Denon DVD-2500BTCI Blu-ray/DVD/CD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)Here's where I started with Blu-Ray... The pathetic Sony Blu-Ray players (several models) that have the slowest of all Blu-Ray players with Made In China quality (or lack of). The Sony Blu-Ray players were the worst of any.
I graduated to the Panasonic's next. The BD30 and later the very popular BD35. Both were 'GOOD' players. On the other hand, if I tried to plug in a cable without the Panasonic MOUNTED to the concrete, their one-pound weight per deck caused it to fly off a shelve like a pice of Post-It note. Made In China quality and a Panasonic remote (not a positive).
I tried others. Low-end brands and so-called medium brands.
I finally buy Denon's DVD-2500BTCI. It's called a TRANSPORT unit because it is a pure 100% digital-only player. If you don't have HDMI to HDMI only, move-on...
Stunning color quality! Unlike anything I've ever seen. One more time: STUNNING PICTURE & COLOR quality.
Better yet, this thing weighs something!
Turn it on and it quickly responds (a major Blu-Ray issue is LAG). Yes, once you insert the BLU-RAY disc, it does take ime to load. That's normal but everything else makes the '2500' the fastest of Blu-Ray players ever that I have used/tested/played with.
I think the REMOTE is excellent! Others do not and Denon does have a reputation for lousy remotes. This one is an exception.
Well worth the money. Really!

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DENON BLU-RAY/DVD/CD/ TRANSPORT WITH 1080P/24fps OUTPUT CAPABLE.

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Samsung BD-UP5000 1080p HD-DVD Blu-Ray Disc Combo Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I picked up a BD-UP5000 when limited quantities appeared in mid December 2007 and have been quite happy with the unit. It's my first venture into HD disc playback and having a single box to play all DVD formats was essential. This player delivers excellent picture and sound quality (including exceptional SD DVD upscaling). Less than 10% of HD DVD and Blu-Ray titles have only a TrueHD track which will output as 2-channel stereo. Most discs have other tracks that can be selected: Dolby Digital, multichannel PCM, DTS, etc. So lack of multichannel TrueHD isn't as big an issue as it may seem. Still even one title that limits you to 2.0 is frustrating. Lockups and strange behavior when loading and playing some discs is frustrating, but from what I've read most players go through growing pains and the content providers are at least part of the problem because they can influence the way the player behaves with custom menus and features.
The 5000 has a Silicon Optix Reon running HQV SD upconversion. SD DVD quality is amazing. You need HDMI/HDCP video as the analog components are limited to 480p based on licensing constraints. The HDMI output supports 1080p60 and 1080p24 as well as other more common rates. 1080p24 is noteworthy since it sends a film to the display at it's native frame rate of 24 frames per second without introducing a 3:2 pull-down sequence. However, the display must be capable of receiving 1080p24 AND have a refresh rate of 72 or 120 Hz to completely eliminate motion "judder".
The 5000 will decode Dolby Digital and DTS encoded sound tracks to multichannel PCM and ship them out via HDMI. Or the player can be placed in "audiophile" mode which sends the undecoded bitstream to the receiver for decoding there, again via HDMI. Some audio tracks can be sent to the receiver via S/PDIF optical or coax connections, but not the higher bandwidth tracks such as multichannel PCM. You must have HDMI for those or use the 7.1 analog outs. The "reencode" mode converts all audio formats to DTS, allowing you to get multichannel audio to your receiver via S/PDIF optical/coax if HDMI isn't an option.
The 5000 has had a rocky start and is still somewhat unstable and lacks key features. While it was announced the first part of 2007, it didn't ship until mid December 2007. Many of the disc compatibility problems have been fixed by a firmware update released in mid January 2007, but there are still some discs that have problems. The 5000 suffers from random lockups requiring a power cycle and lacks support for the advanced audio formats: Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD HR/MA. In addition, standard definition discs are always stretched to 16:9 even for 4:3 content. Most TVs and displays can't unstretch the image without reducing the size as well.
A Samsung engineer working on this product indicated they are aware of the problems and missing multichannel audio support. He said they are planning a major firmware update in the May 2008 time frame. Speculation at AVS Forum (the 5000's user thread is 3000+ plus posts!!!) is that Samsung relies on Broadcom to supply DSP firmware, so it may really Broadcom we're waiting for. This makes sense since the BH200 has the same audio format limitations and uses the same chip. Firmware updates can be done via an ethernet connection to the 5000, or you can download an ISO CD image from Samsung's web site and burn an undated disc from any PC or Mac. (Mac update procedures are not documented but work fine: use Disk Utility or Toast Disc Copy to burn the image file; do not use Finder's burn mechanism.)
Samsung announced the BD-UP5500 at CES January 2008 with availability in the May 2008 time frame. The 5500 is not a true replacement for the 5000 since it does not have the Reon upconverter, nor does it have multichannel analog outputs. Price should be lower than the 5000. This might be an option for some, but the lack of the Reon/HQV is a big deal for me since there are many more SD DVDs than Blu-Ray and HD DVD combined. Those that have a separate audio processor may also need the multichannel analog audio outputs. The 5000's true replacement will be the BD-UP6500 due out late in 2008.
Blu-Ray Java and HDi allow content providers to "enhance" the viewing experience with additional material on the disc and/or downloaded from the internet. Personally, I just want to watch the movie as the producer/director intended. The 5000 is currently Blu-Ray BDJ 1.0 with a promise for 1.1. The 5500 will have to be BDJ 1.1 based on Blu-Ray specs/timetable. The 5000 (and 5500) will never be BDJ 2.0. The 6500 should be BDJ 2.0. The 5000 is supposed to support HDi but haven't tried it.
If you want a single box solution that can play most of the HD DVD, Blu-Ray and SD DVD discs, and can live with the limitations at least until firmware updates are available, the BD-UP5000 is worth serious consideration.
Your only other choice is the LG BH200, but it doesn't have the Reon HQV upconversion or multichannel analog audio outputs. Other than that, the 5000 and BH200 have essentially identical features with similar prices: $750 for the BH200 on Amazon, currently.
However, if you need onboard decoding or bitstreams of Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD MA, Blu-Ray and HD DVD playback and can't wait for firmware updates, you'll need to look for separate Blu-Ray and HD DVD players.

