HT102 Posted January 3, 2007 Posted January 3, 2007 Ref: http://www.siliconoptix.com/chipProducts/Realta/pressRelease/Toshiba.cfm?CFID=&CFTOKEN=732ebc084f747c49-E910879A-7E90-E2A3-B795BB6049FDD1E3 Extract: ----- San Jose, CA—(Jan 2, 2007)—Silicon Optix, the leader in programmable video processors, announced today that its Reon-VX HQV video processor will be featured in Toshiba’s new top-of-the-line HD DVD player, the HD-XA2. “As a reference standard for high-end video, HQV’s video processor complements Toshiba’s HD-XA2 HD DVD player with the capability to produce amazing detail and clarity from high-definition (HD) material,” said Jodi Sally, Vice President of Marketing, Toshiba America Consumer Products Digital A/V Group. HQV’s true 1080i-to-1080p HD deinterlacing delivers the sharpest, most detailed HD images possible by employing per-pixel motion-adaptive algorithms and a sophisticated multidirectional diagonal filter that ensures video free of jaggies. The powerful HQV processing engine also provides per-pixel motion-adaptive noise reduction, detail enhancement, and advanced scaling to deliver premium-quality upconverted SD material. Toshiba’s new high-end HD-XA2 HD DVD player is designed to output 1920x1080p, the highest-definition signal currently available, via High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI™), which adds support for Deep Color technology. The HD-XA2 HD DVD player also incorporates a 297MHz / 12 bit Video DAC with high-quality 4x oversampling for increased bandwidth, for true playback of an HD picture to a video source. The HD-XA2 comes with a Picture Setting function that allows customers to optimize picture quality via settings for color, contrast, brightness, edge enhancement, and block noise, among others. The HD-XA2’s 1080p output capability complements Toshiba’s Cinema Series® Pro LCD TVs, which provide true HD 1080p input capability via HDMI. HD DVD players support leading-edge efficient video-compression standards, including MPEG-4 AVC and VC-1, as well as MPEG2. To meet the latest advancements in audio/video interfaces connect to HDTV sets via HDMI—the multi-industry-supported, all-digital A/V connection capable of providing the transmission of uncompressed digital video and multichannel audio on a single cable. The HD-XA2 outputs HD DVD content through the HDMI interface at 720p, 1080i, or 1080p. Through the HDMI interface, standard-definition DVDs can also be upconverted to match the resolution of HD displays. Because the conversion takes place in the player, the signal remains free of digital-to-analog conversion artifacts. Like all other current HD DVD players, the HD-XA2 is backward-compatible so users can continue to enjoy their libraries of current DVD and CD software.
velocity1624705768 Posted January 4, 2007 Posted January 4, 2007 Whoa...kool. Nice to know that Tosh is upping the ante. Altho' some bros may disagree with me, Unless you really want 1080p and HDMI 1.3, from a cost efficiency point of view, my preference would be Player - Tosh HD-A2 PJ - Mit HC5000 which already has the Reon chip Receiver - HDMI v1.2 The amount saved (US$500) by buying the A2 could go towards funding the Mit PJ and HDMI receiver. Furthermore the XA2 can only play R1 SD-DVD so the upscaling via the built-in Reon chip is limited to R1 & 'friendlies'. The set-up above lets you connect via a multi-region SD-DVD player (which can output in 480i) and lets you enjoy the Reon vid processing in the PJ. I am also keen on the Epson TW1000 but am not sure of its upscaling capabilities vs the Mit. The 'advantage' of the Epson would probably be the touted higher brightness as well as the HDMI 1.3 input. In this case, the XA2 (with HDMI v1.3) may be better mated to the Epson but then again, you will only be limited to playing R1 SD-DVDs unless the Epson has a superior video chip over the Mit. This is just my personal preference and not meant to dissuade bros from investing in the XA2 which I think is an awesome player as well.
Doggie Howser Posted January 4, 2007 Posted January 4, 2007 The main concern IMHO is not 1080p60, which as you mentioned can be done by the projector. But I suspect only the higher end XA2 may be able to do 1080p24 output. Truth is, I bet the entry X2 could do 1080p24 as well (it is after all the native encoding on the disc), but just that Toshiba wants to intentionally cripple the lower end model to upsell us to the top end model. ps I am not sure if how the Reon in the Mitsubishi works with 1080i though. The extra features I get like TRNR and other noise reduction parameters on the Reon that I get with 480i sources is missing when I use any HD resolution as an input signal.
c7221624705751 Posted January 4, 2007 Posted January 4, 2007 HQV cannot do compression noise reduction in HD (like BARs, mosquito noises). This is inherent, regardless of Realta or Reon, despite their blanket claim of NR for "both SD and HD". It can however do temporal NR on both SD and HD. Only the latest Gennum VXP chip can do all NR on both.
