Got a good deal on hd dvd player I think $50?

I picked up a 360 hd dvd drive for $50. I have been looking for a factory sealed unused one. I have seen several with movies thrown in, but know that movies in the deal mean it has been used allot. I checked craigslist and found a local seller. They had a unit they said never got used because they sold the 360. When I arrived to check it out, the box was not sealed. However the install disc was in the drive. The king kong disc was still sealed. Most of the cables were still in the baggies unused. That and it looked mint. The seller asked for $100 I told her that I was only looking to pay $50 as the hd dvd format is dead and blu ray is now the standard. So I got it for $50
I have been watching King Kong. Hd dvd rocks!

I picked up a 360 hd dvd drive for $50. I have been looking for a factory sealed unused one. I have seen several with movies thrown in, but know that movies in the deal mean it has been used allot. I checked craigslist and found a local seller. They had a unit they said never got used because they sold the 360. When I arrived to check it out, the box was not sealed. However the install disc was in the drive. The king kong disc was still sealed. Most of the cables were still in the baggies unused. That and it looked mint. The seller asked for $100 I told her that I was only looking to pay $50 as the hd dvd format is dead and blu ray is now the standard. So I got it for $50
I have been watching King Kong. Hd dvd rocks!

Congrats, man. It is your first HD DVD player?

Yes, and the quality is fantastic. Is it my imagination or is it a hair sharper than blu ray?

Yes, and the quality is fantastic. Is it my imagination or is it a hair sharper than blu ray?

Well, they're supposed to be the same, but sometimes player differences and execution can make one appear a little sharper than the other. Also maybe the TV input of you're HD DVD better is better calibrated to the player. Anyway, I have heard many remarks like that about HD DVD. ;) Glad to hear you're happy with it. :)

Yes, and the quality is fantastic. Is it my imagination or is it a hair sharper than blu ray?

Do you have a Blu-ray player or are you imagining this without owning a Blu-ray player? I have owned both for a couple of years and there is no doubt if you see HD DVD is a hair sharper than Blu-ray, it is in fact your imagination.

Chris

Do you have a Blu-ray player or are you imagining this without owning a Blu-ray player? I have owned both for a couple of years and there is no doubt if you see HD DVD is a hair sharper than Blu-ray, it is in fact your imagination.

Chris

Or it could be if he does have both that the particular movie on BD had extra DNR done on the release compared to the HD DVD version if he has both formats release of such movie. It is more likely that his display has memory settings for each individual input and one is set differently than the other.

Of course it could be his imagination also as a third possibility. :p :lol:

No gentleman it is not my imagination. I have a PS3 for blu ray and 360 add on for hd dvd. I watch both via hdmi through an hdmi switcher. Both run through the same tv input so video setting are identical. Now I have a very keen eye for video. I can look at an image and tell you whether it is rca or svideo easily. Now I can't really tell if your comparing higher level inputs like say componet to hdmi, because at that level hd is pretty much hd. Now I am not saying it is a fact, but my opinion is that the hd dvd has always seemed a bit sharper to me. I noticed this as I was watching hd dvd exclusively, then bought a PS3 and blu rays. The blu rays were excellent and the same thing technically (1080p) but I also thought they were not quite as sharp as the hd dvd. I am not saying there is a huge difference just a very minute spec of a difference to me. A note,my tv is not a true 1080p but a 720p native resolutuion. However seeing both on a 1080p I would likely have the same opinion.

No gentleman it is not my imagination. I have a PS3 for blu ray and 360 add on for hd dvd. I watch both via hdmi through an hdmi switcher. Both run through the same tv input so video setting are identical. Now I have a very keen eye for video. I can look at an image and tell you whether it is rca or svideo easily. Now I can't really tell if your comparing higher level inputs like say componet to hdmi, because at that level hd is pretty much hd. Now I am not saying it is a fact, but my opinion is that the hd dvd has always seemed a bit sharper to me. I noticed this as I was watching hd dvd exclusively, then bought a PS3 and blu rays. The blu rays were excellent and the same thing technically (1080p) but I also thought they were not quite as sharp as the hd dvd. I am not saying there is a huge difference just a very minute spec of a difference to me. A note,my tv is not a true 1080p but a 720p native resolutuion. However seeing both on a 1080p I would likely have the same opinion.

In this case I think it might just be that the particular movies you are comparing are is different due to how the different movies were mastered. Some could be director intent also. It you can compare a title that is on both and rent the version you do not already own then that would make this more "valid", but then some of the movies ported to BD from HD DVD were "touched up" with more DNR by the studio so on those titles the HD DVD would look clearer.

