Previously
Toshiba said it would ship its first HD DVD player by the end of last year for
about $1000. The introduction was however delayed because the AACS
specifications were not ready. Now Toshiba has therefore announced
that it plans to release two HD DVD players in March in the U.S. where the
cheaper HD-A1 model will only cost $499.99 while the more advanced HD-XA1 model
will cost $799.99.
An
Evolution in Video Home Entertainment and a Revolution in
Technology
As
a logical evolution of the DVD market to high definition, the HD-XA1 and
HD-A1 have backward compatibility, allowing users to continue to enjoy
their libraries of current DVD and CD software*. Supporting the
leading-edge efficient video compression standards of MPEG-4 AVC and VC-1,
as well as MPEG2, both models will utilize the new video decoder chip
developed by Broadcom. To meet the latest advancements in Audio/Video
interfaces, both models connect to HDTV sets via a High Definition
Multimedia Interface (HDMI™). HDMI is the first industry-supported all
digital A/V connection providing the transmission of uncompressed digital
video and multi-channel audio on a single cable. The new HD DVD players
will output copy-protected HD content through the HDMI interface in the
native format of the HD DVD disc content of either 720p or 1080i. Through
the HDMI interface, standard definition DVDs can be upconverted to output
resolution of 720p or 1080i to complement the performance of a HDTV. As
the conversion takes place in the player, the signal remains free from
excessive digital-to-analog conversion artifacts.
High
Quality Audio
Toshiba's
HD-XA1 and HD-A1 support a variety of HD audio options to complement HD
video offerings. The mandatory audio formats for HD DVD include both lossy
and lossless formats from Dolby Labs and DTS® - including the newly
developed Dolby® Digital Plus and DTS-HD.
The
lossless mandatory formats include Linear PCM and Dolby TrueHD (only 2
Channel support is mandatory). The TrueHD format is bit-for-bit identical
to the high resolution studio masters and can support up to eight discrete
full range channels of 24-bit/96k Hz audio. Another lossless format
(specified as an optional format) is DTS-HD. This employs high sampling
rates of up to192k Hz.
Both
models feature built-in multi-channel decoders for Dolby Digital, Dolby
Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD (2 channel), DTS and DTS-HD. The HD-XA1 employs
the use of four high performance DSP engines to decode the multi-channel
streams of the wide array of audio formats. These high performance
processors will perform the required conversion process, as well as the
extensive on-board Multi-Channel Signal Management including: User
Selectable Crossovers, Delay Management and Channel Level Management.
The
new HD DVD players can pass digital information to a Surround Sound
Processor/Receiver via S/PDIF or HDMI. For Dolby Digital and DTS, the
bitstream will be passed through both connections just as in a standard
DVD player with the same interfaces. Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD content
will be converted to a standard bitstream format that is compatible with
any processor equipped with decoders of the respective formats and output
through S/PDIF and HDMI. Additionally, all the audio formats for either
DVD or HD DVD will be decoded to PCM and output via HDMI in either stereo
or multi-channel. |
Toshiba's complete press release is available here. At the Japanese website watch.impress.co.jp here you can also find some pictures of the players.
Source: Toshiba
