HDi limitations notwithstanding, has anyone had the opportunity to compare the XA2's PQ (HD-DVD & upscaled DVD) to that of LG's new dual format player? Audio quality?

I had considered pipcking up a second HD-DVD player (I have an A2), particularly one that will do 1080p/24 for my FHD1.

HDi limitations notwithstanding, has anyone had the opportunity to compare the XA2's PQ (HD-DVD & upscaled DVD) to that of LG's new dual format player? Audio quality?

I had considered pipcking up a second HD-DVD player (I have an A2), particularly one that will do 1080p/24 for my FHD1.

PQ is great, but no HDMI audio.

how's the audio over toslink then?

how's the audio over toslink then?
a little light if you ask me.

PQ is great, but no HDMI audio.

What a $1200 player with HDMI 1.3 and it doesn't do audio over HDMI LOL. Crippled HD DVD playback and no HDMI audio I pass on this one.

What a $1200 player with HDMI 1.3 and it doesn't do audio over HDMI LOL. Crippled HD DVD playback and no HDMI audio I pass on this one.

Definitely a pass. This product needs to mature and fully support both implementations.

Definitely a pass. This product needs to mature and fully support both implementations.

I kind of like the LG approach. It can almost be viewed as a videophile player. I'd rather have a pure 1080p24 output than IME. They just need to bring the audio up to spec and have full TrueHD decoding over HDMI and/or TrueHD pass-through.

It's almost to their advantage that they don't fully comply with the HD-DVD specs, since that lets them do a lot of things people have been begging for on this forum. IMHO the full specs heavily favor cheesy interactive features at the expense of pure audio and video quality and sensible features like resume play.

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Steve

I thought that the LG only had HDMI 1.2

yes. 1.2 only

I haven't heard a peep about the BH100's SD DVD playback quality, and that makes me a little suspicious.

I read in a post that the LG can not do 1080p60 only 1080p24. Too bad.

1080p/24 is what I'm looking for in a player! I'm just not sure the rest of the package is up to par. I'm trying to hold out for HDi, HDMI 1.3 (although this is the least important to me) and quality audio over HDMI.

I haven't heard the bad reports of SD DVD playback, I'll have to check that out. This is also VERY important and a great reason to wait.

I haven't heard a peep about the BH100's SD DVD playback quality, and that makes me a little suspicious.

SD DVD play back is fine. I posted some photos from the LG and my older SD DVD player in the owner's thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9537589&&#post9537589

All-in-all the SD play back (comparing going from 480p to 1080i) was good... a little more detail and a little deeper blacks. Menu on the SD DVDs worked normally.

THe LG does upconvert then, but can anyone here comment on how it's upconversion results compare to the Toshiba's (which I have seen and look outstanding) and the other BD players (Pioneer, panasonic, etc.)

SD DVD play back is fine. I posted some photos from the LG and my older SD DVD player in the owner's thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9537589&&#post9537589

All-in-all the SD play back (comparing going from 480p to 1080i) was good... a little more detail and a little deeper blacks. Menu on the SD DVDs worked normally.
Jeff,

So, you are saying that is it a little better than th Sony DVP-NS700P which listed for $350 back in an early 2002 review and is still on Amazon listed at $199. Do you know how this compares to other players such as the OPPO 971 or HD-A1/XA1?

Ths definitely sounds promising though. I'm fairly critical of SD performance since I own many more SD than HD titles:-)

Yes the Sony DVP-NS700P was expensive (relatively) when I got it new. I'm surprised it's still for sale.

I think the biggest improvement the BH100 has over the Sony DVP-NS700P is I went from component to HDMI. Much has been debated over component vs. HDMI but on my plasma HDMI just looks better (sharper/darker). So yes the BH100 HDMI 1080i produced a better picture than the Sony DVP-NS700P component 480p. You can judge for yourself from the photos I posted in the owner's thread. The difference is slight but you have to realize the Sony DVP-NS700P already had a great picture. I don't know how it compares to other SD players.

LG really had a great opportunity to capitalize on both frons with the BH100. However, they ran out of the gate prematurly with a product that lack in both functions and performance. I hope they can fix most of these problems with a firmware update. If not, I seriously dout the product will be successful.

Does the LG decode TrueHD at all? Ie. will it decode and send out the analog outputs or is a DD/DTS only player?

jcg

I kind of like the LG approach. It can almost be viewed as a videophile player. I'd rather have a pure 1080p24 output than IME. They just need to bring the audio up to spec and have full TrueHD decoding over HDMI and/or TrueHD pass-through.

It's almost to their advantage that they don't fully comply with the HD-DVD specs, since that lets them do a lot of things people have been begging for on this forum. IMHO the full specs heavily favor cheesy interactive features at the expense of pure audio and video quality and sensible features like resume play.

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Steve

I thought the DVD Forum stipulated that the LG could not use the HD DVD logo unless they fully implemented HDi because it is mandated in the spec. Did that not happen for some reason?

I like my LG alot, All 3 formatts look great on it and the lossles audio over analog outs is better than any hdmi to AV reciever i have heard in auditions.

Athanasios

so, does th LG due true HD over analog?

so, does th LG due true HD over analog?

Yes but only 2 channel I believe. Which is a big 'but' IMO. Although the Samsung Duo is reputed to eventually do 5.1 analogue True HD, it allegedly will not do 1080/24p for HDDVD, only for Blu Ray. I personally would go with the Samsung. Pioneer are rumoured to be working on a dual format player which I would guess would check all the boxes.

Pioneer are rumoured to be working on a dual format player which I would guess would check all the boxes.I have not read this anywhere. This would represent a major shift in position for Pioneer, who have been pretty steadfast in their support for BD. Do you have a link?

I have not read this anywhere. This would represent a major shift in position for Pioneer, who have been pretty steadfast in their support for BD. Do you have a link?

Sorry, not quite how I remembered it or even particularly firm but the following is a quote from Dong Ho Shin , senior VP/ GM of HP R + D team, Digital AV division published in Home Cinema Choice, UK magazine. The article was about Samsung and their Duo/combo player HDDVD/BD.

www.homecinemachoice.com

" Pioneer is reportedly looking at a dual player too ". Don't know if the quote is on the website.

I haven't seen too much about the build quality on this thing. I swore off of LG a long time ago because everything I've ever tried, from cellphones to DVD players to TV's, have been awful. Often they've died - mercifully - even before my 30-day return-to the-store was up. Nothing changed went they went from Goldstar to LG, except the name.

So, is it solid? Has anyone had theirs die quickly? I'm tempted to try one of these, though my better judgement says to wait for the Sammy.

So, is it solid? Has anyone had theirs die quickly? I'm tempted to try one of these, though my better judgement says to wait for the Sammy.

I think it is a well built player, not as heavy as some players but i love the way it looks, simple,uncluttered and sophisticated.I have had mine since early january and have not had a problem, the firmware update fixed the minor audio drop outs it had. pic looks great and standard DVD's look great. I just bought a SDI moded denon 1600 and to tell you the truth the LG upconverted to to 480p,720p,or 1080i looks better!

Athanasios

I think it is a well built player, not as heavy as some players but i love the way it looks, simple,uncluttered and sophisticated.I have had mine since early january and have not had a problem, the firmware update fixed the minor audio drop outs it had. pic looks great and standard DVD's look great. I just bought a SDI moded denon 1600 and to tell you the truth the LG upconverted to to 480p,720p,or 1080i looks better!

AthanasiosCool, thanks for the reply! Maybe they've gotten their act together!