No gentleman it is not my imagination. I have a PS3 for blu ray and 360 add on for hd dvd. I watch both via hdmi through an hdmi switcher. Both run through the same tv input so video setting are identical. Now I have a very keen eye for video. I can look at an image and tell you whether it is rca or svideo easily. Now I can't really tell if your comparing higher level inputs like say componet to hdmi, because at that level hd is pretty much hd. Now I am not saying it is a fact, but my opinion is that the hd dvd has always seemed a bit sharper to me. I noticed this as I was watching hd dvd exclusively, then bought a PS3 and blu rays. The blu rays were excellent and the same thing technically (1080p) but I also thought they were not quite as sharp as the hd dvd. I am not saying there is a huge difference just a very minute spec of a difference to me. A note,my tv is not a true 1080p but a 720p native resolutuion. However seeing both on a 1080p I would likely have the same opinion.

I believe the PS3 is an excellent Blu-ray player and video quality is excellent based on owning one for a year and a half. I also own the highest regarded HD DVD players. Both formats use the same file types, encoded using the same compression methods. Both formats use the same or equivalent video decoders and HDMI chips. There can certainly be variances and a good HD DVD will look better than a bad Blu-ray disc. In general, I have found Blu-ray is slightly better on average than HD DVD and the only reason I can attribute that difference to is the fact many Disney and Sony Blu-ray encodes use much higher bitrates than anything possible with HD DVD. Other companies are using much higher bitrates more frequently now as well and the overall Blu-ray quality is improving. There are hundreds of titles from Warner and Paramount and a few other companies with the same encode done on both formats. There is no difference discernible to me when that happens and there can't be unless something is wrong somewhere.

The HD DVD is sharper claim or there is something inherent about HD DVD that allows an HD DVD player to retrieve the data from the disc and decode it and output a better picture claim is hogwash. Any video file on HD DVD can be replicated exactly on Blu-ray and the systems are equal in terms of retrieving and decoding data, leaving only the differences in the files as a variable and that means there can be no difference when the files are the same and the players and displays are working properly. Any claim of superiority for HD DVD can only be attributable to something other than the differences in the formats and this should be accepted as fact. Subjective opinions are fine, but mean nothing to me when scientific data and objective tests can easily refute the claim.

Now there are certainly some issues with Blu-ray, one common example is having a player by Samsung that can't retrieve and decode the data from the disc period because firmware is so poorly designed to render the hardware inoperable. That is a different discussion and doesn't result in a lesser picture compared to HD DVD, it results in no picture, the stupid player can't load the disc and output a picture at all when that happens.

Chris

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There are player differences, for sure. For example, my XA2 outputs a more-detailed picture than my LG-BH200 does, using the same input and the same HD DVD. So if hifdefman30 claims that HD DVDs in general looks more detailed on his 360 add-on, than does Blu-ray on his PS3, then I have no reason to doubt him.

There are player differences, for sure. For example, my XA2 outputs a more-detailed picture than my LG-BH200 does, using the same input and the same HD DVD. So if hifdefman30 claims that HD DVDs in general looks more detailed on his 360 add-on, than does Blu-ray on his PS3, then I have no reason to doubt him.

I have the XBox 360 Add-On but don't have it connected since I don't have an XBox 360 and haven't figured out how to make it work with a PC yet and don't need it with a PC yet. There are many reviews of both of these players as HD movie players and there is certainly a consensus of opinion that I have read and that is that the PS3 is a better player, with better video quality than the XBox 360 Add-On. I don't know whether I could tell any difference between the two players with the same movie using the same encode but I would be stunned if the XBox 360 Add-On is better.

His opinion is nothing more than the typical subjective opinion without any support. It is what he believes, it is nothing more and almost certainly not based on any objectively mearsuable differences.

I am not as happy with the LG BH200 now as I once was, it isn't the equal of my HD-XA2 either but that sure doesn't mean HD DVD is sharper than Blu-ray. I have several Blu-ray players that equal the HD-XA2 with the same quality source but it may be the LG BH200 required some compromises to be capable of reading and decoding both formats. I am still hopeful the next firmware update for the BH200 will improve things substantially, but at this point, I am not confident. I don't think HD DVD or standard DVD performance with the recent firmware update is as good as it was previously.

Chris

I have the XBox 360 Add-On but don't have it connected since I don't have an XBox 360 and haven't figured out how to make it work with a PC yet and don't need it with a PC yet. There are many reviews of both of these players as HD movie players and there is certainly a consensus of opinion that I have read and that is that the PS3 is a better player, with better video quality than the XBox 360 Add-On. I don't know whether I could tell any difference between the two players with the same movie using the same encode but I would be stunned if the XBox 360 Add-On is better.

His opinion is nothing more than the typical subjective opinion without any support. It is what he believes, it is nothing more and almost certainly not based on any objectively mearsuable differences.

I am not as happy with the LG BH200 now as I once was, it isn't the equal of my HD-XA2 either but that sure doesn't mean HD DVD is sharper than Blu-ray. I have several Blu-ray players that equal the HD-XA2 with the same quality source but it may be the LG BH200 required some compromises to be capable of reading and decoding both formats. I am still hopeful the next firmware update for the BH200 will improve things substantially, but at this point, I am not confident. I don't think HD DVD or standard DVD performance with the recent firmware update is as good as it was previously.

