ONKYO joins format war with new HD DVD player

blink3times wrote on 8/9/2007, 6:17 PM

ONKYO Introduces Its First HD DVD Player, Including High-Bit-Rate and Lossless Audio Streaming via HDMI 1.3a

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/9/07) – ONKYO USA has announced the launch of its first HD-DVD player, the DV-HD805. This player has been introduced to realize the potential of high-definition HD DVD content. It is also one of the first HD DVD players to take advantage of high-bit-rate audio streaming via HDMI version 1.3a. The DV-HD805 will be available in the fall of 2007.

The DV-HD805 is designed to partner with Onkyo's 2007 A/V receiver line-up. Both the HD DVD player and the A/V receivers feature HDMI version 1.3a connections, making the combination of these components the perfect platform for high-definition 1080p video images. It also nicely complements Onkyo’s A/V receivers by streaming of the new lossless surround sound formats, Dolby® TrueHD and DTS®-HD Master Audio, as well as two "lossy" formats, Dolby® Digital Plus and DTS®-HD High Resolution Audio.

The Onkyo DV-HD805 has the capability to support different frame rates, including playback at 24 frames per second, which is the native frame rate of the original sources for most HD content. This ensures that the user will be able to experience the playback of films recorded to HD DVD with the smoothest, most stable reproduction possible.

HDMI version 1.3a allows the DV-HD805 to offer the full potential of high-definition 1080p video (the native resolution of HD DVD discs). Furthermore, HDMI version 1.3a enables Deep Color™ technology to improve color tones and achieve finer color gradation. Also, when connected with the new Onkyo HDMI version 1.3a A/V receivers, the DV-HD805 is capable of high-bit-rate audio streaming output. Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound codecs enable bit-for-bit reproduction of the studio master meaning that this player is capable of the highest clarity and most advanced realism from movie soundtracks. It also has the capability to provide Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio bit stream data.

HD DVD specifications allow for the inclusion of web-enabled network connectivity to develop new and unique content such as additional materials and bonus features. In addition to downloading content, HD DVD users also have the ability to upload content and interact with providers, to participate in interactive polls for example. Compared to other media formats, HD DVD is advanced in this capacity. The DV-HD805 includes an Ethernet port to allow users access to these capabilities, as well as enable the user to easily download any future firmware updates.

Recognized as the leading video processing technology in the home theater industry, the DV-HD805's onboard HQV Reon VX video processing chipset provides exceptionally precise video scaling (to 720p, 1080i or 1080p). When used with the standard-definition DVD format, HQV Reon VX enables viewers to enjoy superior video quality at the native resolution of the connected high-definition display. HQV Reon VX processing also eliminates or substantially reduces video noise for improved video reproduction.

The DV-HD805 will be available in the fall of 2007 at a suggested retail price of $899.

Onkyo, which takes its name from the Japanese "On" meaning 'sound' and "Kyo" meaning 'harmony,' has been producing precision audio components for over a half-century. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687.

# # #

HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.

HD DVD and DVD are trademarks of DVD Format/Logo Licensing, LLC.

Dolby, Pro Logic, Surround EX, TrueHD and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

DTS is a registered trademark & the DTS logos and Symbol are trademarks of DTS, Inc.

HQV is a registered trademark of Silicon Optix.

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Comments

zstevek wrote on 8/11/2007, 6:16 AM

"That's the point... people are not buying the players, they're buying the PS3, but the PS3 will only get BD so far. It's a "game machine" not a player There is only a small crowd (relatively speaking) that will put up with a "game Machine" in their living room."

What point is that? I have a PS3 and it is the heart of my entertainment system. Everyone in my family (including my wife) use it. It is not just a "game machine" anymore, I connect to my media server on our PC and play music through it, watch home HD videos, surf the web and view photos with it.

Also,

If people aren't buying Blue Ray players because of their price, why does Toshiba offer the HD-XA2 for $799 (300 more than Sony's newest Blue-Ray). I guess that player doesn't have a chance.

Per the atricle at the head of this thread:

The DV-HD805 will be available in the fall of 2007 at a suggested retail price of $899.

Again, per your "cost is too much" logic Onkyo should not even consider selling this unit.

Laurence wrote on 8/11/2007, 6:21 AM

The PS3 is definately more than a game machine. I absolutely love mine and I don't play games at all (my son does). It does equally well at all the things it does. It's a game machine. It's a DVD player. It's a Bluray player. It's a photo viewer. It's an mp3 player. It's a media player. It's an online content delivery device. The Ps3 is WAY COOL.

Their are only two things that I wish it did: I wish it would play back Bluray formatted DVD+-Rs with menus, and I wish it would play back DivX movies. Other than that, I like almost everything about it.

blink3times wrote on 8/11/2007, 8:12 AM

"Actually, the Bluray version is outselling the HD DVD version 2 to 1"
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Yes... your right Laurence and I stand corrected on that. And as you, I believe that the PS3 is a nice little machine. But what I mean is that it has the "game machine" persona. There are those that won't think twice about that and those are the ones that have purchased so far. There are people however (and I have made this point before) that don't want a "game machine" in their living room... and that crowd is MUCH bigger than the crowd already owning.

I think if Sony builds a "PLAYER" that can do what the PS3 can, then IMO HD DVD will have a REAL problem on their hands... and if I was in their shoes.... that's exactly what I would do.

But as far as "dominating" in concerned, I think it's a rather drastic and unrealistic statement to make at this point. HD DVD was outselling before the PS3, and as expected, blu ray is outselling now....certainly NEITHER one is anywhere near killing the dvd industry... Next phase.... any body's guess. Samsung is going dual player, which they would most certainly NOT be doing if HD DVD defeat was in the air, and we now have Onkyo signing on to make HD DVD players

blink3times wrote on 8/11/2007, 8:14 AM

"The DV-HD805 will be available in the fall of 2007 at a suggested retail price of $899.
Again, per your "cost is too much" logic Onkyo should not even consider selling this unit."
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I have absolutely NO doubt that this price will fall.... just as they ALL have. If I remember correctly. Blu ray started here in Canada at the crazy price of $1300! Of course HD DVD wasn't much better at something like $700.

fwtep wrote on 8/11/2007, 8:18 AM

Onkyo is signing on to build HD DVD players, and sumsung is preparing to go dual player. Obviously these people see something that you don't.... or maybe they just enjoy throwing money away..... right?

I don't know why they're doing it and neither do you. Could be a contractual thing, could be political, could be that its president likes HD-DVD. Who knows? Regardless, they're not exactly one of the biggies like Toshiba or Sony or Samsung. As for Samsung, I guess they're hoping to sell enough to make it worthwhile for them. But we'll see how many they actually do sell before we say how it proves anything.

And I think you're wrong about PS3's (as some here have pointed out already). I think there's a huge crowd (younger people generally) who want it because it's a game machine and a player. I'm not one of them, but the sales figures for discs bear me out on my assertion. Remember, games are bigger than movies these days. That's where the market/money is.

And you say that HD was selling better before the PS3 arrived. Well, first of all, it's not really a matter of PS3, it's that it was selling better because it came out 3 months earlier and even then the first BR players had some problems (at least Sony's did). Still, you seem to imply that the PS3 impact on BR's success is sort of, for lack of a better word, "cheating," as in "Oh sure, BR is selling better if you include the PS3." But in business, not to mention a format war, sales is what counts. So to BR, it's irrelevant what kind of players are out there. But still, even putting all of that aside, there's nothing on the horizon for the HD camp that will have such a big impact. Certainly not an overpriced unit from Onkyo, and certainly not the meager sales of HD for Xbox. (And you can pretty much ignore the Samsung dual format player, because that will help sales of BR more than HD, because with the exception of Universal titles, BR has everything. Not to mention that some big stores, like Target, are going BR only.)

Laurence wrote on 8/11/2007, 9:34 AM

Remember that the PS3 is also set up to be an online media distribution system. So far, all that is available is movie trailers, but boy do they look good! It's a wonderful mp3 music player as well. It is by far the best system available to look at digital photographs as well.