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Toshiba HD-A3 720p/1080i HD DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros:
Fantastic picture
Great price
1080i/ 720p output great for 720p HDTV's
Fast startup time
Slim design of the unit
Adequate remote
Some reviews of other Toshiba HD players have stated that you can't pause the movie, and come back to it later but I have not found this to be the case. As long as you leave the unit on, you can pause the movie as long as you want and resume it when you want to.
Plays DVD+R discs with no problem even though this is not a stated feature.
Cons:
no 1080p output- not an issue for me since I have a 720p TV.
Haven't come across any.

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The Toshiba HD-A3 HD DVD Player allows everyone into the HD DVD game with a very affordable price tag. Don't let the price fool you, however; it offers many features and an excellent build quality.
A Refined, Slimmer Look The HD-A3's refined design--with rounded edges, a slim chassis, and a high-gloss black face plate, standing less than two-and-a-half inches tall--looks sleek and elegant in your home theater system without taking up too much real estate.
Outstanding PerformanceAll of Toshiba's HD DVD players support the enhanced features of the HD DVD format, including picture-in-picture video, audio commentary, and Web-enabled network capabilities. With an Ethernet port, the HD-A3 can connect to the Internet for firmware updates to keep the player up to date on new features, and to support the growing number of HD DVD titles with interactive online features and bonus content.
The HD-A3 features an HDMI interface that carries both a video and an audio signal in one cable for the highest quality and convenience. The A3 outputs video at 720p and 1080i for a detailed and sharp image. The HD-A3 has progressive scan capability, which means it eliminates the scan-lines of interlaced video and produces a clean image with no motion distortion and artifacts.
Sparkling Surround Sound The HD-A3's built-in circuitry processes the multi-channel decoding of Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, and DTS-HD (core only).
Plays a Variety of Formats The HD-A3 is backward-compatible with your DVD collection: It can play and upconvert DVDs to the HD resolution that is being output. It can also play DVD-R/W, DVD-R, DVD-VR, CD, CD-R, and CD-RW formats, so you don't need extra players taking up space.
The HD-A3 is backed by a limited 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box HD-A3 HD DVD player, remote control, and power cable.