Chris

I haven't read any comparitive HD PQ reviews between the 360 add-on and the PS3. The PS3 is a very reliable and powerful BD player, but I don't think it sets the bar as far as PQ is concerned. The add-on I think is an underrated player that puts out a very good picture.

I think I'll hold off on the LG BH200 update and leave it at the June FW. I just got an extra player (used demo with no remote, but the $75 rebate worked), so I can stick the one I bought new in the closet and use this one for my main BD playback.

Lucked out today. I was able to pick up an A30 for $59.99 Canadian, at a local Leon's store. I am doing the firmware update, as I type this. What would this unit be worth right now, to buy online?

Lucked out today. I was able to pick up an A30 for $59.99 Canadian, at a local Leon's store. I am doing the firmware update, as I type this. What would this unit be worth right now, to buy online?

Just about what you paid for it i would think. I paid $45.00 plus $20.00 S/H on the A20 I bought used off of eBay a couple of months ago, and the A20 is better built than the A30. Now in another year or two they might be worth more if the number of players get reduced from breakdowns, with the number of HD DVD discs out there not reducing as much, but that is speculation.

Just about what you paid for it i would think. I paid $45.00 plus $20.00 S/H on the A20 I bought used off of eBay a couple of months ago, and the A20 is better built than the A30. Now in another year or two they might be worth more if the number of players get reduced from breakdowns, with the number of HD DVD discs out there not reducing as much, but that is speculation.Just glad to get a 1080p machine to go with my new Aquos. I put the D3 with my 1080i Toshiba, in the den.

Lucked out today. I was able to pick up an A30 for $59.99 Canadian, at a local Leon's store. I am doing the firmware update, as I type this. What would this unit be worth right now, to buy online?

Generally speaking, the G3 players are selling for more on ebay than the G2 players, but that's because a later model is perceived to have a higher value, which is normal. Used A30s are going for close to $100, so if you got it new for $60, then you got a good deal.

Generally speaking, the G3 players are selling for more on ebay than the G2 players, but that's because a later model is perceived to have a higher value, which is normal. Used A30s are going for close to $100, so if you got it new for $60, then you got a good deal.
Knowing that you probably have the biggest HD DVD collections out there, I have a question for you.

The movie Enemy At The Gate(Stalingrad) was released in Europe, on HD DVD. I read a while back, that it would not play, in most of the North American players. I wanted to get this movie, but knew that it wouldn't play in my D3(A3). Will this movie play in an A30?

Lucked out today. I was able to pick up an A30 for $59.99 Canadian, at a local Leon's store. I am doing the firmware update, as I type this. What would this unit be worth right now, to buy online?

I think that is a good price for a good player. I have too many players and have sold several recently and that is about what that player is worth now but that doesn't mean it isn't a great value. Almost all things HD DVD don't sell for much now so I am going to wait and sell the rest of the HD DVD stuff I need to sell later unless I see something goes up in value right way. Most of us that own a lot of HD DVD's already have our players and back up players so unless players start breaking down, I don't think the value for used players will go up.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&item=220326327055

Chris

Knowing that you probably have the biggest HD DVD collections out there, I have a question for you.

The movie Enemy At The Gate(Stalingrad) was released in Europe, on HD DVD. I read a while back, that it would not play, in most of the North American players. I wanted to get this movie, but knew that it wouldn't play in my D3(A3). Will this movie play in an A30?

Enemy at the Gates will only play on G2 players, however I heard of a few people returning their copies for replacements that did work in G3 players. There's only a handful of titles that will only play in G2 players, mainly from France and Germany, but Enemy at the Gates is by far the most noteworthy.

Enemy at the Gates will only play on G2 players, however I heard of a few people returning their copies for replacements that did work in G3 players. There's only a handful of titles that will only play in G2 players, mainly from France and Germany, but Enemy at the Gates is by far the most noteworthy.Thanks for that info. I may have to wait and see if FOX releases it on Blu. I contacted a seller in France and he could not tell me, if the one's he had listed on E Bay were the old or new pressings. Anyway, I am glad that I now have two of these machines, so I have a backup if one goes down. The one I bought was a Demo, but was not plugged in, under the display television at the furniture store, with a livingroom suite. It was sitting there, with no remote or power cord. They found the rest of the stuff that went with it, with the original packaging. I had to do a firmware update to 4.0 from 1.1, so it's not been used in a long time, if ever. It ran well, with the first movie that I played in it, last night. Somewhere in that store is another one, according to their records. They also have an A2 that is being used to play regular DVD's for customer promotions. The only down side, is them keeping the two free movies, in the box, but I had Bourne and 300 already.