading them or are we still talking illegal downloads here ?

Cheers

Ray

Edit - I'm just about to buy an Oppo so your answer may sway me !

Pioneer is a blu-ray supporter and have made it clear they intend to stay that way.

Here is infact there only Hi Def dvd player.

http://www.avland.co.uk/pioneer/bdphd1/bdp-hd1.htm.

(and a piccy of there new juicy 1080p plasma

so my retailer told me, that it would also play (even if via upscaling) HD DVD's.

I think you need to have a word with your retailer...

Hello all

AlfaKhan - give it time; we'll all be downloading our media and keep in mind too the new high capacity disc formats are oddly enough advocating the use of hyperlinking to gain added value content.

Rayfin - its early days yet though when Microsoft are pushing on-line media delivery you can be sure it wont be long before we regain valuable shelf space and instead have much larger or virtual storage devices.

Best regards

Joe

Pioneer is a blu-ray supporter and have made it clear they intend to stay that way.

Here is infact there only Hi Def dvd player.

http://www.avland.co.uk/pioneer/bdphd1/bdp-hd1.htm.

(and a piccy of there new juicy 1080p plasma

Nice pic. Also good to note that it offers 1080p upscaling too.

Hello all

AlfaKhan - give it time; we'll all be downloading our media and keep in mind too the new high capacity disc formats are oddly enough advocating the use of hyperlinking to gain added value content.

Best regards

Joe

I think download of HD movie content is a long way off for true mass market simply due to the infrastructure problems associated with millions of people trying downloading a 20GB image at the same time!

John.

I dunno.... works for the Ng's

Ng's?

Newsgroups ;)

Tiny amount of data by comparison....