Hd-DVD player - which one?

[andy_dandy]

I'm after a HD-DVD player that must have on board decoding so that i can pass through to my A1XVA (same as i do with my PS3)

Looking around on the sites there doesn't seem to be any info pointing at the codecs being decoded, in fact it states with DTS-MA that it's core only (*** does that mean??)

Anyone recommend a player and possibly shed some light on the 'core only' thing ??

[dazza74]

The two players I would suggest are the EP30 and EP35. As far as DTS MA is concerned I'm not 100% sure you'll be able to do this, unlike Dolby True HD and PCM these can be converted to PCM in the player and sent as PCM to the amp. DTS MA has to be sent as a bitstream via HDMI and I think I'm right in saying that you have to be using an amp that has the built in decoders something like the Onkyo 605 and above range that are HDMI 1.3a and have these decoders built in.

If you plan to send your audio via HDMI like your PS3 you may well get away with buying the EP30, although if the money's not to much of an issue I'd advise getting the EP35 as this is more future proof and also has the analogue outs which gives you another option for sending the audio to your amp.

[andy_dandy]

I was actually looking at the HD-XE1, will this offer the same features?

As for DTS-MA, hopefully a firmware update will sort this, rumour is that this is happening for the PS3.

PCM/DD Tru-HD via PCM is spot on, just how i do it with my ps3

[dazza74]

Originally Posted by andy_dandy

I was actually looking at the HD-XE1, will this offer the same features?

As for DTS-MA, hopefully a firmware update will sort this, rumour is that this is happening for the PS3.

PCM/DD Tru-HD via PCM is spot on, just how i do it with my ps3

The XE-1 will after a firmware update offer the same in theory as the EP35 from an audio perspective, I'd certainly wait for the EP30 and EP35's to hit the shelves before purchasing the XE-1.

DTS-MA seems only a real issue with blu ray at the minute and our PS3's there's very few DTS MA soundtracks on HD DVD's it's more PCM and Dolby True HD. I think DTS Core refers to 1.5 Mpbs DTS (what we seem to be stuck with on the PS3 for DTS MA until they get us the update).

I've pre ordered the EP35 personally, everything I've read seems to suggest that the Anchor Bay video processor in the EP30/35 gives the XE-1 Reon a run for it's money with regards SD DVD upscaling and is good to go out of the box.

[andy_dandy]

Thanks for that,

so what you're saying is the the XE1 wont do pcm/DD-TruHD decoding?
Not so fussed with DTS-MA at the moment as disks are few and far between.

If the XE1 one offers the decoding it should sort me as they can be picked up for a nice price now.