Headline: Theta - Page 10  

Since the Valis has analog outputs:

1) Is there still going to be a Virtu?
2) I wonder what level the DACs are in the Valis (close or equivalent to Premiums, Superior II's, or Extremes) ?

I am getting bombarded with HDMI upgrade questions - Wow, I never realized how many of my customers are enjoying their CBIII's and now chomping at the bit to get HDMI..

Well guys , Thanks so much for all the great years of support.. I got a call today asking if I would be taking care of the upgrades for our loyals and of course, we are prioritizing the list already and as everyone knows I will get everyone upgraded timely and cost effectively as well.

I am in communication with Theta many times a week and as things progress I will announce it on the AVS and keep everyone in the loop as well.

As we all know, This card will set the Casablanca III once again in a class that is untouched by any. The fact that we have successfully upgraded this machine for so many years without a hitch is amazing enough but once the HDMI card hits, Man oh man, that separates the men from the boys!!!

Looking forward to keeping you guys updated !

Craig ( Theatermax )

Craig, I am afraid your cell # right now is the hottest thing since phone sex!!!!
You (and Theta Digital) are in a class "untouched by any" (except you by the wife)!!!@@@

Jeff, have you got on the list yet for an early CB3 HDMI 1.3 yet???

Theta Digital is now a "full speed ahead" company. ATI, its new owner, has the financial assets and engineering contacts and know how to proceed
"full speed ahead where no one has gone before" (Star Trek). You should get on board before the Enterprise takes off for its five year mission.

"You should get on board before the Enterprise takes off for its five year mission."

Which is what... bringing HDMI to the Theta? ;0

Shawn

lol

I wonder if the reason most others are hesitating on HDMI or HDMI 1.3 is because of the new features coming out for processors from DTS and Dolby..

Dolby announced new capabilities that are coming to receivers that likely any new piece will not have (Dolby Volume control, Dolby Dynamics, etc).. DTS has speaker mapping coming which looks very slick and other nicities as well. I wonder if Lexicon / Meridian is waiting on these new features to mature and then bring out a new piece with ALL the new goodies. These features will require new hardware internally.

HDMI audio has been around for 4 years. Theta is finally adding it. I wonder, if in typical Theta 'slow to embrace' form, that after you guys pay $4K for basic HDMI 1.3 audio, that Dolby's and DTS's new add ons (which will require new hardware) will be announced... and then you're behind technology again (or have to wait another 4 years to get it).

As I see it HDMI 1.3 offers nothing over HDMI 1.2 LPCM audio, so the heavies like Lexicon are waiting until they can add something really new like DD and DTS new features (as they already have HDMI audio). Who knows?

More likely the "heavies" as you put it simply will wait another year or two to make money on their existing model/investment.

"More likely the "heavies" as you put it simply will wait another year or two to make money on their existing model/investment."

You don't have a full time engineering staff sitting around twiddling their thumbs for a year or two.

Shawn

Youi are correct. I don't. You apparently think that Lexicon and Halcro are already moving towards HDMI audio 1.3 but aren't telling anyone until they're close to it. Don't you? Is your guess that they are maybe a year away from an announcement?

I think HDMI 1.3 is one part of it... but other features like what Dolby was touting at CEDIA and DTS's new features (amongst others) are coming... I see these types of new features as the hold up. Getting lossless over HDMI isn't anything new. New is new and those aforementioned features are very new and coming very soon.

Possible, but if Theta is not going to that now, can you imagine how much noise from this forum and others will produce, 6 months ago and now it is like day and night different, right? For me, I much prefer this way and I hope this will be a bigger step than that and if Theta engineers are smart enough, they should have plan, not necessary the hardware and software, in this build already. Also, it will making better business sense if they come out now and capture more market share, why doing a face to face fight with Lexicon or Meridian together if they can do it early, today. All we can hope now is next "Dolby Volume control, Dolby Dynamics, etc" upgrade will be a smaller job and cost less. Is that all the CB open architecture all about?


hmm... I think we just somewhat starting 1.3b to be stable and mature stage, some of the features in 1.3b are still under developments. I think since mid to end of last year, all BD lossless format such as TrueHD and DTS MA are coming to us in a big wave. But 4 years ago, HDMI up to HDMI 1.2, I think we were able to use other input options, but not lossless format due to bandwidth issue inside the cable, right?

