High-def Buyers Face Upgrade Headaches..

[Garry guy]

Hi guys,

I'm new to this forum, but I've been browsing the postings in searching of finding the right LCD TV for me. While looking up LCD TVs on CNET Australia I came across this article:

High-def buyers face upgrade headaches

http://www.cnet.com.au/tvs/0,239035250,339273720,00.htm

Heres an except:

"Australians may be snapping up high definition (HD) capable equipment, but movie studios and technology vendors face a potential public relations disaster if they can't help consumers avoid compatibility problems that could potentially force consumers to repurchase equipment down the road.

The risk comes from HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection)"

My question is that will HDCP effect most of the LCD tvs out there at the moment?

Also on a personal note I'm looking to purchase either a Panasonic 32LXD600A or a Samsung LA32R71BDX and I have a budget of about 1600, which I've read is about the going rate for theses set? Any opinions on either of these two sets would be great. I'm leaning towards the panasonic because I've read the alpha is a great choice and the samsung is greating abit old now. (I'm mainly using the set to watch DVDs, play PS3 and maybe connect up to my PC)

love to hear what ppl have to say in regard to the above article.

Garry

[pgdownload]

Well in a worst case scenario you drop the HDMI cable and just use the COMPONENT connections any high end TV also has. PQ is about 95% as good as via HDMI. As you've noted HDMI is much more about supporting copy protection than it is about providing good PQ (which it does though).

HDCP is an evolving standard (think they're upto version 1.3 now?) Theoretically if any piece in your AV chain (ie cable, stereo, TV, PVR, etc.) does not have the right 'accreditation' then yes any output from a HD source will be downdraded to SD. If / when / how this might happen is going to vary from country to country, format to format and model to model.

Its a mish mash that 'they' will presumably work out in due course. Maybe they'll impliment all the draconian technology (not to mention IP laws) and maybe a lot of people will get pissed off or maybe they'll be like you and not trust buying the equipment in the first place.

Gues we'll see.

Peter Gillespie

[jokiin]

Well in a worst case scenario you drop the HDMI cable and just use the COMPONENT connections any high end TV also has. PQ is about 95% as good as via HDMI. As you've noted HDMI is much more about supporting copy protection than it is about providing good PQ (which it does though).

Depends on the device, HD products that support HDCP over HDMI will scale the output down to 576i over non HDCP outputs even if the source material was 1080p, don't expect a 95% result in this case

[pgdownload]

Depends on the device, HD products that support HDCP over HDMI will scale the output down to 576i over non HDCP outputs even if the source material was 1080p, don't expect a 95% result in this case

Yep, should clarify that many current HD devices are happy outputing HD over analogue cables. But some might recognise a flag (either broadcast or embedded in a HD DVD) and refuse to 'play nice'. Expect this to be more of an issue for BluRay and HD DVD players as this is where this 'battle' seems to being fought.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[Roderick]

"Australians may be snapping up high definition (HD) capable equipment, but movie studios and technology vendors face a potential public relations disaster if they can't help consumers avoid compatibility problems that could potentially force consumers to repurchase equipment down the road.

Garry

I don't think you have much to worry about, 'Garry guy'. Any hint of a PR disaster and the commercial world will drop HDCP like a hot potato! In fact I think HDCP has a very uncertain future, and is likely to be ditched before it really gets going.

A. If it turns out to be too much of a hinderance it won't get off the ground. Just a whiff of negativity may be enough to kill it.

B. There are already several known hacks and workarounds to bypass HDCP.

C. Asia, and in particular China, are increasingly calling the tune when it comes to equipment and disk manufacture. I cant see the Asians putting up with Holywood Imperialism for too much longer. They'll just go their own way. In fact, they already do.

So, on balance, I don't think it's worth expending too much worry on the the whole HDCP scenario. It's likely to be a fizzer.

Rod

[dixitr]

I have recently done rounds of all major AV stores while buying my latest pana 32" hd lcd (600a). I did improptu survey of salespersons and found that about 90% did not even know what HDCP is. Most of them confused it with HDMI.

I have seen very few models (some of large format hitchi, pioneer) which have "hdcp compliant" logo printed on packaging.

so, in a sense - what you have said is true - most hd-capable devices will not output true hd to non-hdcp compliant displays.

as a consumer - the only thing you can do is to refuse to buy such crap - i am sure sooner or later hacks for bypassing these blocks will appear in market.

You must understand that for an average movie studio executive an average punter is devil incarnate - they wish to control what you watch, when you watch, how you watch and so on (they had tried to bring in dvds with expiry dates !!!).

i for one use my hd-tv for watching free to air only - and will not shell out one cent to these idiots. if i want a movie in HD - i will go to theate (and carry my drink & lollies from home ha ha)

[jokiin]

So, on balance, I don't think it's worth expending too much worry on the the whole HDCP scenario. It's likely to be a fizzer.

Like it or not I expect it will be here for much longer than most would want it, if I was looking for a HD screen right now I would definately be looking for one with HDCP support as there are too many limitations (for compatible input devices) without it.

[Garry guy]

Hey guys thanks for the replies

dixitr, you mentioned you purchased the panasonic i was interested in. Do you know if that was HDCP compliant?

[jokiin]

Hey guys thanks for the replies

dixitr, you mentioned you purchased the panasonic i was interested in. Do you know if that was HDCP compliant?

I think you will find all their models support it, they need to to work correctly with their own Blu-Ray players

[Jliang70]

Depends on the device, HD products that support HDCP over HDMI will scale the output down to 576i over non HDCP outputs even if the source material was 1080p, don't expect a 95% result in this case

You are WRONG. To display Blu-ray and HD-DVD at the highest possible quality HDMI compatible display with HDCP is required and on a non HDCP compliant

display there will be no picture at all over the HDMI connection. However both Bluray and HD-DVD allow component connection with can deliver both 720P

and 1080i Picture.

[george#3]

at the end of the day,somebody will introduce a go between box that you plug your hdmi plug into then interconnect the outlet into the tv,

this box will change the signal and we will all be happy!

piracy will never be beaten,movie studio's will only have a minute head start!

[jokiin]

You are WRONG.

No, because Blu-Ray and HD DVD are not the only devices that can provide an input

[dixitr]

Hey guys thanks for the replies

dixitr, you mentioned you purchased the panasonic i was interested in. Do you know if that was HDCP compliant?

as per panasonic website. the current model tx-32lxd600a replaced earlier tx-32lwd500a. for the older model the specs specifically state that the hdmi inputs are hdmi compatible. No such specific information is available for 32lxd600a.

However, l would presume that if older model had hdcp compliant hdmi input, then the newer one also will.