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HD Advisor Diamond AnniversaryEditor's Note: Each Friday, High-Def Digest's own HD Advisor will answer a new round of questions from our readers. If you have home theater questions you need answered, send an email to [email protected]. If you've already sent a question and don't see it answered yet, please be patient as we work our way through them. To browse through previously answered questions, visit the main HD Advisor page. Answers by Joshua Zyber Dolby ProLogic IIz on a 5.1 Audio System Q: I've recently bought a Pioneer VSX-520 A/V receiver. It seems to have a very interesting feature. I thought it was a typo on the store display, but Page 29 of the owner's manual confirms it. It's a 5.1 system that has Dolby ProLogic IIz. I thought IIz added height channels to a 7.1 system, making it into a 9.1 system? Things get really confusing on Page 19 of the manual. It looks like the receiver has RCA pre-out jacks that you can use for surround rear. I was wondering if you could shed some light on this. Does this receiver really add height channel to a 5.1 system? A: As I've mentioned in a previous article, Dolby ProLogic IIz adds two new height channels to a surround sound system. According to Dolby, these can be added on top of either 5.1 or 7.1 configurations. There is no requirement that the new height channels in ProLogic IIz must be used only with 7.1. Based on the details in your receiver's manual, it appears that it is primarily a 5.1 model. However, it has pre-outs for two additional speakers. The receiver will not power these last two speaker channels itself. These outputs must be connected to an additional external amplifier. The receiver can be configured to use these extra two channels in either one of two ways: You can use them for surround rear channels in a 7.1 configuration with Dolby ProLogic IIx processing. OR You can use them for height channels in a 5.1 + Height configuration with Dolby ProLogic IIz processing. The receiver has both ProLogic IIx and IIz processing, but forces you to make an either/or decision between them. The receiver will not support 7.1 + Height. It doesn't have enough speaker outputs for that. Out of Print Blu-ray Discs Q: I was wondering what the heck is going on with many, even somewhat recently released, Blu-ray titles that seem to now be out of print? I especially don't understand how major Hollywood studio titles like 'Hot Rod' and 'Indecent Proposal' are suddenly nearly impossible to find outside of the used market with a high price mark-up. I don't remember something like this ever happening during the early years of SD DVD. It is bad enough that I can't find BD titles like 'Opium and the Kung-Fu Master.' I don't need more mainstream titles being hard to buy as well. What is the cause for all this? Will they be re-released, and if so, under what circumstances and when? A: The two movies you reference, 'Hot Rod' and 'Indecent Proposal', were released on Blu-ray in late-2008 and mid-2009 respectively. More importantly, at the time of release they were both already catalog titles, not day-and-date new releases. Unfortunately, catalog titles have often suffered from poor sales on Blu-ray. Many home video consumers feel little need to rebuy movies already owned on DVD, except in special circumstances – such as the title being a favorite movie, or something that they feel will particularly benefit from a high definition presentation. My guess here is that these titles sold poorly on Blu-ray, and Paramount (the studio behind both) eventually discontinued them. These decisions are not made out of any plan to make the titles rare or obscure. It's simply a matter that the studio feels is not worth the investment of continuing to produce new copies that aren't selling. In most cases like this, previously-produced copies of the titles will continue to linger on retailer shelves even after they've gone out of print. However, in some situations where the original production run may have been small to start, speculators sometimes scoop up the remaining copies of these out-of-print discs in order to sell them at a mark-up to collectors who can't find them at retail anymore. 'Hot Rod' is an interesting example. The film was released on DVD and the now-defunct HD DVD format in November of 2007, during the brief period when Paramount was an HD DVD exclusive studio. The high-def format war ended in Blu-ray's favor a few months later, so the HD DVD was discontinued pretty quickly. But Paramount didn't get around to issuing 'Hot Rod' on Blu-ray until December of 2008. If we remember, 'Hot Rod' was a box office dud in theaters. Nonetheless, it probably generated enough interest to sell a decent number of copies on DVD in the first few months after its release. Had it been released day-and-date on Blu-ray at that time, it might have sold fairly well on that format too. Yet by the end of 2008, most people had forgotten about it, or had already bought it on DVD. Consumer interest for the title was at an ebb. When the movie stopped selling, Paramount stopped producing copies on either format. The comedy is currently out of print on DVD as well, however it's still easy to find on that format because so many more copies were produced. The Blu-ray had a smaller release window and a smaller production run. Therefore, it's harder to find a Blu-ray copy today. Reader Feedback In response to a recent column in which I answered a question about why it's better to encode Blu-ray video at 1080p – rather than encode it as 1080i to be deinterlaced later – one reader responded with the following bit of follow-up information. 