|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
67.110.184.131
As far as I can tell, they are basically the same as the European models.
The A2 is shipping in October, XA2 in December-earlier than I was expecting.
Jack
Follow Ups:
The two new models are not quite what I woud call perfection. The A2 while having a faster load time, and better remote, is a step down from the A1.Its pretty much the same thing, in a smaller package without the analog outs for audio. The XA2 has the same BS 1080p that the Samsung BD player has, going from 1080p-> 1080i-> 1080p.
They both look lke DVd players,and probably aren't built as well as G1 machines. The sdame gripes apply to the European versions too.
I'm underwhelmed.
OTOH, the Panasonic Blu-ray plyer will be coming out in limited quantities for $1300, and the Pioneer and Sonys are delayed untill 2007.
Jack
It turns out, that the machines at CEDIA were prototypes. The final version for the XA2 has not been completely finalized yet(?). Toshiba has not officially stated how 1080p will be done-they may not know yet(?). That sounds odd, but we'll have to wait and see.
Jack
The HDMI version of the PS3 may still be the number 1 Blu-ray player to get -- even over the Panasonic (which I would say is number 2). They will probably sell out before they are released due to preorders, despite the high price ($599). The PS3's HDMI version to non-HDMI version ratio is supposed to be 80/20 in favor of HDMI, which, by the way, will be HDMI v1.3 (will anyone else even have this new chipset?).I don't know if the above two players have all of the following capabilities, but here's what I want in a Blu-ray player before I buy:
needs to output 1080p (real, not deinterlaced to 1080p) with the capability of 24fps, not just 60fps (60fps locks in judder with film sources due to 3:2)
needs to have HDMI v1.3 for undecoded DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD digital output
needs to have DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD decoding on-board so that other audio and special content can be muxed together for digital output (without an on-board decoder, the only audio you will get via digital output will be one part of the stream, not multiple parts of the stream -- ie; you can't overlay director comments while the soundtrack is playing, not that I would want to do this but for other applications the on-board decoder is necessary)
needs to upscale DVDs to 1080p
HD-SDI mod capability would be a plus, but not a necessity
It's kind of sad that Toshiba is still having the same 1080i issue, but they probably bought those Broadcom chips in very large quantity and wouldn't want to add to the loss if they were to use a better chip (they're already losing about $250 on each of the US model players they're selling now).
Will the PS3 have straight 1080p as apposed to pip 1080p? For $600, it won't be SOTA. Tosh's new XA2 will have HDMI 1.3 as will the top European model, and they will do 1080p24-but with the extra step. :-(> > > needs to upscale DVDs to 1080p < < <
Yea, that would be nice.> > > (they're already losing about $250 on each of the US model players they're selling now). < < <
I heard those rumors too. I don't know if it is are true or not. If true, then people should buy up the remaining G1s, since they are now on sale. They are a better bang/buck buy.
Jack
Will the PS3 have straight 1080p as apposed to pip 1080p?Still to be seen. I doubt anyone's getting a test sample to play with anytime soon.
they will do 1080p24-but with the extra step.
Sort of like Florida to Nevada by way of Canada. Guess that's proof men are "driving" the next gen hardware, because if women were "driving"...
...we'd friggin' be there already!
since they are now on sale.
The AVS special was $399 and last month's Shoppers Advantage issue had them for $399 as well.
> > > Sort of like Florida to Nevada by way of Canada < < <
That about sums it up.> > > The AVS special was $399 and last month's Shoppers Advantage issue had them for $399 as well < < <
Most B&M stores weren't selling them that cheap, now they are-sometimes cheaper. Remember, the A2 is most likely step *down* from the A1, and it will go for $500.
Jack
There's a deal at AVS for the first gen players: $399, no tax and a free movie. The step up version is $200 more.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: