The Blu_ray HD DVD software forum has a lot of posts about this see: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=839376

I haven't gotten the set yet but would like input from people that have watched the HD version to see if it's a little better than the BD version or not. I think the posting on this is very nit picking, but hey, I understand we all want best possible quality so any flaws in the video is hard to accept, after all we are paying for High Definition, right! I welcome any comments on the Planet Earth video especially from those who have both formats to compare! Please check out the link to the BD thread first and read what they are saying about the BD version of the movie.

Same codec used so I'd imagine banding issues complained of would be the same. I'm holding off buying the set considering some of the issues being noted.

The set looks good and is good HD demo material at times. At others there is horrifying banding and softness. It's nothing to get too worried about.

Yet some people fall to the ground and throw a tantrum if others point out it's not Tier 0. This happens a lot with highly anticipated releases. Human psychology is fun.:cool:

I don't think banding issue has to do with VC-1 codec in particular. You see banding with both AVC and MPEG-2 as well. Banding/posterization probably has to do with combination of source, downconversion of color space, and poor QC during compression and encoding.

this thread would have never been made if they would start making HDTVs and HD-DVD discs with deep color. I fear the HDMI 1.3 deep color will end up being yet another great technology gone the way of SED TV.

I don't think banding issue has to do with VC-1 codec in particular. You see banding with both AVC and MPEG-2 as well. Banding/posterization probably has to do with combination of source, downconversion of color space, and poor QC during compression and encoding.

Correct on all counts. IMHO.

Yet some people fall to the ground and throw a tantrum if others point out it's not Tier 0. This happens a lot with highly anticipated releases. Human psychology is fun.:cool:

Are you talking in the third person?

this thread would have never been made if they would start making HDTVs and HD-DVD discs with deep color. I fear the HDMI 1.3 deep color will end up being yet another great technology gone the way of SED TV.

I don't know if that's particularly the issue at all. Take the movie Into the Blue for blu ray. Fantastic underwater shots - clear and colorful with no banding I can see. I've seen the same clarity in various Discovery HD docus regarding underwater shots. There may be a number of factors here including compression. Also is the type of camera employed. So we don't need deep color to avoid some of the things noted with this title.

This has nothing to do with deep color or hdmi 1.3. The issue with banding comes from the original source as evidenced by the fact that the same banding is visible in all versions of the documentary. Even if you had equipment with deep color support you'd still get banding as the source has it.

While my set hasn't arrived from Amazon, I did get the first two disc from Netflix. The first disc froze during a scene with the polar bear cubs playing in the snow and I was forced to skip ahead (AX2 by the way). As far as other scenes, one scene could be sharp but the next scene would be soft and/or grainy as heck. I have the dessert area at home to watch next. Otherwise, it's a very interesting documentary. I don't know if they do later on, but I wish they had shown David Attenborough on camera here and there. He is a grand old gentleman with a calming presence isn't he?

Yes, there's banding. Yes, some shots aren't all that hot (I don't think it was shot 100% in HD), but overall, its a very nice picture-sometimes great. As a documentary, its OK-not much new in that department.
J

I watched the first 3 episodes last night and didnt notice banding or anything else (and I was looking for it) that made it a "bad experience" watching it. I am very happy with the AQ and PQ. I have the HD DVD version with a Mits HC3000U FP and a A2 via HDMI.

Same codec = the the same transfers, I've done some back to back testing and the HD DVD version has better blacks, but I assume this is player dependent.