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Toshiba HD-A30 1080p HD DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I didn't buy this from Amazon, but since reviews of the player are scarce, I thought I'd share some thoughts.
A few short months ago I bought the Xbox add-on to try the HD-DVD waters, and have been nothing but impressed, so when my standard DVD player died (my 7th one in 8 years, I'm a very heavy DVD watcher), I decided to invest in a player that will (hopefully) last (I also purchased a 4 year warranty this time).
The player itself is beautiful, both in appearance and on screen (watching on 1080p Samsung LCD). Picture quality of HD-DVD is, as expected, superb, and DVD upscaling is the best I have ever seen (easily destroying my 1 year old Sony).
A very few negatives. Boot times are still a bit slow, it takes about 40 seconds before the HD-DVD logo appears on screen, with another 20 seconds to load the disc, it's around 60 seconds total from power on to actually start watching the disc. Discs also don't resume play, which is odd as it seems to be a feature. If you don't power off the unit and stop a disc, it will resume where you left off, but if you power off the player, it restarts from the beginning, very odd, but Toshiba could easily fix in a firmware update.
All in all I am very, very pleased, the unit feels sold, looks amazing on your shelf and features some of the best video quality I have ever seen. The few, "problems" don't really bother me, but I wanted to mention them as it could turn off some people. Thanks for reading!

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The Toshiba HD-A30 HD DVD Player stands less than two-and-a-half inches tall but packs a long list of cutting edge features. The HD-A30 sells at a very reasonable price but has top-end features such as support for 1080p/24-frame video and HDMI-CEC compatibility.
A Refined, Slimmer Look The HD-A30's refined design--with rounded edges, a slim chassis, and a high-gloss black face plate--looks sleek and elegant in your home theater system without taking up too much real estate.
Outstanding Performance All of Toshiba's HD DVD players support the enhanced features of the HD DVD format, including picture-in-picture video, audio commentary, and Web-enabled network capabilities. With an Ethernet port, the A30 can connect to the Internet for firmware updates to keep the player up to date on new features, and to support the growing number of HD DVD titles with interactive online features and bonus content.
The HD-A30 uses the latest HDMI 1.3 interface to connect to your HD television, providing large bandwidth to eliminate any data bottlenecks and to support new technologies for the utmost in viewing experience. The HD-A30 can output video at 1080p, the highest resolution available, and includes support for 24-frame video, which maintains the native 24-frames-per-second rate of films, thereby delivering an experience more similar to one in theaters.
If you have a large collection of standard definition DVDs, the HD-A30 will upconvert them to near-HD quality for display on your HD television. Progressive scan output means the scan-lines of interlaced video are eliminated and the result is a clean image that has no motion distortion or artifacts. In addition to 1080p, the HD-A30 also outputs at 720p and 1080i if desired.
Sparkling Surround Sound The HD-A30 supports most surround sound audio standards, with built-in decoding for Dolby TrueHD 5.1ch, Dolby Digital Plus 5.1ch, DTS 5.1, and DTS HD (core only).
One-Touch Convenience You can use the CE-Link (HDMI-CEC) to connect the HD-A30 with other CEC-capable devices for unsurpassed simplicity and convenience. For example, if the HD-A35 is connected to a compatible HDTV, you can turn on both the HD DVD player and the TV and start playing a movie with a single touch of a button on the remote.
The HD-A30 is backed by a limited 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box HD-A30 HD DVD player, remote control, and power cable.

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LG Electronics GGW-H20L LightScribe 6X Blu-Ray and 3X HD DVD-ROM SATA Drive - Bulk (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of the few and soon to be discontinued examples of a computer optical drive that can read the now obsolete format HD DVD. However this is not possible without the supplied Cyberlink Software that is provided. An earlier drive that I purchased had an older version of the Cyberlink 7.0 software that produced an audio delay when watching HD DVD's, but this drive and software had no such problem.
Indeed these are the last of the HD DVD drives. The lesser sibling the GGC-H20L(cannot burn Blu-ray but does read them) is already disappearing from inventories. I don't expect to see this drive much longer and have snapped up a few in order to be able to build some HTPC rigs that are flexible in accommodating any format. Enjoy it while it lasts.