1080i vs. 1080p Revisited Q: You are correct that movies which were originally shot at 24 fps will be better if stored on the Blu-ray disc as 24p rather than 60i. However, you didn't mention that some material is native 1080i/60 – like concerts or shot-for-TV specials, where there are in fact 60 unique "pictures" per second. That's why "video" shot material often looks smoother than 24p (or 24 via 3:2 into 60i). Each video field is from a different point in time, meaning the only way to correctly display this on a progressively scanned display is to de-interlace 60i to 60p. (Note: not 30p.) Worse still, some made-for-TV material is shot on cameras at 24p, but then post produced in 60i, with 60i special effects, or 60i smooth rolling credits, etc. Such a disc would have to be authored as 60i, not 24p. The TV's deinterlacing would have to dynamically adapt to the changing 3:2 or 1:1 cadences of the source material as it plays in real time. JZ: My original response referred specifically to content that originated at 24 fps. However, everything you point out here is correct, and worth the clarification. While it's always better to encode native 24 fps material as 24 fps on a Blu-ray, not all content originates that way or can be encoded that way. Check back soon for another round of answers. Keep those questions coming. Joshua Zyber's opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of this site, its owners or employees.Posted Fri Sep 17, 2010 at 11:30 AM PDT by: -
Research Firm Says 20 Percent of Homes Will be 3D Ready By 2014[teaser]Content needs to ramp up for adoption to do the same. [/teaser] According to a research firm called Screen Digest, we're on our way to being saturated with 3D technology. By 2014, they say that 20 percent of homes will be 3D ready. 3D has been off to a bit of a slow start in the home, but with more content on the way, the folks at Screen Media think it's ready to pick up. The idea of packaging 3D Blu-rays as a hardware exclusive is a problem though. "It’s something the industry needs to address as a whole," opines analyst Helen Davis Jayalath. Her suggestion is that the industry adapt a single SKU approach, which is to say that the only disc being released should be 3D capable. Since every 3D Blu-ray is required to have a 2D copy, the only downside would be in pricing. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Fri Sep 17, 2010 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
'Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The war between felines and canines continues on Blu-ray this November. [/teaser] Warner Brothers will be bringing the family film 'Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore' starring James Marsden, Nick Nolte, Christina Applegate, Katt Williams, and Bette Midler to high-definition on November 16. The release will be timed to coincide with Warner's 'Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore - 3D' available on the same date. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Coyote Falls: new Road Runner/Wile E. Coyote cartoon, Sneak peek of the upcoming Yogi Bear theatrical film, Dog Dishing: Tails from the Bark Side of Hollywood, The Best of the Best Cat vs Dog Animated Showdowns, and Meow-Takes: Outtakes and Gag Reel. You can find the latest specs for 'Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 16.Posted Fri Sep 17, 2010 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Toshiba Announces New Ultra-Thin LED TVs[teaser]Ranging from 19 inches on up to 55, Toshiba's new sets are made to bring high quality at a low price. [/teaser] "The definition of value is having high quality at the right price," says Toshiba VP Scott Ramirez. "The new Toshiba SL400 and UL605 Series certainly both deliver." The SL400 is the less exciting of the two lines, consisting of televisions from 19 inches to 32 inches with a sparse feature set. The SL400 offers a pair of HDMI-CEC ports as its main feature, along with a reasonable price point. The sets range from $349 to $699. The UL605 is a bit more interesting. It comes ready to grab content from Toshiba's Net TV, which includes services like Vudu, Pandora and Facebook. It's also packed with a WiFi antenna that can be attached to the set's USB port. It's an LED edge lit display and features ClearFrame 120Hz tech. The UL605 is available at 40 inches for $1,399, 46 inches for $1,699 and 55 inches for $2,499. Source: PR NewswirePosted Fri Sep 17, 2010 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'Bangkok Adrenaline' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Feel the rush of the Thai actioner coming to Blu-ray this October! [/teaser] Image Entertainment is unleashing 'Bangkok Adrenaline' to Blu-ray on October 12. Unlike most big-studio action films, all the actors in Bangkok Adrenaline performed their own stunts. With a supporting cast featuring Daniel O’Neill (The Medallion, The Protector, Blackbeard), Gwion Jacob Miles and Conan Stevens, Bangkok Adrenaline is a cinematic rush of desperate gamblers staring into the inevitable snake eyes of fate. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and the only supplement is a behind the scenes featurette. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Bangkok Adrenaline' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under October 12.Posted Fri Sep 17, 2010 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
The PS3 Goes 3D On September 21[teaser]The system already supports 3D gaming, but 3D Blu-ray support comes next week. [/teaser] You've really got to hand it to Sony for their amazing support of the PS3's Blu-ray capabilities. It's one of few Blu-ray players to see so many updates and probably the only still supported player that came out in 2006. On September 21, Sony will be launching PlayStation 3 firmware update 3.50, which will allow the system to play Blu-ray discs. It's a free update, of course, and it's a pretty slick addition that keeps the PS3 at the top when considered as a value proposition. For about $300 you get a videogame system that's also plays 3D Blu-rays. It's also a pretty big bonus for Sony's 3D push. As of the 21st, there will be millions of people that now own 3D Blu-ray players – that's almost certainly a big incentive for making the leap towards a 3D television. Source: JoystiqPosted Fri Sep 17, 2010 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
