Xbox 360 HD-DVD Add-On or the Oppo DVD Player?

MikeMO · 12-09-2006, 03:08 PM

What would you all recommend? I do already own the 360...so I could get the add-on. I would ideally liked HD-DVD's, but I'm also worried that I'd drop $200 on this HD-DVD player and the format loses to Blue Ray in 2 years.

I just bought a 46'' Sony Bravia, so I want HD content. I thought I'd just get the Oppo, and up convert my current DVD's to HD quality.

But I also heard the 360 HD dvd player also up converts standard dvd's. BUT, there is no HDMI cable for that player.

The Oppo, also, is $50 cheaper.

Not sure what to do here, guys. I'd love your input.

Thanks.

Robert Spalding · 12-09-2006, 03:51 PM

why bother with the pseudo-HD when you can have real HD? you are already 3/4 of the way there with the TV and the 360.

Carl Johnson · 12-09-2006, 04:47 PM

You should go for the HD add on. I'd be willing to bet that blu ray and HD-DVD will coexist for the foreseeable future. Two years from now you'll be able to buy a quality player from either format for less than $100.

RAF · 12-09-2006, 04:56 PM

I think that both players, the Oppo and the MS HD-DVD, are very good players for their price points - but they actually do different things. If you are interested in HD-DVD discs to see HD content, then the 360 add-on is the way to go. It does an excellent job with HD content and is at least average or better with SD discs. I can't say for sure how it upscales SD discs because I use an external video processor for all non-HD content. On the down side, the MS unit doesn't support digital video output so no HDMI and all that this implies.

The Oppo is a very nice unit, too, but be aware that upscaling SD discs does not create HD content. It is true that you can make good SD source material look very good (rivaling HD in some cases) but this requires one of the better external video processors found in external units or in some high-priced DVD players. There's no way the performance of a $150 upscaling DVD player can match the output from a $2000-$3000 VP. On the plus side for the OPPO - it does have HDMI output.

The choice is completely up to you based on what you want. As others have pointed out, you already have an HD set so why not feed it some true HD content for a very reasonable price (since you already own the XBox 360)? If you're worried about HD-DVD becoming obsolescent remember that a lot of the titles are currently available in "Combo" format which has the HD version on one side and the SD version on the other. If the worst happens and HD-DVD "fails" you still have the SD version. With current pricing (and promotions such as "Google Checkout") it's quite possible to buy a combo version of some titles for almost the same price as the SD version for newer movies. Besides, another nice feature of a "Combo" disc is that you can play it at home on your HD player and play it in your car (or in another location) using the SD version.

Shawn Perron · 12-09-2006, 05:00 PM

If upconverting your standard DVDs is important, then you should go with the oppo. The 360 add on does upconvert, but only if you connect it with a vga cable. Even if your TV accepts the VGA connection, many people have a washed out picture because of the format the add on sends out. Also, if you are that concerned about HD-DVD losing, there is no way to guarantee that it will not.

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JeremyErwin · 12-09-2006, 05:19 PM

Look at the titles available that are available for hd-dvd. Can you see yourself buying more than a couple of discs? Or are you banking on the format winning the war, and thus triggering the release of the movies that you really want to see?

If bluray "wins", you'll still have your player, and a few dozen hidef discs. They won't suddenly disappear.

MikeMO · 12-09-2006, 06:25 PM

I see what you guys are totally saying.

I suppose my only issue is this: I got out and buy the 360 add on for $200. I then start buying HD-DVD titles for 25 to 30 bucks a pop. In a year or two, it is announced the Blue Ray will now be the standard. Suddenly, I'm stuck with a player and discs that aren't part of the norm. I have invested in something that is now dead after two short years.

I am torn, though. With my new HD TV, and it's size, I truly would love to see something with really good picture quality. My first thought was to get the Oppo since it can upscale to almost HD quality. I figured that would be nice, and the movies I already own and buy in the future can improve significantly in quality.

But, for only an extra $50, I can get a player that plays SD and HD DVD's...although someone here said that the upscaling probably isn't very good on the 360 add-on. Sounds great...I'm just concerned about ending up with an HD DVD library thats moot at a couple years.

Question, though...someone mentioned that some HD DVD's are combo packages of both SD and HD-DVD's. Is this true? What percentage of them are like this?

Also, will we start seeing twn and three disc special editions of HD-DVD's like we do with SD? For example, I know King Kong just came out on SD DVD, and it was three discs. I don't know the specifics of the HD-DVD version, but I'm assuming it's only one disc, and thus doesn't really have any special features, right? Is this the situation with HD-DVD right now? Is it pretty much JUST the movie but with no special features/extras?

And lastly, do any of you own the 360 Add-on? How do you like it? And do you have to turn on the 360 itself to play the HD-DVD player? I ask because the 360 can be somewhat loud due to the fan inside...and I am concerned that playing a dvd for 2 hours and having to listen to the 360 whirring and churring could get annoying.

Thanks for everyone's help!

ppltd · 12-10-2006, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeMO

I see what you guys are totally saying.

I suppose my only issue is this: I got out and buy the 360 add on for $200. I then start buying HD-DVD titles for 25 to 30 bucks a pop. In a year or two, it is announced the Blue Ray will now be the standard. Suddenly, I'm stuck with a player and discs that aren't part of the norm. I have invested in something that is now dead after two short years.

Mike,

You can currently buy a Toshiba A1 for only a few bucks more than the HD add-on and it will give you HD and upconverted DVD playback. It will closely match the playback quality of the OPPO, with the benefit of HD content playback. If in a couple of years the HD-DVD format goes away, you will still have a fine upconverting player.

The Toshiba gives you the added benefit of Analog outputs for Dolby TrueHD, and presumably DTS HD.

Just a thought.

Pete T C · 12-10-2006, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeMO

I see what you guys are totally saying.

I suppose my only issue is this: I got out and buy the 360 add on for $200. I then start buying HD-DVD titles for 25 to 30 bucks a pop. In a year or two, it is announced the Blue Ray will now be the standard. Suddenly, I'm stuck with a player and discs that aren't part of the norm. I have invested in something that is now dead after two short years.

Even if that happens exactly as you say, your HD DVD player and titles will not disappear, they will still look stunning for years to come.

Quote:

I am torn, though. With my new HD TV, and it's size, I truly would love to see something with really good picture quality. My first thought was to get the Oppo since it can upscale to almost HD quality. I figured that would be nice, and the movies I already own and buy in the future can improve significantly in quality.

But, for only an extra $50, I can get a player that plays SD and HD DVD's...although someone here said that the upscaling probably isn't very good on the 360 add-on. Sounds great...I'm just concerned about ending up with an HD DVD library thats moot at a couple years.

After you see w