HDV-5000 RCA HD-DVD Player...

HiDeffjeff · Post by **HiDeffjeff** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:45 am

I just bought one of these for my bedroom at Walmart ($498.00)...and it is identical to the Toshiba HD-A1...even the firmware upgrade is identical...I couldn't resist opening them both up and alas!...identical...

Just thought I'd post my findings in case someone were to want one but be afraid that it was something less than the Toshiba...I even switched the black and silver covers...(just like to be different)...

chuckken2 · Post by **chuckken2** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 1:42 pm

I bought this unit and am very happy with it. Like Jeff said, It is the same as the Tosh just a slightly different face with square buttons instead of round, and the firmware upgrade worked perfect. It seems now the unit is not as sluggish and the HDMI light comes on sooner on my receiver.

Dave3putt · Post by **Dave3putt** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:02 am

I think several of you used upscaling DVD players before going with the HD models. How does the picture compare between the players with SD DVD's? Do you have to change the HD player to 480p to make it look the best?

Also, the thread discusssing the audio connections/capabilites of the HD players and HDMI receivers for the best sound (HDJeff's review) is a bit hard to follow. Any summary for us confused folks would be appreciated. I have a friend who wants to outfit his entire new house, and wants to do it right.

Thanks

HiDeffjeff · Post by **HiDeffjeff** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:48 pm

Basically we're going from VHS to DVD...(in a sense)...HD-DVD is quite a few notches above upscaled dvd's if everything is dialed in correctly. Just purchase equipment with HDMI connectivity and you'll be all set for a long time...We have gone through the component stage, the DVI stage, and now finally the HDMI stage. We will stay with HDMI for a long time...It will be industry standard. HDMI gives you the ability to daisy chain home cinemas together for video and audio both through one cable....You can feed 2 HDMI capable receivers from the same tivo or dvd player to 2 different rooms/displays...There are all kinds of cool networking you can do...But the best is still to come with lossless audio. Lossless audio can only be utilized through either i-link or HDMI...But HDMI is both video "and" audio so it is the perfect candidate for this application..."The Phanthom Of The Opera" HD-DVD is already out in TrueHD audio and there will be more to come...The rest of the HD-dvd's that are out are DD+ which is lossless to a degree and an improvement over standard dolby. You need a receiver with HDMI to hear the DD+....And in the not so far future you will need a receiver with HDMI 1.3 to get the TrueHD.

Dave3putt · Post by **Dave3putt** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:13 pm

Yeah, but once in awhile I might want to play an SD DVD from my old collection. How would it look on the HD machine compared to my upscaler?

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 7:09 am

If your display has HDMI it will likely be fine.

If it is DVI input then Toshiba is still having an error, even with the new update, related to EDID which is a piece of data that tells the Toshiba player what kind of display it is connected to so it will output the correct signals related to color space unlike other players that ignore EDID and simply do what they are supposed to. Based on my review of the Toshiba SD5980 this appears to be a common problem for Toshiba as it too had similar color errors using DVI. Don't know if it will ever be fixed.

For HD you can use component connections and it works great. SD upscaling will not work with that connection though. I still use my Oppo for scaling SD DVD.

And Jeff, good synopsis!

The magic elixer is set the player for 1080I output and use component if your display does not support an HDMI input. If using HDMI make sure you get the firmware updated for correct signals.

I have a friend who wants to outfit his entire new house, and wants to do it right.

I suggest he work with a pro to either do it for him or provide support as a DIY project.

HiDeffjeff · Post by **HiDeffjeff** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 8:06 am

Dave3putt wrote:Yeah, but once in awhile I might want to play an SD DVD from my old collection. How would it look on the HD machine compared to my upscaler?

The new HD-DVD players upscale regular dvd's as well as any other upscaling dvd players. You can play all your old dvds in the new HD-dvd players. I have a 400 disc dvd Sony mega changer which also upscales to 1080i/720P...The new Toshiba/RCA HD-DVD players upscale just as well, if not better. I bought the HD-DVD player for HD-DVD's only, but I found it comes in handy if I rent a regular dvd...that way I don't have to mess with the carousel changer on the Sony mega changer and try find an empty slot.

Dave3putt · Post by **Dave3putt** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 7:23 pm

Thanks for the replies guys.

HiDeffJeff, you have to be part of the new definition of a videophile. Having a 400 disc mega changer and can't find an empty slot. I love it.

Richard wrote:
I suggest he work with a pro to either do it for him or provide support as a DIY project.

Yes, he has even gotten some bids. But nobody has even offered the idea of using an HD DVD player in his main viewing room. They either don't sell it or don't know it's out there. Same with1080p displays, projectors, or using HDMI for audio. Seems like the pros are about 9 months behind the times. So I have just been putting a bug in his ear about what is possible.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 9:45 pm

The HDMI audio and switching should be part of any new system as the product is out there. It may not support the 1.3 HDMI spec we are actually looking for but retains huge advantages. Even then many are limited to two or three inputs max.

We are not swimming in 1080P projectors quite yet unless your guy has bucks to spend.

There is some selection in 1080P one piece displays yet kinda pricey.

And all of that might already be outdated... This business is moving so fast and has changed so much

As for HD DVD in my opinion it is an enthusiast format as only an enthusiast would own one and put up with the current errors due to incompatibility, risk the token being turned on forcing HDMI and so few titles not to mention lack of local rental. But it is super cool if you are into it!

As for being 9 months out to a large degree product availability and choice issues make that kinda true as a lot of new stuff is going to hit the shelves last quarter that we would like to be selling now. It is very hard to determine who is a pro and who is not but it would seem in this case what may be true is that he is not dealing with performance people. You are talking Ferrari but he is visiting the Chevy dealer so to speak.

HiDeffjeff · Post by **HiDeffjeff** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 10:58 am

I just wanted to chirp in and point out that 1.3 HDMI signals will be compatible with all existing 1.1 HDMI switchers from Gefen and alike...(At least this is what I am reading)...So this is a small plus, but hey... in this ever obsoleting AV arena...I'll take whatever +'s I can get!...

Also I believe there is a Denon HDMI (3 in 1 out) receiver that is available that will be able to upgrade to 1.3...(if you have the bucks)...