'Derailed' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]Blu-ray will derail another HD DVD exclusive this December. [/teaser] In another announcement to retailers, Vivendi is preparing 'Derailed' starring Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston for Blu-ray on December 28. Our previously published HD DVD review is available here. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Derailed' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 28.Posted Fri Sep 17, 2010 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'Cronos' and 'Videodrome' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Two great films by Del Toro and Cronenberg are coming to Blu-ray in December! [/teaser] Criterion has revealed Guillermo Del Toro's 1993 horror film 'Cronos' for Blu-ray on December 7. The Blu-ray will feature a newly restored 1080p transfer (supervised by Del Toro), a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements include: Audio commentary with Guillermo del Toro; Audio commentary with Producers Arthur H. Gorson and Bertha Navarro and coproducer Alejandro Springall; Geometría: an unreleased 1987 short horror film by Del Toro, finished by the director in 2010, plus a new video interview with him; Welcome to Bleak House: a video tour by Del Toro of his office, featuring his collectibles and personal work; New video interviews with Del Toro, Navarro, and actor Ron Perlman; Video interview with actor Federico Luppi; stills gallery; trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by film critic Maitland McDonagh and excerpts from Del Toro's notes for the film. Criterion will also be bringing David Cronenberg's 1982 film 'Videodrome' starring James Woods and Deborah Harry on the same date. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video and supplements will include: Audio commentary with David Cronenberg and director of photography Mark Irwin; Audio commentary with Actors James Woods and Deborah Harry; Camera (2000): a short film starring Videodrome's Les Carlson, written and directed by Cronenberg; Forging the New Flesh: a new half-hour documentary featurette by filmmaker Michael Lennick about the creation of Videodrome's video and prosthetic makeup effects; Effects Men: a new audio interview with special makeup effects creator Baker and video effects supervisor Lennick; Bootleg Video: the complete footage of Samurai Dreams and seven minutes of transmissions from Videodrome, presented in their original, unedited form with filmmaker commentary; Fear on Film: a 26-minute roundtable discussion from 1982 between filmmakers Cronenberg, John Carpenter, John Landis, and Mick Garris; Original theatrical trailers and promotional featurette; Stills galleries featuring hundreds of rare behind-the-scenes production photos, special effects makeup tests, and publicity photos; and a booklet featuring essays by writers Carrie Rickey, Tim Lucas, and Gary Indiana. Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Cronos' and 'Videodrome' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under December 7.Posted Thu Sep 16, 2010 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
Warner's Blu-ray 3D Wave in November[teaser]Early Blu-ray 3D adopters will finally be able to buy some content in two months! [/teaser] Warner Brothers is planning to bring six titles to the Blu-ray 3D format on November 16. The titles are 'Clash of the Titans (2010) - 3D,' 'Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore - 3D,' 'The Polar Express - 3D,' 'IMAX: Deep Sea - 3D,' ' IMAX: Under the Sea - 3D,' and 'IMAX: Space Station - 3D.' "This is an exciting time in the industry and we are thrilled to be a part of this evolution in home entertainment," said Dorinda Marticorena, SVP of worldwide marketing and high-def. "As sales of Blu-ray 3D hardware increase during the holidays, we wanted to ensure that consumers have access to a diverse selection of 3D content, not attached to an exclusive bundle, which will showcase the amazing possibilities of this brilliant new format – and this is just the beginning. Each title will include both the Blu-ray 3D and 2D versions, and 'Clash of the Titans' and 'Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore' will also add DVD and digital copies. 'Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore' includes a 3D Looney Tunes animated short, 'Coyote Falls.' Suggested list price for each of these releases is $44.95. You can find the latest specs for all of these releases linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under November 16.Posted Thu Sep 16, 2010 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Toshiba Launches the BDX3000 3D Blu-ray Player[teaser]It's the company's first 3D capable player, designed to complement the new WX800 Cinema Series TVs. [/teaser] "3D is changing the movie industry," says Toshiba VP Scott Ramirez. There's no question about that, 3D is big, and Toshiba's finally jumping on the bandwagon. "The new Toshiba BDX3000 allows everyone to bring 3D home, and create that immersive experience in the comfort of the living room." As far as players go, you won't find anything too surprising here. The BDX3000 plays back 3D Blu-ray discs as well as standard DVDs at a 1080p resolution. It can play back files from a USB drive or SD card, and can jump online for Bonus View features. There's WiFi capability included in the BDX3000, so getting hooked up for Blockbuster on Demand, Netflix, Vudu and Pandora is simple. It also includes an Ethernet port for those that prefer to go with the wired approach. You can find the BDX3000 at a price of $249.Posted Thu Sep 16, 2010 at 11:00 AM PDT by:
