Digital Trends

Today, all HD DVD models take advantage of the superior capabilities of the HD DVD format, including high-definition level visual quality up to 1080p, utilizing cutting-edge video compression technologies (H.264 and VC-1), high resolution audio capabilities, and the capability for enhanced functionality, including Advanced Navigation (iHD).

 

The advanced navigation and interactive features offer new and exciting ways to interact with content. The player’s “pop-up menu” displays movie chapters with thumbnails while the movie plays, and allows users to navigate menu features without pausing playback. Picture in Picture (PIP) with motion video functions includes the ability to play supplementary video over the main program, allowing viewers to watch bonus content — such as a superimposed director’s commentary or a documentary about the making of the movie — while the movie plays. It works well.

Unlike some of the Blu-ray players currently available (Pioneer, Philips, and Sony), HD DVD does play back standard CDs. Also, HD DVD supports the new audio codecs, such as Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD (5.1) and DTS HD (core only), and includes decoders for each. For true fidelity of these audio signals, you will need to use HDMI or the 5.1-channel analog output jacks.

 

The HD XA2 is the first next-generation optical disc player that includes HDMI version 1.3, which passes the new audio codecs to a compatible A/V Receiver or A/V Processor. Otherwise, to receive the full benefit of these new codecs, you'll have to use the multi-channel analog audio outputs. Audio signals can also be passed via S/PDIF. However, since advanced audio codecs cannot be passed via these connectors, the audio stream is automatically defaulted to PCM audio. 

 

One of the things that separates this next-generation optical disc player from others is its video processing. I've been saying this for awhile now: one of the key ingredients to exceptional DTV products is the processing. In the case of the XA2, it's the Silicon Optix Reon-VX chipset utilized. The Reon-VX offers true HQV (Hollywood Quality Video) four-field, motion-adaptive, per-pixel, high-definition (HD) deinterlacing, which delivers the sharpest and most detailed HD images possible. With 1080i material, you'll be able to see things like strands of hair, guitar strings, and even threads in suits and ties. By looking at each individual pixel, HQV processing ensures that there is no unnecessary loss of resolution, as is the case with region-based or frame-based solutions. With HQV's content-based HD cadence detection, the Reon-VX delivers true 1080p reconstruction of HD film sources, including Hollywood films and television shows produced on film. The Reon chipset is a highly integrated advanced SoC. The XA2 also features a 297 Mhz/12-bit video DAC with 4x oversampling.

 

On the audio side, the XA2 employs a high-performance SHARC DSP offering 192 kHz/24-bit DAC audio processing, enabling it to reproduce superior multi-channel sound. The HD-XA2 also plays back CDs, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-Video, and DVD-R. These signals can be passed thorough HDMI, TosLink optical and/or digital coax digital outputs, and 5.1 analog outputs. All standard Dolby Digital and DTS signals can be passed via TosLink optical and/or digital coax digital outputs.

 

As previously stated, to obtain the best possible aural and visual signals, HDMI must be employed. Standard-definition DVDs will be upconverted to near-HD quality via HDMI only. HDMI 1.3 also passes Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS-HD. In addition to all the standard features found on any DVD players, Toshiba's HD-XA2 adds an Ethernet connector. If the Ethernet port is enabled, you will be able to access additional content or firmware upgrades via the web.

 

While video images can passed by composite, S-Video, or even component video, to get the best possible 1080p image quality, HDMI with HDCP (for copy protection) must be employed. While it's o.k. to use component video now (with 1080i screen resolution), there could be problems in the future for component video. As part of the embedded Digital Rights Management schemes employed by HD DVD (and Blu-ray Disc), there's something called the Image Constraint Token (or ICT for short). It controls the output of video signals on component video. Depending on the movie studio, it could "turn off" the component video stream entirely, or down-res the signal to 480p, or leave it at 1080i. The packaging of the particular movie title will tell the tale. To be certain of playback compatibility, it is suggested to only use HDMI for playback of HD DVDs. Initially, the studios will not be invoking ICT. However, we don't know what next year will bring!

 

Image Courtesy of Toshiba