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LG GGW-H20L Super Multi Blue - Blu-ray Disc Burner / HD DVD-ROM Drive w/ Lightscribe - 6x2x6x/3x - Serial ATA - internal - 5.25" Review

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(More customer reviews)For those that are used to using the combination of "AnyDVD by Slysoft" and "DVDShrink 3.2" to backup dvd's and are curious if there are similar steps for doing this with blu-rays. IT IS. Unfortunately there is no "dvdshrink 3.2 for blu-ray disks". There are several other methods that are very effective. I searched for a long time to find out this stuff so read carefully.
In general, what I do with this drive, is backup my blu-ray movies to an external hard drive, then stream them to my 52 inch samsung from my laptop using its HDMI port(which doesn't even have a blu-ray drive. If this sounds like something your trying to do then read on. If not, you should highly consider it.
Using AnyDVDHD by Slysoft first insert the blu-ray movie, right click the AnyDVD icon and click "Rip Video DVD to Harddisk". After that go to the directory in which you ripped the DVD to. Then Locate the correct .m2ts file that contains the movie (BDMV/STREAM).
An .m2ts file for dummy's is the blu-ray version of an .vob file. So usually the largest .m2ts file is the movie. You can run .m2ts files as video files through Nero v8 Showtime. Once you find the main movie .m2ts files (usually about 25 gigs). Locate another freeware program called TsRemux. This is just like DVDshrink 3.2 in the way that it can stream out unnecessary content (subtitles/foreign languages). Through TsRemux open up the .m2ts file that you have determined is the movie. Then you will see the extra contents. Select the first video stream, the first audio stream, and the first subtitle stream (they are usually the English ones, sometimes you may have to re-do this to locate the correct sound, but there should only be ONE OF EACH selected). Make sure you click the box about where the streams are that says "Blu-Ray TrueHD to .....". Click "remux" and viola. What was a 25 gig movie file should now only be about 15 gigs.

NOTE**** Right now it is WAY more cost efficient to back up your blu-rays to an external hard drive than to re-burn them onto a blu-ray disk. Disks average at about 25 dollars each. That's about eight movies for 200 dollars right? A 320 gig e.xternal will run you just as much as eight blu-ray disks but can fit 21 movies (at 15 gigs each).
NOTE* There are no advertisements in this review, I'm simply stating what I use to backup my own blu-ray disks, please only use the software that you find is most convenient for yourself. Thanks for reading and I hope I was helpful.
*Any further question google "Laymans Guide to Blu-ray" and click the first link.
Good Luck!


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Monster MC700HD-2M High Speed HDTV HDMI Cable (2 meters) Review

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(More customer reviews)Some salesperson insisted that I bought one of these "for the quality". "It's worth every penny" he said. "Try it and you will see" he said. So, I did, after making sure that the store was going to allow me to return it for a cash refund, no questions asked.
I took this super-expensive wire home, I replaced the existing free HDMI wire that came with the satellite receiver and was connecting it to the TV with the Monster and... I saw no difference. Then, I unplugged the five-dollar HDMI wire that connected my Blu-ray player to the TV and plugged the Monster in its place and... I saw no difference. I returned this item to the store and decided to keep using my super-cheap or free HDMI cables because there is absolutely no difference between a five-dollar wire or a cheap-looking free wire that comes with some device that you buy and this expensive cable.
HDMI is all-digital for both sound and picture. As such, it either works or it doesn't. There's really nothing in-between. If a claim is made that thd Monster is 'more reliable' or that it 'lasts longer', I can't see how such claim can be backed - does the fifty-dollar cable last 10 times longer than than the five-dollar cable? I've been using inexpensive HDMI cables for 1-2 years already and none of them has failed me yet. As for 'the looks', they are not important? I plug my cables in the back of things and, hopefully, I don't need to see them very often.
By the way, I don't challenge the claim of high quality for this cable. It looks well built. However, it is quality not needed and, in my view, not worth paying for. The way most of us use cables is: we plug them at the back of our electronic boxes and, if they work on day one they are likely to work in the exact same fashion on day 1000 because they are not going to be subjected to any physical or thermal stress and the materials used to build them are not degradable. While 'quality' was important for analog cables cable where a good quality cable make all the difference in the world, the digital wires either transmit the digits or they don't. If they do, they all work the same, the $1 HDMI cable gives you the exact same 'performance' the $100, gold-plated cable does.
The claims made that these expensive wires allow more Gigabytes of data to pass through may be true but they are irrelevant. The HDMI is a published standard and there is a minimum data throughput that must be supported. If it is, then the device is HDMI compliant. If some cable exceeds the specified throughput, it's nice but it's irrelevant because no electronic component that's HDMI compliant would attempt to push more bytes through the wire than the standard specifies because if they did, they'd violate the specs and would not sell very well. If your electronic component had an HDMI port that called for an HDMI cable that exceeded the HDMI published standards, then it would no longer be called an HDMI port but a proprietary, non-standard solution.

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Toshiba HD-A35 1080p HD DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)When I first hooked this up, I thought I was going to have the same problem I had with my HD-A2 player-it wouldn't boot up. However, this player booted up just fine and I am very impressed with the picture. The sound on Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby True HD soundtracks is terrific when played through my Onkyo 805 receiver. I do have a quibble with the Dolby True HD on some discs, though. I put in one and every time I went to a different track or tracked forward, there was about a minute that the picture was silent. I found that the set up on the machine was very easy and the instruction manual is well written and informative. The remote is the same as the one for my HD-A2, so if I lose this one, I can use the other one. The machine is smaller than the HD-A2 and is very easy to move around. It's quite light, but feels sturdy when you pick it up. All in all this is an attractive unit, performs very well, and will blow your ears off when it kicks in full tilt on a good sound track. Can't wait to watch 300 on it. 300 and The Bourne Identity both are included in the package.

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The Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player stands less than two-and-a-half inches tall but packs a long list of cutting edge features that will help you get the most out of your home theater system. With support for 1080p/24-frame video, Deep Color, and HDMI pass-through audio, this player makes it possible to achieve a viewing experience that's as much like being in a theater as you can get without going to one.
A Refined, Slimmer Look The HD-A35's refined design--with rounded edges, a slim chassis, and a high-gloss black face plate--looks sleek and elegant in your home theater system without taking up too much real estate.
Outstanding PerformanceAll of Toshiba's HD DVD players support the enhanced features of the HD DVD format, including picture-in-picture video, audio commentary, and Web-enabled network capabilities. With an Ethernet port, the A35 can connect to the Internet for firmware updates to keep the player up to date on new features, and to support the growing number of HD DVD titles with interactive online features and bonus content.
The HD-A35 uses the latest HDMI 1.3 interface to connect to your HD television, providing large bandwidth to eliminate any data bottlenecks and to support new technologies for the utmost in viewing experience. The HD-A35 can output video at 1080p, the highest resolution available, and includes support for 24-frame video, which maintains the native 24-frames-per-second rate of films, thereby delivering an experience more similar to one in theaters. It also supports Deep Color, a new standard that breaks through the 8-bit color depth limitation of existing HD video and allows a wider range of color than ever before.
Of course, the HD-A35 upconverts from other resolutions so all your standard-definition DVDs display in near-HD quality on your HD television. In addition to 1080p, the HD-A35 also outputs at 720p and 1080i if desired.
High-Definition Audio Audiophiles rejoice! The A35 has HDMI pass-through audio: The audio signal can bypass the HD DVD player's internal audio processor and feed directly into an A/V receiver. The HD-A35 can output 5.1 channel analog audio and, with HDMITM, High Bit Rate Audio (up to 7.1 channels).With a capable receiver, the lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio standards are then decoded externally and audiophiles will be rewarded with the highest fidelity surround sound possible, adding a new dimension of enjoyment to the home theater experience. The HD-A35 also supports other surround sound audio standards including Dolby Digital Plus, DTS 5.1, and DTS HD (core only).
One-Touch Convenience You can use the CE-Link (HDMI-CEC) to connect the HD-A35 with other CEC-capable devices for unsurpassed simplicity and convenience. For example, if the HD-A35 is connected to a compatible HDTV, you can turn on both the HD DVD player and the TV and start playing a movie with a single touch of a button on the remote.
The HD-A35 is backed by a limited 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box HD-A35 HD DVD player, remote control, and power cable.

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Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)Many reviews on this wonderful DVD player already, so let me just bullet a few points I feel worthy.
1. Ease of installation. HDMI cable (not supplied) and the digital audio (not included) I had the audio and bought the HDMI for this player. The installation took about 10 minutes from start to set up to playing dvds. Awesome. On HDMI.. don't waste money (unless you are money bags) on expensive cables. A nice 20 dollar HDMI cable will do fine. Digital is Digital. Only the quality of the connector is in question and if you get a reliable cable, no need for the big money scams.
2. Upgrades. Easily done by lan connection or by ordering the disk from Toshiba for free. Nice.
3. Startup time is about 30 seconds. It has to load up the operating system. After that, it's just the same as any other DVD player. Don't let the nay sayers bug you on this topic. The start up time is just when you first turn it on. Not for each DVD insertion.
4. The upscaling on this is very good. I have a Sony Grand Wega and the normal DVDs now look better to my experienced eye than they did previously on my very nice Sony DVD player.
5. HD-DVD. Get the BBS HD version of the BBS series Planet Earth. Let this be your first HD you watch and let your mind be washed over in beauty. On movies.. I would research before you buy. From what I have seen.. I have a big DVD collection (over 1000) and I double dipped to get a couple HD versions right away. (meaning HD copies of dvds I already had) and there was not much if any difference. What I have found is that the greedy companies are just porting/copying movies from regular dvd over to the HD format. Like any other scanning.. it just depends on how it was done. HD doesn't mean it's really going to be better. Check out DVD reviews first before spending the extra money. I actually have one HD dvd that doesn't look as good as the regular DVD version. I was pretty stunned at having payed 25 bucks for the HD version and if I remember correctly.. 9 bucks for the DVD version. Oh well.
6. Overall impression of the Toshiba player is awesome for me. It's sleek looking in my rack and very easy to intall and to use.

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Toshiba HD-A2 HD-DVD Player with HDMI output.

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RCA HDV5000 HD DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this HD-DVD player about 2 nights ago and am just amazed at the value this player provides both in terms of build quality as well as performance. Some people have complained about the boot up time but you cant speed it up by downloading the latest firmware through the internet, i never felt it was a problem so i haven't applied any software patches to it.
After the demise of my Panasonic dvd player i was thinking of getting an upconverting dvd player like the Oppo or a Panasonic but i am SO GLAD that i waited until the HD-DVD players came out. The standard DVDs play beautifully on this player as well.
All im going to say in the end is, take a look at your local BestBuy store for a demo of the HD-DVD player and you will know why im so amazed with what this player is capable of. Make sure you get Chronicles of Riddick HD-DVD with your player, in one word "WOW".

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RCA's first DVD player compatible with the new HD DVD disc format, the HDV5000 combines the superior image and sound quality of high-definition images and multichannel surround sound with the convenience of DVD disc playback. Using the HDMI output, which provides uncompressed, all-digital video and multi-channel audio delivered via a single cable, you'll be able to view HD DVD discs in high-definition 720p or 1080i resolution. The HDV5000 is also backward compatible with your library of standard DVD movie and CD audio discs, and it offers an upconverting function that brings your favorite DVDs to near HD quality. Since the conversion occurs in the player, the signal is free of excessive digital-to-analog conversion artifacts. Note that viewing high-definition HD DVD Disc content requires an HDTV or HD-ready TV.
HD DVD movie discs provide the ability to search the on-screen menu, make changes to set-up options or access other menu functions while the movie is playing. Scene searching is facilitated with thumbnail images on the TV screen that allow you to use the cursor to go directly to a specific scene. You can even access bonus material like directorÕs comments while the movie is playing without going back to the discÕs menu. Other features include:
Capability to connect the HDV5000 to a home network using the Ethernet port, enabling upgrades of the player as new features are developed
Dual front-panel USB game controller ports
Enhanced black level selection for optimum brightness
Letterbox pan and scan support for multiple video formats
Multiple audio and video stream decoding with separate volume control
Parental controls
Multi-lingual on-screen display (English, French, Japanese)
Disc compatibility: HD DVD, DVD movie, CD audio, DVD-R/RW, Dual Layer DVD-R, DVD+R/RW, CD-R/RW
The HDV5000 provides a full range of audio decoding, including Dolby Digital, Dolby DTS, MP3, and WMA. It has stereo outputs as well as coaxial and optical digital audio outputs for 5.1-channel home theater surround sound. It offers the following video output connection options:
Composite AV (RCA): 1
S-Video: 1
Component Video: 1
HDMI: 1

HD DVD Disc Format Officially endorsed by the DVD Forum industry organization as the next high-capacity DVD disc, the HD DVD format delivers sharper, more detailed picture performance than standard DVD discs. Moreover, the HD DVD format opens new avenues of interactivity including enhanced on-screen menus, scene searching, directorsÕ commentaries and the potential for online shopping. HD DVD discs can offer both the current DVD and HD DVD formats on one disc, which means that special HD DVD discs will play in older DVD players as well as new high definition players.
Tech Talk HDMI is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver) with your TV--all over a single cable. HDMI supports standard, enhanced or high definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It supports all ATSC formats--standard (SDTV), enhanced (EDTV), and high (HDTV).
Component video (also called Y/Pb/Pr) features a three-jack video input, which provides separate connections for luminance (Y), blue color difference (PB) and red color difference (PR). This results in increased bandwidth for color information, resulting in a more accurate picture with clearer color reproduction and less bleeding than you would get with S-Video or composite (RCA yellow video plug) connections. You will need a separate RCA left/right audio cable for sound.