Steve,

All I meant is you don't have a full time engineering staff sitting around doing nothing.

What HSG is working on I don't know. What they were working on was the #502.

"but aren't telling anyone until they're close to it."

That is what Lexicon has always done. There was maybe 3 or 4 weeks between announcing the MC-12HD and shipping the MC-12HD. Ditto most of the upgrades for the MC-12 and so on.

Shawn

"But 4 years ago, HDMI up to HDMI 1.2, I think we were able to use other input options, but not lossless format due to bandwidth issue inside the cable, right?"

Lossless formats were able to be used over HDMI 1.0, just passed as LPCM.

Shawn

Exactly. Lossless format just start to coming to us in last 12 months. But LPCM has been here long but a company like Theta why bother to do just LPCM but not all the proper decoding.

well it''s about time you got yur butt on here to answer some questions

Lossless over HDMI has been with us since HD DVD (2.5 years). It is old news. A processors ability to accept and post process digitally is the most basic of functions of any pre/pro over the last 2-3 years.

But more is coming and thats where I feel the other high end manufacturers are waiting before releasing their new fully re-designed reference processors. Lossless over HDMI simply isn't new and a basic feature of any receiver of years past.

"Lossless over HDMI has been with us since HD DVD (2.5 years)."

Further back then that, it was first available with DVD-A and HDMI.

Shawn

maybe...... but I think you have to plunge in somewhere. Don't you? At the rate this particular technology is accelerating, "cuting edge" is almost sure to be "blunt edge" soon after it hits the market if not before. Even if it doesn't and everything is as you say, it won't be anything new to us Theta folks. The other guys can have the quantity. We'll take the quality.

I agree... There is something always coming around the corner. LExicon has had HDMI for some time.. There is not enough new to replace the MC-12B HD. THeta needs an HDMI solution yesterday. You Theta guys have been very patient.

Sometimes waiting is worth it. Like your patience is living with your Sony Qualia!!!@@@

Yes, and I am ready to replace it... Saw some neat stuff!!!

this table may help a little to prove your point.

HDMI version	1	1.1	1.2	1.3	1.3a
			1.2a		1.3b
					1.3b1
sRGB	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
YCbCr	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
8 channel LPCM/192 kHz/24-bit audio capability	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Blu-ray Disc video and audio at full resolution[F]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Consumer Electronic Control (CEC)[G]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
DVD-Audio support	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Super Audio CD (DSD) support[H]	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Deep Color	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
xvYCC	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Auto lip-sync	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Dolby TrueHD bitstream capable	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
DTS-HD Master Audio bitstream capable	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Updated list of CEC commands[i]	No	No	No	No	Yes

Thank you javry. All I am trying to say is
1) HDMI 1.3b is just starting to be mature, stable and other under developments.
2) BD lossless format just heat up last 12 months or less.
3) Before we can use other connections such as analog, 1, 2 or 3 SPDIFs to do just as good.

Yes, LPCM, lossless or whatever maybe here as long as 3 to 5 years. But for a small manufacture compare to those mass production manufacture such as Pioneer, Onkyo, they have to be careful and can't afford making any mistake to introduce anything that not sell or format obsolete before even begin production. The most I think and consider is behind about 1 year old; when most mass production 1.3b receiver launched mid to end of last year, right?

More assumptions steve? You still have not cleared up your last comments on how theta's better power will change the was a DSP operates.


Lex and halcro would not benefit from releaseing a HDMI 1.3 product so what would be the point? How is theta at the top of the class when they are years late and still do not offer any type of room correction?


This was a good laugh, theta did not even have a powered product at the show and people are jumping up and down.


Untouched by any? You are 4 years late on HDMI.


So before the ATI buy out you agree that theta did not have the ability to release a HDMI product?


How does LPCM not offer all the proper decoding?

Good to know that we still have some slots open to do other mods/upgrade. Thanks Theta!


What a service!!! Thanks Norm.

Doug,

What I meant is some AVR out there just offer LPCM. But a company like Theta, they should not do that instead they should just introduce lossless format decoding along with LPCM together, just like what they're doing now.

Receivers have offered both LPCM and bitstream over HDMI for some time now. LPCM is lossless and does not differ from lossless bitstream, that and the fact that blu ray specs require LPCM over bitstream. If you bitstream a lossless codec the menu sounds will not work will all/most blu ray disks.