Just a heads up for the HT folks

[Nik]

A trip to the local Wlly World (Walmart) I found that they were clearing out all their HD and Blu-ray DVD players. I picked up Toshiba's Gen1 HDDVD for $200! :rocker: They also had RCA HDDVD ($249) and Philips Blu-ray ($450). Good time to pick one up if you have been looking but on a budget.
Nik

 

[Caerus]

Thanks Nik, I will stop by and take a look.

Brad

 

[Pcar928fan]

I saw that yesterday too, but I am waiting on a super blue combo player...actually I would like to have a choice from several, that will drive the prices down and the quality up!

 

[Reverb2009]

I saw that yesterday too, but I am waiting on a super blue combo player...actually I would like to have a choice from several, that will drive the prices down and the quality up!

How about just say no to HD DVD and YES! To blu-Ray.

Blu-Ray movies are out selling HD DVD almost 5 to 1 and Blockbuster video has just announced exclusive support to Blu-Ray. Denon is rumored to announce in July there Hi-def DVD support with a new Blu-Ray player and the Blu-Ray group is starting a promotion in july if you buy a new player you can get 5 free movies. HD DVD has been doing the 5 free movies and even 10 free in some stores for the past few months and sales are still poor. The future is looking bright for Blu-Ray.

 

[Pcar928fan]

Blu-Ray movies are out selling HD DVD almost 5 to 1 and Blockbuster video has just announced exclusive support to Blu-Ray. Denon is rumored to announce in July there Hi-def DVD support with a new Blu-Ray player and the Blu-Ray group is starting a promotion in july if you buy a new player you can get 5 free movies. HD DVD has been doing the 5 free movies and even 10 free in some stores for the past few months and sales are still poor. The future is looking bright for Blu-Ray.

Yea, but the Porn industry is going to back HD DVD!

 

[Reverb2009]

Yea, but the Porn industry is going to back HD DVD!

Not all of it, some are supporting Blu-Ray.

 

[Audiophiliac]

I think with more combo players coming out, you will see both formats for a long time. Basically until the next thing comes along....which, IMHO, will not be a physical media format at all.

One nice thing about HDDVD is the hybrid discs they are making that still play on SD players until one decided to go HD. Kind of surprising Sony didnt design this into BluRay. They did it with SACD.

 

[Reverb2009]

I think with more combo players coming out, you will see both formats for a long time. Basically until the next thing comes along....which, IMHO, will not be a physical media format at all.

If universal format players take off think DVD-A and SACD all over again. Two formats remaining in a niche market, until the industry drops support.

One nice thing about HDDVD is the hybrid discs they are making that still play on SD players until one decided to go HD. Kind of surprising Sony didnt design this into BluRay. They did it with SACD.

If it is such a great idea I wonder why the AVSforum members hate it so much, and curse a studio every time they release a movie in the combo format?

The reason sony chose not to do it is because Blu-Ray is trying to be DVD's successor not an add on to the format.

 

[STV]

Since I own both an HD DVD player (HD-XA2) and Blu-ray player (BDP-S300), and have had plenty of time to compare both, I can say that both formats deliver the video and audio goods. As to which format is going to come out victorious, well only time will decide that one. But IMO, like Audiophiliac said, I also believe that HD DVD and Blu-ray are going to co-exist for a while.

Toshiba's highly regarded XA2 is probably the best up-converting player on the market right now. And sales for this player are still strong and their lower priced A20 is doing well also. I don't see Toshiba throwing in the towel any time soon. And as long as Universal stays loyal to them I still think they have a fighting chance.

I think it's still too soon to declare a victor, and once Christmas comes it will be interesting to see what happens.


Seth

 

[Reverb2009]

Seth,

I too own both formats, I have had HD DVD for 15 months, and Blu-Ray for 8. I currently have 29 HD DVD movies and 26 Blu-Ray. My opinion is they are both equally good, performance wise I would give the edge to Blu-Ray. They had a rocky start but have gotten there s**t together. I don't care which one wins only that one does win and not two losers like DVD A SACD.

I agree with you Toshiba is not going to back down, but with Blu-Ray gaining more and more of the market every day and the fact the no one in the movie or electronics industry wants this war, because it's bad for business. There are rumors that some of the Big box retailers do not want to carry two formats and may drop the loosing format at the end of this year beginning of next year. Thats not a good thing for HD DVD if one of the world largest electronics retailers (BestBuy) drops your format.

 

[DrJRapp]

Unfortunatly, like love, war and politics, the winner will probably be the side with the deepest pockets. The Blockbuster/Bluray thing is all about the consortium offering the discs at rediculously low prices to have an exclusive hold on that point. The same thing may happen at the retail level.

I own both and each format has it's own technical merits. I do believe that the format with the most available titles may be the winner come Christmas time.

 

[Reverb2009]

Unfortunatly, like love, war and politics, the winner will probably be the side with the deepest pockets. The Blockbuster/Bluray thing is all about the consortium offering the discs at rediculously low prices to have an exclusive hold on that point. The same thing may happen at the retail level.

A few months back Blockbuster chose a small percentage of there stores to participate in a trial program (two stores in my area were apart of the program). Half of the participating stores got HD DVD the other half Blu-Ray. All sales in these stores were tracked and showed Blu-Ray was being heavily rented and HD DVD not so much. BlockBuster then going by the data chose Blu-Ray as its format of choice. So I am told the stores that got HD DVD will still have it, but all the other stores will be Blu-Ray only.

I own both and each format has it's own technical merits. I do believe that the format with the most available titles may be the winner come Christmas time.

Currently Blu-Ray has 276 titles, HD DVD 257.

And if you recall Blu-Ray launched almost 4 months behind HD DVD.

 

[STV]

Those are some good points Joe. I have to say I agree. We don't want Blu-ray and HD DVD to be another DVD-A/SACD. Those audio formats are on life support right now.

For people like us that own players for both high def formats, whoever does win isn't a problem. But for people who own a player for only one format, and it turns out to be a losing format, they are then going to be forced to buy another player if they want high def content.

Things are going to get very interesting come years end.



Seth

 

[tonyc]

Hell, I love 'em both and really can't tell a difference between them. I don't care who wins because they are both SO much better than DVD.

 

[MiTT]

Those are some good points Joe. I have to say I agree. We don't want Blu-ray and HD DVD to be another DVD-A/SACD. Those audio formats are on life support right now.

Seth, I'm holding off on the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD front for a while myself, but not sure I agree with your comment about the high def audio formats, at least not in the case of SACD. DVD-Audio titles are limited to about 300 titles right now, although more are coming out, like the upcoming Doors boxed set. SACD however has about 3600 titles available, again with more titles coming out all the time. I get e-mails from Acoustic Sounds, Music Direct and the Elusive Disc every week with new titles being announced.

SACD certainly doesn't have the mainstream penetration (can we say that and not get filtered?), that one of these video formats is likely to achieve, but it does still seem vital in the niche audiophile market. Hell, everyone said vinyl was dead 20 years ago, but vinyl sales continue to grow every year!

 

[theWB]

DVD-Audio titles are limited to about 300 titles right now, although more are coming out, like the upcoming Doors boxed set.

Tim,
Not trying to hijack the thread here, but could you post a link about this upcoming Doors DVD-A release. Huge Doors fan and I can't find any info on it.
Thanks,wayne

 

[MiTT]

Tim,
Not trying to hijack the thread here, but could you post a link about this upcoming Doors DVD-A release. Huge Doors fan and I can't find any info on it.
Thanks,wayne

Wayne,

Heres a link to it on the Acoustic Sounds website...http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=39255

6 CDs + 6 DVD Audios

"The Doors announced themselves to the world with a near-perfect debut album," writes veteran rock journalist Ben Fong-Torres in his liner notes for this unprecedented box. Indeed, The Doors' self-titled 1967 debut – recorded in late '66 – struck awe in fans and critics alike and heralded the arrival of one of the most original daring bands ever. Through five more studio albums, The Doors were fronted by the legendary Jim Morrison, and continually pushed the boundaries of contemporary music and popular culture. To mark the band's 40th anniversary, Rhino salutes their legacy with a 12-disc box housing remastered and expanded CD/DVD editions of these six album masterpieces. Introducing a wealth of previously unreleased sonic treasures, bonus videoclips, 5.1 mixes and more, Perception opens up The Doors' classic material to a new level of exploration that's truly worthy of the exalted place these landmark albums hold in rock music history.

I'm planning to purchase as well!

 

[theWB]

Thanks, Tim

Found it on Amazon and just placed my order.:music:

 

[STV]

Hell, I love 'em both and really can't tell a difference between them. I don't care who wins because they are both SO much better than DVD.

I couldn't agree more!

 

[STV]

Seth, I'm holding off on the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD front for a while myself, but not sure I agree with your comment about the high def audio formats, at least not in the case of SACD. DVD-Audio titles are limited to about 300 titles right now, although more are coming out, like the upcoming Doors boxed set. SACD however has about 3600 titles available, again with more titles coming out all the time. I get e-mails from Acoustic Sounds, Music Direct and the Elusive Disc every week with new titles being announced.

SACD certainly doesn't have the mainstream penetration (can we say that and not get filtered?), that one of these video formats is likely to achieve, but it does still seem vital in the niche audiophile market. Hell, everyone said vinyl was dead 20 years ago, but vinyl sales continue to grow every year!

Well maybe I was a tad too extreme about what I said. No they're not dead yet, and some folks are still buying them. It's a niche market for sure, and one that the mainstream just never really embraced. But if it continues to sell for those who do own players and are wanting new content, that's a good thing.

I own an SACD/DVD-A universal player but I hardly ever listen to them anymore. I thought it was cool at the beginning, but over time I just lost interest. For now I am very happy with listening to redbook CD's on my Sony CDP-XA20ES that multichannel music isn't a big deal for me anymore.

But I have to agree with you, good ol' vinyl is still selling and it looks like it's not going to go away anytime soon. So maybe the same will hold true for SACD/DVD-A.


Seth