Phil1624705739 Posted January 5, 2007 Posted January 5, 2007 I maybe getting an XE1 next week. But for the time being I have an E1 to go along with my BD-P1K. Playing Phantom on their 47WL68E. Will try it on a Samsung F7 next week. Phil
zapp1624705742 Posted January 5, 2007 Posted January 5, 2007 WAAHHHH E1!! Any idea when is the arrival date for SG market? P.S ~ Ops.. accidentally edited your post! :P
Phil1624705739 Posted January 5, 2007 Posted January 5, 2007 Part of the answer here -> http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/home_av/tvs/0,39037588,39786042p,00.htm Phil
zapp1624705742 Posted January 5, 2007 Posted January 5, 2007 LOL...tks. Upcoming but Tosh gonna launch XE1 or E1?
zapp1624705742 Posted January 5, 2007 Posted January 5, 2007 Hmmm... did I wrote E1 or XE1?? ;D Phil XE1 only leh...sianz. That one i think too expensive ><
HT102 Posted January 5, 2007 Author Posted January 5, 2007 XE1 only leh...sianz. That one i think too expensive >< Wah! I hope it'll be region-free similar to all Toshiba DVD players retailed locally. Hmm.. Even if sells for US MSRP price, i.e. US$1k, it is still cheaper than Denon DVD-3930. If SACD/DVD-A/CD audio is not a priorty, this is a no-brainer (EDIT: Gotta think more carefully now since there will be dual format hi-def players soon.)
wwyjoe Posted January 5, 2007 Posted January 5, 2007 Hmmm... did I wrote E1 or XE1?? ;D Phil 'upcoming'? coming out in 1 mth....2 mth? Vague leh....more 'specific' hint??
Phil1624705739 Posted January 6, 2007 Posted January 6, 2007 'upcoming'? coming out in 1 mth....2 mth? Vague leh....more 'specific' hint?? That's not a hint anymore. Phil
wwyjoe Posted January 6, 2007 Posted January 6, 2007 That's not a hint anymore. Phil knew u were gonna say that...oh well, juz trying my luck
zapp1624705742 Posted January 6, 2007 Posted January 6, 2007 Come on Toshiba...launch both E1 and XE1
c7221624705751 Posted January 7, 2007 Posted January 7, 2007 Just the opposite: European models have to support DVD R2, and R2 includes Japan NTSC and Europe PAL. So the E1/XE1 has the potential of being truely code free. US ones, being strictly NTSC only, can't play any PAL disks even if it's code free. (For example some early US Panasonic RP91/82s , even though code free, cannot play PAL disks.) I will buy the XE1 here at MSRP NOW if Tosh launches locally ! I heard a rumor of March launch though ....
htfreak Posted January 7, 2007 Posted January 7, 2007 Since our local marketing folks have this tendency of following the leader, you're potentially looking at forking out S$1799 for the XE1 since that's what Sammy has priced their Blur-ray first gen player.
c7221624705751 Posted January 8, 2007 Posted January 8, 2007 that's fine with me :) , as it's still cheaper than EUR999 + shipping....
HT102 Posted January 8, 2007 Author Posted January 8, 2007 There is even more reason to own a XE1. Toshiba, pls release here in ASAP. Read: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=782887
FookLai Posted January 8, 2007 Posted January 8, 2007 There is even more reason to own a XE1. Toshiba, pls release here in ASAP. Read: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=782887 The avs link are refering to XA2, but why do you asking XE1 to launch locally instead of the XA2? Are they the same model?
HT102 Posted January 8, 2007 Author Posted January 8, 2007 The avs link are refering to XA2, but why do you asking XE1 to launch locally instead of the XA2? Are they the same model? From what I've read, XA2 and XE1 are similar. The only known differences are: 1) Power voltage requirement: XA2 - 110V, XE1 - 240V. 2) XE1 Supports both NTSC and PAL formats for DVD playback. For XA2, only NTSC. XA2 will never be released here because of (1). Well, until both products are officially compared and reviewed, I maybe wrong abt (2).
isn4 Posted January 8, 2007 Posted January 8, 2007 any clue if the XE1 would be a. HD-DVD region free? b. SD-DVD region free? I read that XA2 is not SD-DVD region free. Only hope left is with XE1.
isn4 Posted January 8, 2007 Posted January 8, 2007 any clue if the XE1 would be a. HD-DVD region free? b. SD-DVD region free? I read that XA2 is not SD-DVD region free. Only hope left is with XE1. Just confirmed with Toshiba that XE1 a. HD-DVD is region free b. SD-DVD is NOT region free
FookLai Posted January 9, 2007 Posted January 9, 2007 From what I've read, XA2 and XE1 are similar. The only known differences are: 1) Power voltage requirement: XA2 - 110V, XE1 - 240V. 2) XE1 Supports both NTSC and PAL formats for DVD playback. For XA2, only NTSC. XA2 will never be released here because of (1). Well, until both products are officially compared and reviewed, I maybe wrong abt (2). Thanks for the reply. If the XE1 also equip with Reon and available locally, it would be very interesting.
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