High Definition Formats: The most common high-def (HD) video format is 720p, which displays video at 720 vertical by 1280 horizontal pixels. The "p" denotes that it is progressive scan, meaning that all video lines are filled at the same time. The 1080i format displays video at 1080 vertical by 1920 horizontal pixels, and the "i" means that it is interlaced (the old-school way of presenting video where the screen scans the odd-numbered video lines first, then the even-numbered lines). The 1080p format has the same pixel resolution as 1080i, but it is a progressive scan format and thus has a constant vertical resolution of 720 lines.
What's in the Box HD DVD player, remote control (with batteries), L/R audio cable, video cable (yellow), HDMI cable, printed operating instructions

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Denon DVD-3930CI A/V Combination DVD/DVDA/SACD/CD Player with Realta T2 HQV Review

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(More customer reviews)I had high-end 60lb $2500 Sony SCD-777ES SACD player and Oppo 971 DVD player. Due to upgrade to a new Blu-ray player, I need an extra space so decision is to consolidate the SCD-777ES SACD and Oppo 971 DVD into one high-end SACD/DVD player.
I tried out the value Oppo 980 & 981, but its SACD performance is not the same level as Sony SCD-777ES. I tried $1200 Sony DVP-NS9100ES; good DVD but the SACD sound quality is not Audiophile grade yet. I heard a lot of good thing about the Denon 5910 (discontinued) so I ordered Denon top of line DVD-3930Ci.
I am so glad to report that its SACD performance is superb. It has the nuance and details as my current Sony SCD-777ES. Plus, its DVD performance is slightly better than the Oppo. It also plays DVD-A.
Now, I am really enjoying my B&W Nautilus 801 speakers.


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LG BH200 Super Blu Blu-Ray HD DVD Combo Player Review

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(More customer reviews)The LG Super Blu combo player has made my life a lot easier. I jumped into high def this past summer with HD DVD and built up a library of 48 movies. Of course, as my luck would have it, the tides have turned considerably in blu ray's favor, so rather than give up on my HD DVD collection, and not wanting to take up extra space with a blu ray player, this LG is the ideal solution. It delivers impressive audio and video on both formats and upconverts standard dvds to near high def resolution. Set up was a snap and the player is very user friendly. I would highly recommend this unit to anyone who already started an HD DVD collection and is now ready to enter the "blu" world.
ADDENDUM: Written 8/31/08
I want to add to my original review posted above: I just purchased two more of these LG BH200 combo players at Best Buy, where they were just on sale for $339.99. At this incredibly low price, I could not resist getting two more, one for my second Toshiba 42 inch LCD 1080p television and the other for my Panasonic 32 inch LCD 720p televsion. All my hi-def tvs now have this magnificent LG multi format player connected to them via HDMI cables, allowing me complete flexibility to watch all of my HD DVDs, Blu Ray discs and standard dvds. I have not ceased to be extremely impressed with the amazing crystal clear video images on both hi def formats. The sound is equally impressive, and, as of yet, I do not have any HDMI receivers, so I am using 5.1 channel DD and DTS surround sound, which is clear and crisp. I can only imagine how awesome 7.1 channel hi def sound must be. The standard dvds I have are upscaled to near 1080p resolution, allowing me to enjoy my existing dvd collection with almot hi def images. On some dvds (Star Wars for instance), the images are so crystal clear, at first glance, you think you are watching a blu ray version of the movie. I have not had any compatability issues with this unit, and have been able to play recordable dvds and cds as well. It does everything, and does it amazingly well. My hat goes off to LG for making one of the finest, if not THE finest, hi def players out there. I e-mailed the company recently to ask if there was any truth to rumors that they were discontinuing this model anytime soon, and if so, if they were going to replace it with a new combo player. They wrote back and said they were not planning to discontinue the BH200 at this time, but would not be making any HD DVD players in the future. I am glad I was able to purchase two more of these babies before they become extinct. I also downloaded a firmware update onto a dvd, but have not yet installed it, as I am simply enjoying watching all my multi-format movies without any problems. I will install the update in the future, if needed. This player makes a great stand-alone blu ray player, even if you do not own any HD DVDs, and a great upconverting player as well. But if you, like me, have an HD DVD collection, this is a great way to be able to continue to enjoy the format without replacing them with blu ray versions. This will absolutely give you the best of both worlds!

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Toshiba HD-XA2 1080p HD-DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)First let me say that I have or have had an A1, A2, XA2, 360 HD Drive, and PS3. This is by far the best HD-DVD player out, as well as the best SD player. The Reon's NR is awesome on SD discs, and the edge enhancement agorithm is so refined I have yet to find a reason not to leave it on level ALL the time, even on HD material. I have had experience repairing one of these and can shed some light on a couple of issues.
1 - Does your XA2 power down randomly when playing HD discs? If so it is caused by a bug that only affects some players. If the unit is turned on while its' input is selected (on the receiver or TV) a bug occurs during handshake that causes the shutdown at random. I speculate it is to do with setting the overheat threshold uncommonly low. The unit will only have this problem with HD media, when set to 1080p. Set it to 1080i and it's fine. Play SD discs at 1080p and it's fine.
-The workaround is to select any input other than the XA2's when turning the player on (or leave the TV/receiver off). Turn on the player and wait for it to boot up completely. Once it is finished you may select the player's input and it will play HD discs at 1080p for days on end...no shutdown.
2 - Does your player seem to have a high pitched whine? This is in fact not caused by the fan in the XA2 which is awfully quiet compared to most active CE cooling devices (about 1/5th that of the PS3 during HD playback). It is caused by the transformer on the power supply unit ringing. The only way to fix it is to exchange the unit, or send it to Toshiba for a PSU replacement. For the tech savvy, this unit uses the same PSU as the A2 (which can be gotten on the cheap right now). The service manuals can be found on AVS, and it is a simple job of loosening a few screws and a couple of connectors. If you can change a CPU in a PC you can do this. Otherwise, it should be covered under Toshiba's warranty.
3 - Does your player play SD discs fine, but read "no disc" when you insert HD media? This is caused by a blue laser diode failure in the drive itself. Face it Blue Lasers are still new, and unfortunately the yields are still pretty poor. Some faulty parts slip through after seemingly making the grade at the factory. Again, this requires a repair by Toshiba to replace the drive, but if you're brave and have access to an A2 the drive is the same. The swap is even easier than the PSU. 5 screws and a ribbon cable. If you have a screwdriver handy this should take about 10 minutes. Of course, it is covered by Toshiba under warranty, but why not fix your XA2 yourself and part with the A2 for a while instead (which is much lighter, and thus cheaper to ship as well).
4 - Does your unit hang on the welcome screen? Welp, it could be one of two things. A bad/overheating motherboard or an undervolting PSU. The PSU fix can be done easily if you have access to an A2...then you'll know. If it turns out to be a bad mainboard Toshiba is your only hope. Their procedure is to just send a new player if the mainboard is bad. They only repair the unit if it's a bad PSU or Drive. Either way turn around is about a week.
5 - Did you get stuck with a remote whose backlight doesn't work? It's no joke. the XA2 remote is VERY difficult to read in the dark, but once the backlight lights up it is a sight to behold. It goes from barely usable to "best of the bunch". the lights are extremely bright and very legible. What you may not know though is that you have to press and hold the backlight button for 5 seconds to turn on the feature. There are thousands of people who think they got stuck with a broken remote. trust me, once it lights up you'll love it.
The latest firmware as of this post is 2.7, and that fixes 24p output as well as adding HBR bitstream output. With this update this player is once again the king of all HD players. It sports the best PQ for both HD and SD discs, and offers all of the new features (even those of the A35 which is the inferior player). The bad news is, as of this update these are becoming scarce, and since Toshiba is building these for Onkyo now (list for $899) they have discontinued the XA2. the Onkyo is the exact same player in a new box for more $$$. get an XA2 while you can. Enjoy! I hope I've helped some people get by the initial bad impressions they may have had. No electronics model is without a few lemons. The XA2 has a few, but the above should help some of you avoid a return or exchange. If you did get a lemon, and there is no more stock, consider fixing it yourself by getting an A2 to sacrifice, then send the A2 for repair...or just let Toshiba fix it. once you have a working unit you'll agree...it was worth it. This is any HD TV's best friend!

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Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player

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